Sharing Your Knowledge

Teaching others has always been something that I really enjoy. It’s fun when I get to share my (limited) knowledge on a subject with others – particularly in matters relating to design and design software like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, etc.

So, I was really excited back in December when Lindenwood University (in St. Charles, MO – just outside of St. Louis) called and asked me to teach a course on Digital Design Concepts (Print Concepts and Web Concepts). The class is a graduate-level 9 credit-hour course designed to teach concepts through applied methods using design software. I thought I was going to be awesome at it given my passion for teaching. I have taught communication classes before, but never one on design concepts (abstract) specifically.

What I learned was, sharing your knowledge in an informal setting is much easier than in a formal setting. Giving someone a software tip or shortcut over their shoulder is much easier than preparing an hour-long lecture and trying to explain the nuances of design – balance, harmony, movement, color, type, etc. Add to that lesson plans, attendance tracking, and grading papers and it has been a much more challenging experience than I expected.

Nevertheless, I am doing the best I can to do just that – to formalize my knowledge into a classroom experience. Hopefully my students have learned enough from me that they can be successful in their future classes and in their endeavors to find employment in our field. Hopefully, if nothing else, I’ve helped to inspire students in their art form and help them realized that it takes hours and hours of dedication to hone their craft.

In spite of the unexpected difficulties, the teaching experience has been very rewarding. I love building into the lives of future designers. And, I must not be doing too bad because he school has asked me to teach the course again in the summer.

I think it is really important for people in any field to pass on what they’ve learned. What are you doing to raise up the next generation in your area? I’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, etc. in the comments!