admiring teachers

One theme in my education reading of late has been the power of the human element in teaching. Now of course it can't be denied that technology is going to change the way everything is done (everyone and their principal will tell you that 'blended learning' is the ultimate education concept), but lately I've been hearing much more about the humans and less about the tech.

The concept that struck me today was a person saying that she was inspired by her teacher to enter her chosen field - that it was a turning point for her entire life because this one person was so successful at conveying a passion for her field. I have had a few instructors like that. Anne Bahr Thomson is one (though she'll never believe me) - I took her intro to marketing class and it set me on fire. First time that I've ever felt like the work in a class was earning more than a grade - I was creating something, and fell in love with marketing immediately (then majored in it, and worked at L'Oreal).

That one crucial aspect of live in-person education is that teachers give you someone to admire. And though online learning will one day be fabulous, I promise that it will ever deliver that.