Today’s blog post is dedicated to the people who have gone beyond the call of duty and changed the way that I (and hope quite a few other people) think, act and be. People who have been responsive to concerns, aspirations. Who’ve helped me anchor myself and find a purpose. If there was a stage, I’d need to award here a handcrafted Digital Badge to these mentors.
…there remain the lucky “few who recognize their teacher”
Chris Higgins
Chris Higgins has written a lovely book entitled “Undeclared: A Philosophy of Formative Higher Education” In it Chris writes about two different ways of looking at education. Currently, we (the people around me) see those who position themselves as “products of our circumstances”. Which is true (white, male, growing up, stable family, good school, privileged by apartheid). This does not however account for the other folk that sometimes sit at the same table who do not fit the stereotype. People who are more “Plato like” where nascent knowledge is drawn out. According to Higgins, we sometimes find ourselves in an “active quest impelled from within by eros, the longing fueled by our sense of incompleteness” (Higgins, 2024). He suggests that “the Platonic view that has the greater explanatory power, at least when it comes to one interesting feature of formative experience: the feeling that we have yet to find our true mentor.”
I’ve been fortunate enough to regularly find that “mentor”. Working online, and being open (a regular social butterfly), has meant that I have stumbled upon these folk. For example. When I did my masters in Computer Assisted Education in about 2000, I had three main teachers. One who worked from a behaviorism premise , a cognitive scientist and a social constructivist. All three referred an instructional design systems framework known as ADDIE. The model made sense when access to computers was limited, multimedia software was proprietary, digital skills were for the few and mistakes were expensive. Today, in 2024, ADDIE is no longer the only framework I draw upon and I’ve been pleased to have the opportunity to re-think technology enabled education, and be exposed to alternate models. But the puzzle at that time gripped my attention, and I think I found my way, with a bit of help.
Whether it be in organizations like Scripture Union, Mount Hermon, Alex High, Creative Commons, Wikipedia, Open Life Sciences or the Goethe Institut, I’ve had a “true mentor”, just for a while.
I too have been wondering what makes for a good mentor. Been thinking about three principles (inclusive cultures, accountability and empowerment of others) that could guide my work. Try to offer an far more human centered model (as opposed to a digital one). Mozilla articulates a framework in their inclusive leadership cycle
- Invite
- Onboard
- Empower
- Review
- Recognize
- Renew
Systems Convening (Beverly and Etienne’s marvelous book) offers additional depth to a leadership cycle. It works wonderfully for workshops. From convergence (invite) to agency (renew). The cycle and the system seem to feed off each other.
Perhaps, in positioning myself as a product of my circumstances, I forget to look out for the next teacher. Whereas if I can be brave enough, to engage in socaratic dialogue. There’s another one or two lessons to be learned. Higher education has certainly got itself caught in its “guided cage”. Socratic dialogue is almost impossible on the LMS. No matter how many discussion forums I’ve used. The classes are to big, the time to engage is to short, the pre-requisite skills that required too hard. I don’t know.
Most of the system’s that I see, always generate inequalities. Where as, when I look for mentors, no matter what environment they are from, I find people who can light a spark or fan a flame. Can incubate, fuel and sustain its desire. Thank-you.
There are many reasons to be anxious about South Africa today. Inequality, governance, infrastructures, technologies. You’ll see me often point out the issues in my writing. However, you might not know that there are many reasons to be grateful. Peaceful people teachers, leaders, friends, academics mentors…those who contribute to the conditions wherein ordinary (and exceptional) people can flourish! Who work within messy systems and still manage. This is a recognition of your work and effort. Thank-you.
Derek, thanks a lot for sharing your experiences and reflections. I have been a formal mentor for three young ladies who grew up in totally different circumstances than I did. One feels lost. The opportunity to learn is tremendous. I may have learnt more about myself than I wanted to! Some people have called me a mentor and I appreciate that. Maybe being interested in so many things adds some value, I hope it is infectious! Thanks for making me think. Regards, Mario.