Everyone learns differently. Approach each learning task as a unique moment, treat communicating the message with as much diversity as the learner brings to the lesson. Present the concept in multiple ways, utilizing forms that do not intimidate or force a person to drastically adapt their style of learning. The onus should be on the educator to present, not forcing the student to struggle to learn, but allowing them to earn their understanding.

Learning demands focus and cannot be achieved by simple rote lecture, metered demonstration, simply reading a book or watching a video. Speak slowly and allow the student to hear what is being stated. Engage the learner and respect the process. If the listener is as focused in their hearing as  the speaker is with their information and presentation, the message can and will be understood. 

Not all communication is verbal – especially in the realm of Massage Therapy. Respectful and intentional demonstration of ways to correctly touch, drape, respect boundaries, and receive and provide a great session are essential elements of raising the floor of massage therapy education. 

Knowledge is not a finite acquisition – it is an exploration. We search to obtain information, and at some point, we can become saturated – “Our brains are full”. That’s fine. We can be confident and happy there, but where we go from there is important as well. If we seek to raise the floor, we have to recognize that we cannot stay safe in a spot where we are satisfied. We need to be confident in the knowledge that we have before we explore. Respect our foundations, strengthen our fundamentals – because that is how we gauge how far we have gone, once we got there.

All facts will stand up to scrutiny  – if they don’t, they aren’t facts. If we study science, then we have to stay in the space that what we learned before may have been wrong. If so, we need to accept the research and adapt out understanding. Science was considered magic until we realized how it happened. Beliefs and opinions are not facts. Spirituality is not bad, but it is not science or fact – it is philosophy and religion. 

If we can pull back and see things as they are, recognize that facts are facts, and beliefs are beliefs – that facts are usually  devoid of emotion and beliefs inspire deep convictions; we can likewise create the space where being wrong is acceptable, and not negative. 

We strive to recognize that information in and of itself, understanding that information, and how we then re-communicate that information are completely separate entities. We teach for understanding, not just rote regurgitation of facts. The goal is to “Grok” lessons, not merely understand the bullet points. “Grok” is a concept that comes from Robert A. Heinlein’s novel, Stranger in a Strange Land loosely defined as thorough comprehensive and contextual understanding. Comprehensive understanding is the goal, never ever just ‘teaching a test’. Great learning engages critical thinking – constructive two-way communication, active and participatory listening, restatement of understanding, and critical evaluation.  It is not filling a box of rain – it is lighting a fire. 

Allowing the student to responsibly “sit” in the knowledge freshly learned and encouraging communication about their process is key. Learning is not necessarily linear, nor can it necessarily be forced into a time frame. Allowing the student the time to respect the depth of the lesson learned – perhaps not the entire vista, but recognizing the potential impact of the information  and how it can be applied is just as important. We seek to encourage the next generation of massage therapists by raising the floor – not only in education but also our expectations for the progress of our profession. Education needs to be thorough – not quick. Intense, but not rushed.