Reevaluating the Notion: "Those Who Can't Do, Teach"
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Understanding the Misconception
The phrase “Those who can’t do, teach” is one that needs to be retired.
Unfortunately, this saying has become all too common. It often emerges from individuals in business who want to sound intelligent, leading them to belittle teachers rather than reflect on their own insecurities. If someone hurls this phrase your way, it’s likely a projection of their own disappointments.
The truth is that teaching demands a unique skill set filled with challenges. Simplifying complex topics is no easy feat, and educators are among the most skilled professionals around.
Evolving Nature of Teaching
Moreover, the landscape of teaching has shifted significantly. While it once primarily involved a classroom full of students, today’s educators can reach audiences through various platforms such as blogs, podcasts, YouTube channels, and online courses. The teaching community is vast and diverse.
In fact, many individuals are adept at both doing and teaching simultaneously.
Teaching Software Development
When it comes to learning coding, it's essential to have an instructor who truly understands the subject. Anyone can learn the syntax of a programming language, but when delving into architectural decisions and design trade-offs, you’ll benefit from guidance from an experienced teacher who can help navigate those complexities.
You want someone who has encountered and learned from their mistakes. Fortunately, numerous accomplished technical leaders share their insights online, including:
- Bob Martin
- Charity Majors
- Julia Evans
- Dan Abramov
- David Walsh
- Scott Hanselman
The Benefits of Teaching
Consider starting your own online teaching journey! We need more individuals to create high-quality content on technical topics. You possess valuable knowledge—find your niche and begin sharing it through blog posts, YouTube videos, or podcasts.
Remember, the initial audience size doesn’t matter. Your blog may go unnoticed, your videos might attract few views, and your podcast might have minimal listeners at first. But that's not the main objective.
Engaging in teaching enhances your coding skills.
Interestingly, teaching can significantly contribute to your personal growth! For example, if you browse through the earlier entries of this blog, you’ll find that many of my initial articles were simply methods to reinforce my own learning.
By teaching, you deepen your understanding. You identify the aspects that elude simple explanation. Teaching compels you to absorb a great deal of information!
Teaching and Doing: A Symbiotic Relationship
The adage “Those who can’t do, teach” clearly reveals its flaws.
In truth, “doing” enhances your ability to teach, and teaching elevates your practical skills. These ideas are not in conflict; rather, they complement and strengthen each other!
So, I encourage you to be a software developer who continually explores and learns new aspects of coding. Document your journey through writing, video recording, or any other form of media to share your knowledge with others!
Embrace the role of a teacher—it could profoundly impact your career.
Additional Resources
Explore the transformation of subject matter experts into effective educators in the video "Debunking the myth of those who can't do, teach."
Discover why the saying “Those who can’t do, teach” is fundamentally flawed in this insightful video.