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Life Time Learning Students often asked me about how I became a teacher and so I always took the opportunity to tell them about ‘Life Time Learning’.

Students often think that education is about going to school and ‘the sooner that’s finished the sooner I can get on with life’. However formal schooling is only a very small part of your life as no matter what occupation you eventually enjoy it will involve further learning. This might be formal education institutions such as TAFE, universities or colleges…. or it could be less formal learning, such as ‘on the job experiences’ or local community courses. To illustrate this I would talk about my own educational experiences.

So was I always a CAD teacher? 

When I was at high school in the 1960’s there used to be a program of ‘vocational guidance’, advising students what we were capable of doing and when we should leave school. I was advised to leave at year 10 as I probably wouldn’t be suitable for the HSC courses. What did they know!  I went on to complete year 12 & my HSC, then went to University for 4 years to learn to be a geography and economics teacher, (i.e. further learning). I taught geography, which was my passion, for seven years before moving into a different career……..still in the education field, but quite different.

I had been attending evening courses (i.e. further learning) for quite a long time, studying photography, learning how to develop and print colour prints, mix chemicals etc ……….and then an opportunity presented itself to become a professional photographic consultant. I did this for another 7 years. I continued to do photographic courses as technology changed techniques and materials.

But I was always interested in Industrial Arts. I liked woodwork and metal work and enjoyed working and learning about this area. Finally I decided to complete another university course and study to become an Industrial Arts teacher, (i.e. further learning). This was a 5 year part time, external course and found me back in the classroom teaching woodwork and metal work. Now there are always new things to learn about so I completed courses in other industrial arts fields and also started to take a keen interest in computers.

After about 7 years of teaching woodwork I became a Head Teacher. This involved going to more courses, (i.e. further learning) to study leadership and management skills and further my knowledge of teaching and dealing with young people.

I also became involved in School’s computer administration and did a number of computer network courses to gain the necessary skills to maintain the School’s  network of servers & computers. This involved more evening courses, TAFE courses and some online work, (i.e. further learning).

As the Head Teacher I was keen to encourage CAD courses in Industrial Arts. I could see no real future in ‘pencil’ drawing anymore and felt CAD was the way of the future. Of course when I went to university CAD was not available. So this meant finding and completing another course. I found a TAFE in western NSW that provided external courses in Turbocad so once again I went back to study, (ie further education).

So the answer to “was I always a CAD teacher” is obviously no!

The moral of the story is that you never stop learning and that ‘education’ is not something that finishes when you leave school. Occupational learning continues throughout your career.

Of course I haven’t even mentioned all the other skills you must learn through your life…marriage skills, budgeting skills, raising children, learning to drive etc………so if you think that your education finishes at school then you are very much mistaken! Look on school as the first step to a successful and fulfilling life.

Dave Barnett
Head Teacher Industrial Arts
Network Administrator.

Last Updated on 15/05/2009