Different means to the end
One of my professionals goals this year is to gain proficiency in two Adobe programs: Premiere (video) and Illustrator (graphics). I’m lucky to work with a very talented, self-taught employee (shout out to Lauren Hogan) and can contract seasoned creative folks when necessary. However, I’ve always wanted to upskill myself in this space, so I’m climbing the learning curve.
I made time to dive into Illustrator first, watching and working through almost 3 hours of Adobe-provided video tutorials and practice files. I thought I was learning so much – I was creating, transforming and drawing with ease!
When asked to create a graphic identity for new group – newsletter banners, social icons, PowerPoint templates, etc. – I was excited and ready.
Then… I opened my first stock vector file for editing. I was completely lost. The Illustrator tutorials were focused on creating graphics, not manipulating print-ready graphics. A quick call to Lauren gave me enough information to be dangerous. The manipulated files weren’t pretty, but I got the job done with some creative cropping.
When a need to edit a video arose, I was nervous. I watched one Adobe tutorial to understand the Premiere layout, but skipped right ahead to calling Lauren for a crash course. She showed me exactly how to do the basic editing that was needed. I had much more pride in my first video than my first graphic.
My applied learning approach to video was much more efficient than my academic approach to graphics. By starting with someone who knew the specific task at hand, I jump started my practical application. Studying Illustrator before knowing how I’d be applying the tool was a less effective academic approach.
At this point in time, I think I’m equally skilled in video and graphic editing from a learning perspective. However, in application, I’m farther ahead in video. Thus, I found myself wanting to spend more time applying graphics, which led to the amateur creation above. (I bet you can guess my favorite colors!)
With the pace that technology changes today, does an applied approach always trump an academic approach to learning? Or are there certain subjects where an academic approach would be better? Would love to hear your thoughts!
Manufacturing Professional with Quality, Engineering and Supply Chain experience
5 年The new software can dictate that to you. As a member of the Mach1 Deployment team, I know that no matter how well I train someone, regardless of their background, if they do not use the system they will lose any proficiency they had attained. Most engineers I have worked with enjoy learning something new, but putting it into practice is another thing altogether.
Senior HR M&A Business Manager, Global HR Talent Development Leader, Enabling Individual and Organizational Excellence as a Gallup Certified Strengths Performance Coach
5 年I think there needs to be a blended learning approach - learn and do seem to go hand in hand which is why internships are so critical for college students. Really enjoyed reading and love how you incorporated your Strengths!