When I was going to school, learning was done in person with an instructor in front of a classroom. The lessons could not be paused. The teacher couldn’t be stopped once they started speaking and it felt rude to interrupt and question them. I had to arrive early to get a seat where I could easily see and hear. I had to remain focused for long periods of time. Some of my college courses were two hours long without a break in them. My hands would cramp from all the notes I would take.
It is a different world now!
Video learning has become very popular. There are a variety of websites that offer great video learning experiences. By watching online tutorials, I have learned how to roll sushi and how to crochet. I have even watched video content to improve my skills as a public speaker!
Once you become a member of Toastmasters, you will gain access to the Pathways. More often than not, my Pathways courses have video tutorials embedded in them! These videos have shown me, concretely, what good evaluations contain and look like. The Pathways videos have also provided valuable insight on the difference between coaching and mentorship. I have even gone back into sections of my completed work simply to watch a video again!
The videos in Pathways have helped me tremendously. The biggest advantage to learning public speaking with a video instead of a paper manual is that you get to see speakers in action. You get to see what good behavior looks like so you can model it. I felt very awkward trying to improve my skills by simply reading the classic Competent Communicator Manual.
I am grateful for the modernization that Toastmasters International has undertaken. I know that my skills have improved because I have been able to watch and re-watch the video content they have made for me as a member.
