Dads’ Corner: Continuing Education

By Ed Brown

Hey, dads! Got a minute? I hope so because it is incredibly important that we take some time out of our busy, hectic, and sometimes frenetic schedules to contemplate new ideas; explore new ways to work and play; and consider where we are and where we’re going. I would like to explore the idea of continuing education and how that is discussed, promoted, and modeled in your home.

The idea of careers that last a significant amount of time has rapidly shifted over the last 30 years, and as homeschool dads, we need to help prepare our students for what they’ll face in adulthood. Today’s article might be both retrospective–as you glance back at time well spent–and forward leaning, spurring you to consider future actions.

One constant force in our life is change. When change comes knocking, the very next thing required is learning, and that learning leads to the adoption of change. Hear me out: I’m not arguing that we need to be prepared to adopt or embrace progressive or unbiblical social change, but what I am encouraging is the openness and willingness to learn new things, not as a one-time occurrence, but as a lifelong habit. There are two key skills we need to model for our children: the first is the ability to discern when changes should be made, and the second is the courage to reach out and acquire the necessary skills.

Let me illustrate with a simple example. I have a shelf full of encyclopedia volumes. I used to go find the “W” volume and begin to digest information about whales. After a while, it became apparent that going to the bookshelf may not be the best approach to understanding whales. Today, I’ve learned that a web browser and search engine can provide information on whales quickly, even helping to find information on a very narrow set of specific details (i.e. beluga whales in the Pacific Ocean). I am now learning that with an AI subscription and some successful prompting, I can generate a multipage summary of those very specific details on beluga whales, along with sources for additional information.

This isn’t another article about AI, but even so, AI does highlight an opportunity to learn how to use new tools to acquire new skills. I watched a Facebook video last week that showed me how I could use a straight edge and a compass to perfectly round off a board so it would fit into a rounded corner. There are innumerable skills, tips, and tricks that people have picked up by using YouTube, Facebook, or podcasts. In these micro-learning environments, we ca quickly gain innovative skills. Enterprises, unions, volunteer organizations, and the full gambit of large and small companies continue to require continuing education to stay relevant or to get up to speed when you join. For example, I recently met with an electrician who had to attend a multiday conference to be trained and certified on new equipment.

As home educators, we need to help our children understand how to use the tools available to them to obtain new skills. We also need to expose our students to the continuous training that may be required of them–or that they may actively seek–to help solve problems or work more efficiently. Yes, YouTube is an entertainment vehicle, but I recently used a posted video to help me fix the drive on my snowblower. It saved me hours of frustration, and I learned several things about my snowblower in the process. Our children can get locked into the mentality that their educational journey ends after homeschool or college, but lifelong learning is a necessity, and we would do well to ensure that they have this fundamental expectation. This will help them begin to discern how to handle changes and engage in self-initiated and self-disciplined learning.

Helping our children understand and lean into the desire to be lifelong learners is part of our commission for discipleship. Consider that for a moment. God is calling us to ensure that our kids have the skills and desire to adapt to change and learn new things, as well as to expand their understanding of God, His creation, and their relationship with Him.

Let’s get practical. Below are some quick tips that may help you, your wife, or even your adult children cultivate lifelong learning in your family’s homeschool.

1. Stimulate your student’s curiosity. If your student expresses an interest in a specific topical area, give space, time, and resources to explore it.
2. Support your student’s interests. By investing in things that your student is interested in, you can spend time together, find new common ground, and model curious exploration.
3. Call attention to examples where you have learned (or are learning) new skills. Invite your student on that journey with you if appropriate.
4. Stay positive, encouraging, and reassuring, even when short- or long-term setbacks occur. It can be hard to learn new things, pick up new skills, or start and finish new projects. Mistakes and failures will happen. Helping your student regroup, reassess, and move forward is invaluable.
5. Help your student get comfortable with ambiguity. Sometimes, we take the first step without knowing much about the second step. Encourage your child to learn more; partner with him or her to support that exploration; and help your student take the next step.

As a homeschool dad, you don’t need to go back to college to get a master’s degree to demonstrate lifelong learning. You don’t need to build a house from scratch, and you don’t need to become a master chess player, either. You do need to try some new things and invite your students to come along. Be attentive when your kids express an interest in something new, and be willing to explore with them (or simply support their exploration). Celebrate success, help your children learn through setbacks, and encourage the next adventure. This isn’t a matter of preparing for worldly success; it is a matter of biblical stewardship over the resources God has given to us and the gifts He has given our children (Psalm 127:3-5). Stay curious, help your children explore, and keep learning–the glory is all God’s!

Ed Brown leads Lighthouse Keepers LEAH with his wife, Tricia, and is on the Advisory Board and Legislative Team for Homeschool New York.