6/10/2024
Leave the Blow Dryer Behind: Teach Only the Need-to-Knows
For my college graduation present to myself, I went on an unforgettable trip—climbing, mountain biking, and white-water rafting in West Virginia—with a group of strangers who would become friends. Out of the four of us driving down together, two had experience with such trips and two did not.
One of the more experienced in our group gave some invaluable advice: "Get out everything you want to take. Then put half of it back. After that, put half of it back again!" Essentially, only take 1/4 of what you think you need.
Once the small car was packed with four bikes, climbing gear, tents, a cooler, and a travel bag for each of us, we got in. Our 6'6" friend, upon sliding his seat back, exclaimed, "What is this?!" One of us (I promise, it wasn’t me!) had stashed a blow dryer and curling iron under the seat! Clearly, these were not essential for a primitive camping trip.
This experience has always stuck with me, especially when I think about curriculum design. How do you focus only on the "Need-to-Knows"? Start by adding everything you think you want the participants to learn. Then remove 3/4 of it. Make sure you reach under the seat to find that blow dryer and curling iron to remove that too.
Ask yourself: Do I still have the blow dryer and curling iron in my curriculum? I promise, you don't need it and you won’t miss it—neither will your participants. #CurriculumDesign #Minimalism #LearningEssentials #TBR