Your educational aspirations

[SivadSemaj]

Good evening Brethren,

What is everyone doing, educationally, to support their desire for growth in Freemasonry?

I decided to join the Academy of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and start becoming certified as a Masonic Scholar via their program. Pennsylvania offers three (3) levels of scholarly recognition, allowing recognition via their website for each level obtained. When level 3 is obtained, you are presented a collar and jewel which you are allow to wear in lodge. It's an opportunity to broaden your knowledge as a Mason, and bring honor, dignity, and positive notoriety to yourself, your lodge and your district. Currently I'm chipping away at the required reading for level 1, of which I expect I'll have finished in the coming month. Does your Grand Lodge offer a similar program?

Link to the Academy.
https://pamasonicacademy.org/certification-process/

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and have a wonderful night!

 

[Elexir]

My grand lodge does a lot in terms of education.

We have an active lodge of reserch wich publices a lot of material across all degrees, holds seminars etc.

We also have whats called the "anatomic theatre" where the degrees are disected wich where written by brothers who has a strong passion for freemasonry and then approved by the GL.

Other then that we have a few local reserch groups.
My own provincial GL has a few brothers that can come to your lodge and give an instruction etc. We have fraternal clubs wich mixes ritual with education.
All lodges have officers that focuses on instruction and most hold atleast one lodge of instruction (wich here is basicly a brother disscusing a certain degree related topic)
On top of this lodges are free to do even more...

 

[Schuetz]

I am the education officer for two different lodges. Although I've only been a Mason for two years, my background in writing and history, combined with my career as a graphic designer (also a nice, new projector) allows me to make creative and interesting (if not esoteric) presentations.

Q. E. L. Schuetz, M.M.
Shekinah Lodge No. 241 • IL
Murphysboro Lodge No. 498 • IL

 

[David612]

Personally I’m focusing on learning the work and that’s my jumping off point into a given subject.

 

[BroBook]

We (MWUGL of Fl. PHA) recently started a
" University" for our members , with the idea of focusing on " The why we do instead of the what " ( W.M. Marion Honeywell )

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[CLewey44]

I really enjoyed putting together a presentation (Powerpoint; yeah I know) for my lodge. It is not an esoteric lodge or atypical in any way so most of the guys were really interested in what I presented. This also gets me in the books educating myself as well.

 

[Winter]

I really enjoyed putting together a presentation (Powerpoint; yeah I know) for my lodge. It is not a esoteric lodge or atypical in any way so most of the guys were really interested in what I presented. This also gets me in the books educating myself as well.

PowerPoint doesnt have to be an ugly word for educating members. The problem is, everyone uses it wrong! Using a program like PowerPoint to project slide after slide of blocks of text is like using the space shuttle to run to the corner store for snacks. It is no wonder everyone dreads seeing the lecturer plugging his laptop into a projector. Look up an article titled, "PowerPoint doesnt suck. You do!" I'm sure it's still floating around. PP is an amazing tool to enrich the learning experience when used correctly.

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[CLewey44]

PowerPoint doesnt have to be an ugly word for educating members. The problem is, everyone uses it wrong! Using a program like PowerPoint to project slide after slide of blocks of text is like using the space shuttle to run to the corner store for snacks. It is no wonder everyone dreads seeing the lecturer plugging his laptop into a projector. Look up an article titled, "PowerPoint doesnt suck. You do!" I'm sure it's still floating around. PP is an amazing tool to enrich the learning experience when used correctly.

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I like to think mine was on the good side haha. Everyone seemed interested and asked questions afterwards etc. It was fun. I am trying to throw another together. I had several visuals and minimal text to highlight what I would then further explain. I do know what you mean, some PP presentations can be painful. I think keeping it on the shorter end and then talking on the slides is very good.

 

[Winter]

I like to think mine was on the good side haha. Everyone seemed interested and asked questions afterwards etc. It was fun. I am trying to throw another together. I had several visuals and minimal text to highlight what I would then further explain. I do know what you mean, some PP presentations can be painful. I think keeping it on the shorter end and then talking on the slides is very good.

I try to shoot for zero words. The slide should have graphics to help illustrate the point. But all the words should be mine, delivered as a memorized presentation. I always get a kick out of people that hand out printed copies of their presentations afterword. 1. If you printed it all out to give me, why did I need you? 2. Word. That's what you wanted. Microsoft Word.

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[CLewey44]

I try to shoot for zero words. The slide should have graphics to help illustrate the point. But all the words should be mine, delivered as a memorized presentation. I always get a kick out of people that hand out printed copies of their presentations afterword. 1. If you printed it all out to give me, why did I need you? 2. Word. That's what you wanted. Microsoft Word.

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Now that's preparation! As for print out, total waste of paper and ink lol.

 

[Winter]

Now that's preparation! As for print out, total waste of paper and ink lol.

It is. And in a perfect world, all presenters would the SME they should be on the topic they are presenting. But too often the presenters are themselves still learning the material and reading the blocks of text becomes a crutch. With the end result being a lackluster educational experience. This is not a knock on the Brothers giving their time to help others learn. They are doing it the way they were taught and see others teach.

One of the best things a GL can invest in and develop is a TTT (Train The Trainer) program. Set specific requirements that must be attained before a member is allowed to teach others. I've seen a few jurisdictions that have such standards and it makes a difference.

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[Bloke]

Best thing I have done was a leadership course via Freemasonry and conducted by an external provided. It was great.

Not sure what is next... I guess learn some more Craft charges and also expand by understanding of Holy Royal Arch, which is pretty limited so its read read read..

 

[Brother JC]

Our WM requires at least one printed version so that he may share it with distant Brethren and those unable to attend.

 

[Winter]

Our WM requires at least one printed version so that he may share it with distant Brethren and those unable to attend.

That ends up being one of the problems. So many people make their presentations so that they can be printed out and that's a waste. Taking such a robust multi-media presentation platform and using it to just make some slides that are able to be printed out means that they have, A: not used the software correctly, and B: most likely guaranteed lackluster material that will not serve to inspire anyone. And see my earlier point, if my presentation can just be printed out and sent to Brothers who were not in attendance, then why do you need me there?

 

[Glen Cook]

Our WM requires at least one printed version so that he may share it with distant Brethren and those unable to attend.

Then he would be sadly disappointed in my work product. I may only use an outline. When I write more, I write for speaking, with extra punctuation, fonts, spacing, and underscoring to remind me of where I wish to place emphasis. Some this weekend asked for a copy of the address I gave on recognition at CGMNA. It wasn’t written. I used the Standards of Recognition and the Principles of Recognition, and went from there.

 

[CLewey44]

With all of this said, I think it's important to read into what the presenter is saying vs how he's doing it. We are all mature adults and can probably look past the mistakes or even the fluff but not everyone is a public speaker or able to give picture perfect presentations. If that is the expectation, it could discourage people from trying and that's the last thing we want. I would rather have virtually anything than nothing. I'd also rather have a simple presentation than one that drags on for 45 minutes about something most people are completely lost on. I think if there is someone that is particularly adept at giving presentations they could have some unofficial title of Education Officer or something like that to help guide people in their endeavors. I'm sure some BLs and GLs even have them. Call them maybe Doctrina, Preceptor or Magister perhaps for a fancier term.

 

[David612]

With all of this said, I think it's important to read into what the presenter is saying vs how he's doing it. We are all mature adults and can probably look past the mistakes or even the flugg but not everyone is a public speaker or able to give picture perfect presentations. If that is the expectation, it could discourage people from trying and that's the last thing we want. I would rather have virtually anything than nothing. I'd also rather have a simple presentation than one that drags on for 45 minutes about something most people are completely lost on. I think if there is someone that is particularly adept at giving presentations they could have some unofficial title of Education Officer or something like that to help guide people in their endeavors. I'm sure some BLs and GLs even have them. Call them maybe Doctrina, Preceptor or Magister perhaps for a fancier term.

Locally each lodge has their own lodge education officer and in theory they are to report to the district education officer.

 

[Winter]

With all of this said, I think it's important to read into what the presenter is saying vs how he's doing it. We are all mature adults and can probably look past the mistakes or even the flugg but not everyone is a public speaker or able to give picture perfect presentations. If that is the expectation, it could discourage people from trying and that's the last thing we want. I would rather have virtually anything than nothing. I'd also rather have a simple presentation than one that drags on for 45 minutes about something most people are completely lost on. I think if there is someone that is particularly adept at giving presentations they could have some unofficial title of Education Officer or something like that to help guide people in their endeavors. I'm sure some BLs and GLs even have them. Call them maybe Doctrina, Preceptor or Magister perhaps for a fancier term.

I agree wholeheartedly that we shouldn't look for the mistakes in programs by our neophyte orators. But I disagree about seeing something over nothing when it comes to having programs available. A poorly done presentation can turn people off a subject they may have had an interest in. But I also believe you can't complain about what you are getting if your jurisdiction does nothing to encourage and develop a training program for Masonic educators and presenters. It is a vital skillset that needs development if our Mysteries are going to be communicated correctly. Well done ritual work is only a part. A solid education program that builds on the degrees is vital and you can't have that unless you help develop the needed skills in the Brothers who want to teach. With so many resources available for free or reduced rates to help budding presenters coupled with almost weekly opportunities to practice on local Brothers at regular Lodge meetings there is little excuse to not be developing these skills.

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[coachn]