ONE LEARNS ABOUT LIFE FROM LIFE ITSELF

As an educator and a teacher, one needs to keep learning, re-learning and updating oneself and only then are we capable of becoming an authority for imparting knowledge to others. The sources of knowledge and information are varied and have changed and evolved over time. From teachings of guides and gurus to books and texts to the internet and digital sources and now to life itself!

 

Yes, odd as it may sound but some of the greatest learnings of life have come from the life we lead and the people living around us and to add to this, from the students and their lives – the ones we are trying to teach, impart knowledge to or improve their lives.

 

With over three decades of being with students, both under graduate and post graduate, in the management and mass communication fields I decided to jot down some learnings that I gathered from them and their lives.

 

The first big thing that we see in them is how much they trust and depend on the advice of their peers and friends.

 

I asked them about how they chose the field of journalism, advertising, PR or mass communication and many of them said that a major part of the decision was because their friends recommended or some known senior was already in this field and they were inspired by them to join this profession or they were ardent admirers or followers of celebrities in this field and set them as a benchmark to emulate. So just as they look for reviews and recommendations from others while shopping and choosing brands, the same goes for their professional choices also. So, Word of Mouth [WOM] is an integral part of their lives and plays a role in major decision making. That’s the new generation for you. They standards and norms are set by others.

 

The next big thing in their lives is using the internet for searching information – be it Google or Bing search or AI apps like ChatGPT or Co Pilot, they make full use of this to gather information and sort the grain from the chaff for making their decisions and choices.

 

I delved deeper to know how they do all this. So, I asked them a few questions to get some relevant information.

How did they select the college or institute to join was my query. 

 

“Oh Ma’m, we look for the Top Ten Media colleges in Delhi or Top Mass communication Institutes in Delhi and from there made our choices!”

 

“Best or Top mass communication colleges in Delhi is a good way of doing it, but why Delhi only?” Was my next question.

 

“When we look for Best Journalism and Mass Communication places we are also looking for the best teaching and learning, best internship opportunities and a good place to live in. That’s where Delhi is most suitable. It has the best institutes, best placement and is student friendly for living and well connected by rail and air. So, that’s how it is our first choice.”

 

“Once you have the list of Best Mass Communication colleges in Delhi or Top Mass Communication colleges in Delhi then how do you select further?” My next query.

 

Here again WOM and advice from friends, seniors or ex-students and people around was a major input but two other factors were given importance. Firstly, the best institutes that gave practical and hands on training were given preference because this is a field involving  skills, experience, industry exposure and just theory will not do. They get information and inputs about which place of study ranks top in this respect and make their choice accordingly. The institute must have the related facilities and equipment only then does it feature in their choices. It’s syllabus should include practicals and outdoor learning and give weightage to it, this is of prime consideration to them.  Secondly, who is imparting this knowledge and training is an important consideration. To put it simply – The Faculty. The faculty list, profiles of the faculty and where all the faculty teaches and interacts and what are the achievements of the teaching staff, all this is perused very minutely and then choices are made.

 

“So do you start your professional life with a decision that it is journalism or PR or advertising for me or this decision is left for later?”

 

Here the responses varied. Some made their choices from the Best Journalism Institutes as they were sure of choosing journalism as their calling whereas others looked for Best Mass Communication institutes, reserving their final choice of specialization for later. They all come in with an open mind and at times with an indecision and let things take their course and see where life takes them.

 

Lots of questions and lots of answers and lots of learning for us educators. The broader issues that I concluded from this was that the present generation is using all the latest tools, technology and sources of knowledge and information judiciously to make life’s vital decisions. They are already using the concepts in communication and mass communication to come and learn communication and mass communication. Quite a learning it is for us!

 

Surely a case of “Learning about life from life itself”.

 

Author Bio: Dr. Simrat Gulati is a veteran advertising professional and educator. An alumna of IIMM Delhi, she is a visiting faculty at various management and mass communication institutes across India.