As I write this article, it is graduation day here at Iowa State University. If you are a graduate, or if you have family members who are graduating, congratulations!
It is also the official start of summer for my students. That brings with it the summer slide, which is a common term used in education, and is often a major concern for educators. For those who are not familiar with the summer slide, it is when students are not in the classroom during the summer months, and they experience a loss of learning and skills. This can happen at all ages if we stop pushing ourselves to learn new things, or when we feel we have mastered everything in a certain area and no longer attend any continuing education.
Summer is a very busy time for all of us with active field usage and the growing season. However, we still need to find time to support our local chapters or spend some time online with the resources.
Avoid the summer slide — even if it means slipping away from your daily job for part of a workshop or to look at learning resources during rain delays or on an off day. If you feel you have mastered all of the content being taught, please speak up and help guide those who are planning and creating the resources by suggesting new topics.
Continuing education can also come in the form of picking up the phone and calling others in the industry to see what they are doing and hear how they work through management problems. I remember listening to my mentors pick up the phone and call other field managers or an academic to discuss and learn more about a management problem they were fighting. Sometimes that other opinion can really help.
The last few weeks have been very exciting with the number of SFMA committee calls happening and participation in those calls. Many of those calls will continue during the summer, so don’t let those important duties slide down your priority list. Continue to fill out the polls, respond to emails and stay engaged. If you missed a call, please read the outcomes. This is your organization — your input matters and can help shape our future.
I encourage you all to fight the summer slide and continue to learn and participate in the SFMA — even during the busiest of times.
– Adam Thoms, Ph.D.