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Throughout history, humans have used two distinct approaches to share important knowledge. One method is based on "telling" someone the things they need to know, and "insisting" that they engage with that knowledge in a predetermined manner. We call this the banking model, because someone with "the knowledge" deposits this knowledge into a learner's brain, like a deposit made into a bank account. Our experience with this model has not led to long-term benefit for individuals or organizations.
A more powerful method uses discovery, conversation, and collaboration to "invite" learners to build meaning themselves. This approach assumes that important knowledge already exists within a community of learners. From this perspective, all new information and ways of knowing must be linked to what is already known. When we "invite" learning, we strengthen our ability to locate the resources we need to learn and to direct the course of our own learning. We know that the most profound learning focuses on the experience of the learner, not the ego of the facilitator. Our experience with this model has consistently led to positive results for individuals and organizations.
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