Rather than struggling (and likely failing) to “make a sale” by forcing pedagogy on “those that need it,” educators can focus on “creating and offering value.” Instead of resisting “authority’s” efforts to control or persuade, students can enjoy receiving, creating, communicating, and reciprocating in ways that work.
And other advice about “selling through go-giving” helps in educational success, too. It’s about discovering what people “do want to buy” and “helping them get it.” It involves “giving people advantage.” It forges human connections that motivate, engage, encourage, and produce desirable outcomes. It's about getting (rather than taking) through giving—and learning through teaching in a reinforcing context.
As a practical example, when a simple game such as phonicSpelling Bingo is played in various forms, participants take responsibility for—and get appropriate feedback on—the clarity of their word-level pronunciation. Noting the effects of language use, they improve both their speaking and listening skills. Motivated by interactive cooperation and “competition,” they get satisfaction out of giving (instruction and help) as well as receiving, achieving, and progressing.
Dyad or small-group “information gap” activities work similarly. For instance, language learners can use the “Battleship” format of Alphabet Paired-Grid Tear-Off Pads to practice letter names and spellings through interaction with “opponents.” Reproducible lesson pages from any Authors & Editors print product (such as phonicSpelling or vocabulary puzzles) or this Website invite interactive activity, too; when one or more members of a pair or group is supplied with “answers” to communicate to others, sharing exchanges occur naturally. Also, most instructions for Card, Board, and other engaging Games in the Activity & Idea Books that accompany A & E products are based on “go-giving” principles.
And for us at Authors & Editors, the Go-Giving Laws of Value, Compensation, Influence, Authenticity, and Receptivity apply to even more than materials and methods that promote excellent teaching for student interaction and learning. In Bob Burg’s words, we “believe in living on the creative plane rather than the competitive plane.” In addition to “selling” you the best language education and resource products available, we are eager to provide lots of giveaways and other help. There are downloadable lessons, “Try Before you Buy” samples to experiment with, discounts, “bonus freebies” that insure you’ll get maximum value for your money, Workshops and complete Handouts that outline their principles, links to articles and other sources that we value, answers to your questions, responses to your comments, connections to our “partners in go-giving,” and much more. We are confident that it will all “come out even” and well in the end.
[CHECK BACK. WE WILL BE ADDING: Links to “Use Whatcha Have” and “Connections in Word-Level Language Instruction” Workshop Handouts, free lessons associated with the workshops, and one of Bob Burg’s sites, perhaps http://www.gogiverssellmore.com/]
