Picture this. You are at a conference. The eminent speaker starts talking about the importance of phenology. Before long, your frustration is rising because you can't understand what you are hearing. So you're asking yourself - "what is phenology?

Then a brave soul interrupts and asks your exact question. "At last!" you think. (As do many others in the audience - you are not alone!) Finally, an answer to your question - it all makes sense.

Reg Revans, who developed action learning, Is famous for coining the phrase that we learn by sharing our ignorance – and to do that, we must acknowledge our ignorance in the first place. He has a simple algorithm for learning. L = P + Q

Learning is a combination of P, programmed knowledge (traditional instruction, book learning) and Q, questioning insight, the insight that comes from questions leading to understanding and actionable learning (L).

We acknowledge we don't know (Q) and needed more information (P) so we can understand (L). That's why we ask questions.

Hit replay. You're sitting in the same audience; the speaker is banging on about phenology. And just as you're formulating your Q, up go multiple hands...

You think, "WOW, half the people in this room are ignorant (AKA learners). They have just gifted me a chance to learn."

(And then another penny drops - "Oh Shoot! I'm in the wrong room again - I thought this talk was about phrenology.")