August 2018 – Doula School Canada

Looking to Learn? How Knowing Your Learning Style Can Help You Succeed!

Looking to learn!?
Have you been out of school for a bit?
Well good news!
Knowing your learning style can make things a whole lot easier.

I’ve been immersed in the birth world now for over 6 years now, as an Educator, Doula and Mentor. I remember working towards my doula and my educator certification and found myself spending countless hours staring at a page of words and not retain a thing. When I found myself in a classroom I would find I only retained a small percentage of what I was being taught. I was frustrated. Here I was, mid thirties…FINALLY knowing what I wanted to do with my life and I was terrified! Scared of “class work,” worried about failing tests, and not feeling I would able to get the accreditation to further my career.

Before beginning my journey I had been a stay at home mom of three, running a day care and working part time at a restaurant. I didn’t leave a book smart career to become a doula… I left “mom” mode, meal prep and nursery rhymes…my brain was on overdrive most days! My own self doubt nearly prevented me from moving forward!

But I’m so glad I did move forward. Eventually I learned to walk the walk and not just talk the talk!

My recipe for success was having the right support alongside me and taking the time to learn what my learning style was.

Take a look at the learning style graphic above…did any of them grab your attention? How do you find out which one you are? Here’s a good reference:

https://www.thoughtco.com/three-different-learning-styles-3212040

and a bit more about different types: https://www.udutu.com/blog/what-are-adult-learning-styles-and-how-do-they-affect-elearning/

Many of us are a combination.

Let me share some tidbits that worked for me, and can maybe help you on your learning journey as well:

Change up your work space: Maybe on one day you will work best outside, in the basement, at an office desk, or in a library. Once I even worked in my trailer while camping! Key points: recognize that you need to avoid interruptions and it may take awhile to get into your groove.
Doodle and/or listen to instrumental music: I needed to keep my hands busy or stimulate another sense to help me retain info. Sound familiar?
On that same note: I needed to handwrite my study notes. I got in a bad habit of typing everything on my computer or iPhone – it just wasn’t the same! There may be a a huge mental disconnect when you do that.
Move: Stretch, get fresh air, work at a standing desk, sit on an exercise ball.
Dedicated time and accountability: If I didn’t get work done first thing in morning or late at night, it wasn’t happening – I’m a squirrel – everything in the middle distracted me (hence needing different work spaces from time to time). Schedule your work as an appointment and stick to it! Buddy up with someone – there were times I would completely and mentally shut down because I would second guess an answer or project. I needed a few different people on standby to walk me through something or be my “butt kicker.” We have lots of buddies at Doula Canada!

So, in my examples above, which learning styles did you connect with? A little bit of all of them right?!

Take a moment and identify what works for you. See what learning style you think you might be. Look back at the times you needed to learn something – what worked, what didn’t?

When you are struggling, buddy up!
You are not alone and simple tweaks to your daily habits can break bad habits and keep you moving closer to your goals! We are here to help!

Jump into our closed Doula Canada Facebook group or our Learning Centre forums and ask a question, send us an email, call us on our toll free number, and…

Stay tuned for more information on a mentorship opportunity with Doula Canada (details coming in October)!

About the author:

Helena McMann has been a Certified Doula and Educator for over 6 years.
She is currently an an Admin Support Person and Student Mentor for Doula Canada.
To date Helena has supported over 200 families through her work as a doula and educator.
We’re a big fan of Helena and all the wonderful things she does for our community!

Not all Doulas are created equal.

Recently some Doula Canada members have had their hands full with comments or suggestions that “not all doulas are created equal.”

For many years Doula Canada has prided itself on our efforts to build a unique, and uniquely Canadian, doula training and membership for our International members. We haven’t felt the need to justify our curriculum or our presence to others because, well, “if you haven’t bought the book how do you know it wasn’t worth the read?”

However, as our #doulanation continues to run into the discourse about “what makes a good doula” we feel it is important to write our position on the “not all doulas are created equal” suggestions floating about (a-boot, just to clarify).

Here are 7 reasons why Doula Canada doulas and childbirth educators are NOT created equal:

Super Selfhood: Our members come from diverse communities, have diverse backgrounds, and bring diverse expectations about what they would like to glean from their learning experience with Doula Canada. We respect this like WHOA! No cookie cutting happening over here. Pure unequal awesomeness happening!
Equal ideas?….not happening! Our community often debates new policies, international perinatal experiences, and curriculum updates. This keeps us all on our toes, which is vibrant and exciting. Imagine a day where everyone agreed with you? BORING! *unless you have small children, then that would be a miracle!*
Collaboration acclaimation: Our members are often the first to give praise where praise is due, and sometimes that means to Doula Canada, other members, or even those who are in direct competition with their business. Say what?! Our doulas are eager to partner with other perinatal workers, regardless of make or model. But praise can be unequal…. that does happen sometimes! *Insert the doula Jeep wave*
No person left behind! Recently a member felt ostracized by the suggestion that “Doula Canada leaves their students to fend for themselves.” This is quite the fancy tale. Our team of administrators, instructors, provincial liaisons, and peer community are just a phone call, email, message, or coffee date away. But alas, not all members need our assistance in the same way, and this makes them unequal in their needs and wants. That’s ok too!
Name that Doula. Some doulas love the history of our title, while others prefer “practitioner,” “support person,” or “badass new parent helper.” Whatever floats your doula/ CBE boat! Our titles do not have to be equal (or have all the same letters behind them), but they should have a strong foundation of community support, continued learning, and movement forward as a common professional voice. Those who are unequal in their alphabet ownership should not be seen as unequal for it, they were unequal to begin with… they were themselves!
They make all the decisions themselves. Ack! Our members choose their books, their educational units, the clients they work with…. they “own” it. That makes them unequal for sure!
They get the last word. Our doulas final assignment is a reflection paper about their journey. This helps Doula Canada to grow and to prosper from our communities feedback. Each reflection is personal and confessional. Totally unequal… but equally beautiful.

To claim that someone is unequal can be hurtful and questioning. However equivalency does not make you a better doula or childbirth educator. Distinctiveness and commitment makes you a good doula. Passion and purpose. Community and collaboration.

At Doula Canada we recognize our doulas are all operating and offering compassionate support at different stages, with different modalities, with different needs, and with different purpose.

At Doula Canada our purpose and intention is not to be equal….it is to be accepting.

If our doula training and organization is “not created equal” that’s perfect!

Doula Canada is unique
Our members are incredibly trained.
Our community is filled with passion and purpose.

*high fives all around*

~ Image: “The Three Graces,” circa 1503-1505, by Raphael. The three women in the painting may represent stages of development of woman, with the girded figure on the left representing the maiden (Chastitas) and the woman to the right maturity (Voluptas),though other interpretations have certainly been advanced. Each are unequal in their development and experiences, but equally beautiful and strong. In mythology the three figures have often been told to depict youth, mirth, and elegance.