Human on the Inside with Real Time Learning’s Luke Kerr
Human on the Inside. We’re big believers in the power of human skills. But don’t just take our word for it - the evidence for excellence powered by human (‘soft’) skills is everywhere! In this engaging, ever-enlightening series, we speak with industry leaders, innovators and game-changers to learn a little about their personal career journeys, and how human-led strategies, philosophies and cultures are proving a force for good in their working worlds …
Maxme: Welcome Luke, and thanks for stepping into the #SuccessIsHuman Spotlight.
You’re currently wearing two (or three) hats - one as Director & Founder of Real Time Learning, and the other as Secondary Classroom Teacher for Cornish College and Flinders Christian Community College.
In 2 sentences (ok, we’ll give you 4), what do these roles entail?
Luke Kerr: I know it’s crazy right, but I’m absolutely loving all 3 roles!
As Director of Real Time Learning we partner with schools to help build STEM capability in teachers and students. We focus on the “E” in STEM. I see my role is playing conduit between schools, universities and industry. All three have very different value propositions, and I continually look for ways they can align.
At Cornish College and Flinders Christian College, I’m back teaching mathematics to students in year 8 through to 10. My last full time teaching role was a Leading Teacher of Numeracy at Mornington Secondary College. I left that in 2013 to start Real Time Learning. I’m loving being back in the classroom!
M: You’ve been teaching part time for Cornish College for six months, and Flinders Christian Community College for just three months, while Real Time Learning is a ship you’ve been sailing for over a decade now - kudos! With that said, your impressive career is of course much deeper.
It all kicked off at the start of 1994 as a Casual Replacement Teacher in the UK - a role you performed on & off over the three years to follow, with an 8 month stint in Canada for YHA along the way.
In 1997 you commenced three years with Addington High School, initially teaching Physical Education and Maths, and in your final year, acting Head of Physical Education. In early 2001 you came Down Under, accepting an initial role with Frankston High School (Melbourne, VIC) as a Maths and Physical Education teacher, followed by five years teaching Outdoor Education, and a year as Acting Head of Mathematics to round out an impressive ten year tenure!
In early 2011 it was time for a change, and you joined Mornington Secondary College as its Leading Teacher of Numeracy (three years). In 2014 you founded Real Time Learning (RTL), piloting a program at Mt Eliza Secondary College. In 2016 you took RTL into the broader market, starting STEM Workshops out of BOSCH in 2017. In 2018 this included work with Monash University as a STEM Outreach Lead for a program called IOTKG (Internet of Things Kitchen Garden).
Before returning to the classroom in recent years, you held a further two roles - Operations & Innovation Lead for VR-driven incursion provider Mindflight7 (seven months), and Information Technology Recruitment Consultant for Operandi Consulting.
That’s quite a ride!
How does all this speak to your personal purpose and what drives you as an individual?
LK: That is a great question! I love learning and more specifically, Experiential Learning – learning by doing. There is no course I believe I could have taken to land where I am now. Life and the journey have taught me so much. I love to help people connect with purpose. My purpose statement that sits in my office (and framed by my daughter for a recent Father’s Day gift) reads…
“My purpose is to help others become more engaged, to help others feel more hopeful, to help others feel more confident and to help others feel more valued.”
I’ve carved out roles in my work where I feel I can live this out, which is so rewarding.
M: Tell us a little about your personal education pathway/s - what led you to where you are now? How closely do your formal qualifications match your current career?
LK: I started out as a Physical Education and Maths Teacher. I’m still very passionate about both of these subject domains. I guess now my passion focuses on how both these interests can serve those in my community and through my work. The qualifications provided me with opportunities in the early days, but the experiences along the way have really helped me land where I am now.
M: If you could share one piece of career advice to your 21 year old self it would be ...
LK: Luke you are enough and your best is really enough. You are worthy just as you are. Take the time to just enjoy the ride!
M: Maximising the potential of individuals, communities and businesses through the power of human skills is the reason Maxme exists. Can you tell us a little about the role and / or value of human skills in your workplace or industry right now?
LK: Through Real Time Learning I have met many talented young undergraduates studying Engineering. They have technical skills I will never have. Our young engineers are taking up careers that require them not only to have technical knowledge, but the human skills that allow them to communicate this knowledge in ways that serve our community best. It has been said that those who know and understand AI will replace those that refuse to accept AI. That means human skills become even more valuable as we lean into AI. The role of Real Time Learning goes well beyond building STEM capability. We are very invested in developing human skills and this is the reason we encouraged some of our Alumni to take up Maxme’s Hodie app!
M: Self Awareness sets the critical foundation for all Maxme learning experiences. With that said … what’s your strongest trait / personal superpower?
LK: It would probably be Love of Learning. I remain curious. It sometimes takes me down rabbit holes, but if I’m not winning I’m learning. I believe the reason I left teaching in 2013 was to take up this challenge of learning what I could not learn being a teacher. Being an entrepreneur has taught me so much about myself. The adversity we face teaches you humility and to stay curious.
M: And on the flip side, what’s one human / ‘soft’ skill you’ve had to really work on improving over the course of your career?
LK: Self regulation. I would often say to myself and others when behind on a task – “Nothing a late night can’t fix”. When you do this on repeat you learn about burnout. As you get older the burnout becomes harder. You need longer recovery, or in my case you go deeper to understand what is driving you. I’m learning the importance of self compassion, which helps me to be better at being kinder to myself. I will always struggle with self-regulation, but I feel I have more “tools” in my tool kit to address burnout and overwhelm.
M: If you could share one piece of career advice with recent Uni graduates or candidates keen to work in the field of education, what would it be?
LK: Never lose sight of who you are doing this for. Your students, and sometimes just one student, will be enough. We take up the mantle of education because we want to make a difference – that’s it.
Teacher morale is at an all time low – I feel very sad about this because our future generations need Teachers that feel valued for the important contribution they make.
M: You’ve been granted approval to add one University graduate to your business, but have 100 applicants, all with outstanding academic results. How do you find your perfect candidate - what are you looking for?
LK: I look at what else they’ve done besides studying. Does what they’ve done align with why they are choosing to work for me? What lived experience will they bring to our organisation? Are they willing to learn and challenge themselves?
M: In the words of John Dewey, “education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.”
What’s next on your #learning agenda?
LK: I believe the greatest challenge ahead of us all is maintaining “healthy boundaries”. In a world that focuses on scaling everything that can be scaled, the importance of holding boundaries is becoming critical. Mental health will continue to soar, and I’m very curious about how we enable and empower the next generation to lead lives not dominated by stimuli that are making them less resilient. I love that this generation is focused on “making a difference”. Having not been good with boundaries myself, I want to learn how to help others get better at holding boundaries that will ultimately make them stronger and more resilient.
Ready to develop the human skills within your organisation, team or self? Explore our menu of Maxme Products & Programs or simply download the Hodie app to get started today.
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