Who is really learning? Teacher or student?

I have just this article trying to define what is learning. The authors', Ackoff and Greenberg, basic proposition is that you learn more when you are teaching. This is against the popular understanding that you can only learn from being taught.

I want to share with you the following series of exchanges between a professor and a student cited from the article which drive home the point into my deep skull.

(quote) After lecturing to undergraduates at a major university, I was accosted by a student who had attended the lecture. After some complimentary remarks, he asked, "How long ago did you teach your first class?"

I responded, "In September of 1941."

"Wow!" The student said. "You mean to say you have been teaching for more than 60 years?"

"Yes."

"When did you last teach a course in a subject that existed when you were a student?"

This difficult question required some thought. After a pause, I said, "September of 1951."

"Wow! You mean to say that everything you have taught in more than 50 years was not taught to you; you had to learn on your own?"

"Right."

"You must be a pretty good learner."

I modestly agreed. (unquote)

In conclusion - Oscar Wilde remindered us that "nothing that is worth learning can be taught". We have got to want to learn it.

Source - Knowledge @ Wharton