Ignotum per ignotius is a phrase all trainers, facilitators and instructional designers should be familiar with – so we can avoid falling into this trap and making our training sessions frustrating, confusing and worst of all – a waste of time for everyone.
Ignotum per ignotius is a Latin phrase that translates to “the unknown explained by the unknown”. You may also have heard of “the blind leading the blind”. As a trainer, I am not expected to know everything about a given topic. I have learned things from participants in many of the classes that I lead (I think of that as my bonus for the day!) As a professional trainer though, I should have the skill to explain any topic, from the most simple and mundane to the jam-packed complex, in a way that is understandable, memorable and relatable. It is what sets me apart from having a co-worker or some random guy on the street explain the topic to you.
