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Originally posted by Theresa Hey! So I was just promoted to trainer of my department (which is awesomely awesomeness... ). Anyway, I have taught elementary aged children and I have taught a few segments of the material I will be training, but I would love to hear from those of you who are experienced what your techniques/tips are. How do you handle bad students? How do you do prepare your lessons? What do you do to make it fun (I am working with adults)? My teaching material is far from thrilling/exciting. In fact, it is really hard stuff to learn. I am currently creating a common commands and codes acronym glossary for them so that they have something to refer to (I am teaching a DOS based program). Any suggestions are appreciated... P.S. No, I will not teach naked

I teach adults. The first month of our course is all lectures. Some instructors do it better than the others. At the end of my lecture yesterday i was "Thanks" by one of the students. He said that I am the only instructor that makes teaching fun. The rest of the instructors put the students stright to sleep.

A guide to keeping students awake (and in turn learning):
1. KNOW YOUR LESSON PLAN! Be very comforable with it. Do not rely on notes. If you keep looking at notes, it just looks like you don't know what you are doing and in turn makes the students fall stright to sleep.
2. Have great voice inflection. Your voice must be able to carry out. If you have a low or monotone voice, your students will be sleeping in not time.
3. Walk around. If you stand in one place only the students heads do not move at all, in turn they will start to nod off.
4. Actively engage the students. If they start to fall asleep then call on them and ask them a question. Constantly require feedback from them.
5. MAKE IT FUN! its ok to joke with them. It goes a long way.

Bad Students:
Depending on the degree of the offensive i will do different things. If they are constantly falling asleep i will put a chair in the front and center of the room of the room and have them look straight at the powerpoint presentation. Any type of arguments i will try to break them before they start. Anything else, I will send them to the main office. Its kind of like sending them to the principal office, but worse.

Making it fun: First you have to have an outgoing personality. You can't make the class fun, regardless of what you do if you don't have the confidence and voice vitality. Once that comes around joke with them. I remember the last time i got evaluated on my performance, in the middle of my lecture i need to reinforce a particular subject that most people don't get. The best way for me to it was draw it out. I drew the world's worst picture. It literally looked like a pre-schooler drew it. Of course that was intentional. I knew the students would laugh, but most importantly...they will remember. When i got feedback from my evaluation I was told that i did an amazing job.

Last edited by Orbital32 on Sep-12-2008 at 16:06

Wow, you guys are awesome I really appreciate the tips!!

I am working on editing a lot of the course material and am trying to figure out ways to make things easier to remember (mnemonic devices for codes etc.)

I think the first couple of days I am going to be really nervous. I have trained a couple of classes before, but this is different. I will be 100% on my own, and teaching all of the material instead of just some.

Gotta run, but I when I come home I have a few questions for some of you. Thanks again for the help

Whatever you do, don't give them any sex if they don't do their work!

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Originally posted by Joke Abitch Whatever you do, don't give them any sex if they don't do their work!

She's not from Gatineau.

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Originally posted by Ygrene Lastly, caffeine and sugar can be critical - particularly if you are training after lunch. The downside is that once you introduce those two items you have to keep them going so they don't crash during your presentation. I use the snack size Snickers, Reeses, etc as a reward for good questions and interaction for the audience.

I hate 1pm classes, and classes that break for lunch..is mucho hard to get them back into it all.

How do you handle bad students?
-You spank them, and you spank them HARD!

How do you do prepare your lessons?
-With Sex

What do you do to make it fun (I am working with adults)?
-See above answer

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ALFI - BOHICA - DJ MIX (Stream+Dropbox)

Do you guys have any good game ideas I could steal?!

I have come up with a few of my own, but I need more!!

Also... anyone in Ottawa or Montreal wanna meet me?! I am going to be in Ottawa probably next week!!

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Originally posted by Theresa How do you handle bad students?

-Depends. Without some sort of meaningful punishment you can hand out (IE bad grade on a test, get them fired, whatever) you're really limited on what you can do, esp if you do not have a forceful or dominant personality.

quote:

How do you do prepare your lessons?

-Now I don't know if you gotta make up everything, or you have some sort of guideline material you already got, but each lesson should be 40mins max (about optimal time a person's attention span will last in classroom setting) with 10 min break between each lesson.

-Ensure each lesson has an intro, body and conclusion.
If the body has multiple points, make sure each point is covered adequately and linked to other points and if possible, other lessons.
-Ensure lessons go from intro to full product, and from simple to complex. Follow logical sequence.
-Ensure students have plenty of opportunity to ask questions.
-Ask questions at the end of each point, to ensure that students have been paying attention and that they fully understand the material.
A test or problems to solve at the end of each lesson (doesn't have to be long) ensure comprehension and understanding of the material

quote:

What do you do to make it fun (I am working with adults)? My teaching material is far from thrilling/exciting. In fact, it is really hard stuff to learn. I am currently creating a common commands and codes acronym glossary for them so that they have something to refer to (I am teaching a DOS based program). Any suggestions are appreciated...

-Give students as much opportunity to play with any training aid you have. (Like if you're using a program, explain and demonstrate, then allow students to practice on own)
-Know your material. You will refer to your notes once in a while, but if you don't know what you're teaching, you will lose your students. If you don't know answer to a question, don't fake or bluff. Tell them that you don't know but you will find out the answer later. And ensure you get back to them.
-If you're explaining a point or emphasis something, trying to use one of 5 techniques:
Comparison
Reasons
Example
Statistics
Testimony
to help your students understand better
-Have positive attitude. Your students will be turned off if it looks like you're not interested in teaching.
-Don't be dull in your voice. Have command of the class.

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P.S. No, I will not teach naked

pity. you would have gotten everyone's interest quickly this way

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Originally posted by chinamon not true. i say "ugh" but i am a tranny.

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Originally posted by kotsy lol colour me retarded

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Originally posted by Theresa Also... anyone in Ottawa or Montreal wanna meet me?! I am going to be in Ottawa probably next week!!

I might be there on the 27th for a kegger at my old frat house.

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Short time TA, Long time Guver, Good time giver.

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Originally posted by Abercrombie I might be there on the 27th for a kegger at my old frat house.

And of course I fly home on the 26th.