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Be a Course Instructor: Difference between revisions
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This is natural. Unfortunately, the only way to get over this is to jump in. Fortunately, as you build positive experiences, these nerves will disappear over time. Here are some suggestions to make those first few times a positive experience: | This is natural. Unfortunately, the only way to get over this is to jump in. Fortunately, as you build positive experiences, these nerves will disappear over time. Here are some suggestions to make those first few times a positive experience: | ||
- | * Start by [https://wiki.protospace.ca/Be_a_Course_Instructor#Shadowing_and_Co-instructors shadowing or co-instructing] a course. Having a copilot takes the spotlight off you. You can also see how other folks do it and get comfortable | ||
* Book your first couple courses for a smaller audience. Load those courses with people you already know and are familiar with | |||
* Take a deep breath and speak slowly. Part of anxiety and nerves is the positive feedback loop between your heartbeat and your nerves. The faster your heartbeats, the more nervous you get, which causes your heart to beat faster, etc etc. Fortunately, this works in the reverse: take a deep breath to slow your heart down, which will help calm down your nerves. | |||
* Get comfortable with the material you are presenting. Being well prepared reduces nerves | |||
===What if a student is more knowledgeable than me?=== | ===What if a student is more knowledgeable than me?=== | ||
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===Use existing course materials wherever possible=== | ===Use existing course materials wherever possible=== | ||
Existing course materials are available [https://wiki.protospace.ca/Be_a_Course_Instructor#Where_can_I_access_course_materials.3F here]. Existing course materials could extend to many things - a youtube video that's particularly good, an article, an animated gif that explains how something works or even a book. | |||
===Shadowing and Co- | It isn't cheating to use what already exists, either. Part of being a good teacher is curating good sources of information! | ||
Invite people to shadow or co-instruct. | |||
Using existing materials saves you from having to cover ground others already have. Instead, you can use your energy to answer questions, connect concepts, put your own spin on things or do hands-on practical demonstrations. | |||
===Shadowing and Co-instructing=== | |||
Shadowing = Attending a course and seeing how it functions. You don't pay for these courses and you don't get certified from them. | |||
Co-instructing = Attending a course to help answer questions and teach it, with half or the bulk of instructing going to the "primary instructor" | |||
This is a great way to get exposed to teaching courses at Protospace if you have never done it before. It is also a great way to help others gets exposed so we can expand our roster of trainers. | |||
Invite people to shadow or co-instruct courses that you are running or shadow/offer to co-instruct classes they are running. It makes the classroom sessions more collaborative, conversational and it’s a great way to demonstrate the quality of community at Protospace for those angling to get involved. | |||
It also is a great way to make classes less tiring - having two people to field questions or explain concepts means twice as many chances to take a breather or drink your water. | |||
===Prioritize your comfort=== | ===Prioritize your comfort=== | ||
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Drink water. | Drink water. | ||
Don't do so many courses you burn out. Pick your cadence and stick to it. If you're willing to run one course a month, that's great! If you're willing to run once a quarter - that's also great! Beggars can't be choosers, and Protospace is the beggar here - pick what works for you | Don't do so many courses you burn out. Pick your cadence and stick to it. If you're willing to run one course a month, that's great! If you're willing to run once a quarter - that's also great! Beggars can't be choosers, and Protospace is the beggar here - pick what works for you, stick with it and encourage other members to fill in the gaps. | ||
===Encourage students to self-study=== | ===Encourage students to self-study=== | ||
Link people to training materials. You're a volunteer, classes at protospace are for the self-motivated. | Good teachers inspire others to learn. Link people to training materials. You're a volunteer, classes at protospace are for the self-motivated. | ||
Find what motivates people to self study: | |||
* Perhaps they have a project they are keen to do | |||
* Perhaps they are closer to knowing a subject than they think and a prompt of "This is actually pretty close to _____" is what they need | |||
* Perhaps they are daunted by how challenging or difficult a subject is and need a beginners guide with a [https://selfawareness.blog/beginners-mind-to-be-an-expert/ beginners mind] | |||
And try to invoke that while you [https://wiki.protospace.ca/Be_a_Course_Instructor#Where_can_I_access_course_materials.3F direct them to training resources]. | |||
===Do classes online=== | ===Do classes online=== | ||
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Some ideas that have been suggested and/or require development: | Some ideas that have been suggested and/or require development: | ||
* [https://forum.protospace.ca/t/input-wanted-how-can-we-make-instructing-courses-easier/1236/30?u=kent Volunteer Only Special Events] a paid-for-by-Protospace subsidized-by-training-fees night to a comedy club, laser tag, arcade, movie, nerf battle etc | *[https://forum.protospace.ca/t/input-wanted-how-can-we-make-instructing-courses-easier/1236/30?u=kent Volunteer Only Special Events] a paid-for-by-Protospace subsidized-by-training-fees night to a comedy club, laser tag, arcade, movie, nerf battle etc | ||
* [https://forum.protospace.ca/t/input-wanted-how-can-we-make-instructing-courses-easier/1236/9?u=kent Collecting a fraction of course fees] - Suggested by Mike M | *[https://forum.protospace.ca/t/input-wanted-how-can-we-make-instructing-courses-easier/1236/9?u=kent Collecting a fraction of course fees] - Suggested by Mike M | ||
* A "Train the trainer" type of course to help new folks get their feet wet | *A "Train the trainer" type of course to help new folks get their feet wet | ||