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Be a Course Instructor: Difference between revisions
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===Your Makerspace community uses tools better=== | ===Your Makerspace community uses tools better=== | ||
Makerspaces with knowledgeable makers have tools use tools properly. Tools will break less, are maintained better and may even be actively improved by those that want more out of them | Makerspaces with knowledgeable makers have tools use tools properly. Tools will break less, are maintained better and may even be actively improved by those that want more out of them. | ||
=== | ===Your network gets bigger and serendipitous=== | ||
Protospace attracts a bunch of neat people. Running courses is a great way to meet many of them. This makes coming to space more fun and friendly. | |||
Better yet, you're immediately in their good graces by helping clear them on a tool and making their projects a reality. The effects of [https://conceptually.org/concepts/6-principles-of-influence/ reciprocity] are real - maybe they can do something to help you that you don't know about until you meet them. | |||
=== Your Makerspace gets cooler tools === | |||
Tools that no one uses can't justify the space they take up. Those tools end up falling into disrepair and end up being sold or junked. | |||
By having a reliable and robust group of trainers and knowledge sharing, we can justify getting cool new tools because the training infrastructure is in place to teach members how to use it. Members who use tools will demand they stay around and in good working order. | |||
===Teaching makes you more knowledgeable=== | ===Teaching makes you more knowledgeable=== | ||
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Every now and again, someone you trained will continue down the path you set them on and teach you something you didn't know. This has happened numerous times at Protospace already! | Every now and again, someone you trained will continue down the path you set them on and teach you something you didn't know. This has happened numerous times at Protospace already! | ||
=== | ===Your Makerspace gets better in ways we can't conceive of=== | ||
Member training is an essential element to acquire new members and keep Protospace running as churn inevitably happens. Historically, training has fallen to a small group. That group is quite passionate about Protospace, which is why they do so much training. But those members have fun ideas for Protospace too. If they are stuck training courses, they have no energy doing another improvement - maybe they want to build or improve a tool we already have, contribute and setup a new tool or build an improvement to the space. | |||
The more members that take on training, the lower the opportunity cost is for all members. | |||
===Ego boost=== | ===Ego boost=== | ||
Nothing keeps down imposter syndrome like empowering a bunch of people to use a tool they never thought they could before. Not just anyone is capable of using said tool, let alone showing others how to. | |||
==Create a Class== | ==Create a Class== | ||
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A course | A course | ||
==Common | ==Common challenges, FAQs and solutions== | ||
===Where can I access course materials?=== | ===Where can I access course materials?=== | ||
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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 | *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 | *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. | *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 | *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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===Students are missing prerequisite information=== | ===Students are missing prerequisite information=== | ||
?? | ?? | ||
=== Someone is using a tool that I need to run a class on === | |||
Classes take priority over projects. Politely let them know you're about to run a course on it and to finish up. If they give you any difficulty on that, contact a director. | |||
==Make it easy to run classes== | ==Make it easy to run classes== | ||
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Find what motivates people to self study: | Find what motivates people to self study: | ||
* Perhaps they have a project they are keen to do | *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 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] | *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 speak to those motivations that while you [https://wiki.protospace.ca/Be_a_Course_Instructor#Where_can_I_access_course_materials.3F direct them to training resources]. | And try to speak to those motivations that while you [https://wiki.protospace.ca/Be_a_Course_Instructor#Where_can_I_access_course_materials.3F direct them to training resources]. | ||
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If you have a way to improve the instructor experience, please shout about it on [https://forum.protospace.ca/ the forum] | If you have a way to improve the instructor experience, please shout about it on [https://forum.protospace.ca/ the forum] | ||
Keep the classroom and tools in good orderand ready to use. | |||
Some ideas that have been suggested and/or require development: | Some ideas that have been suggested and/or require development: | ||