The MicroTrain Blog

Would you rather be in a class where obviously the teacher is just winging it instead of teaching it? I will definitely walk out from a class like that. So I’m with you with that.

Why some instructors wing it? The hardest part for us is teaching a class the first time. It will never be perfect. You won’t know what will happen. But what can we do, somewhere along the way, someone has to do it. With this reason, I guess for as long as the instructor gave his best then still in the end, it didn’t come out that good, nothing to regret, right? It’s just too unfortunate you were his guinea pigs.

When an instructor still tries to wing it each time like feeding you with jokes, food, side stories, etc then unlucky you, you wasted your money being in that class. I know a handful like that and it’s quite funny some thought it’s a teaching style.

Someone told me that when an instructor teaches with less break or stories, 80% of what was taught retains in the students’ memory. Would you rather be in this kind of class or you will still go for a teacher that’s so cool and good with funny stories? Then when you come back tries to revisit things in your book, you can’t remember a thing and you obviously has that blinking bulb at the top of your head, just like in the cartoons.

Point is, teaching is a skill, it’s like leadership being a skill, not everyone are born leaders or managers because if that’s how the world is made then all of us are in that position, no one will scrub the floors, fold your clothes in the hotel, wash your car and a lot of different things that without all these people do these things for us then we’re screwed, right?

Therefore, even if a person is so good using a product, e.g. Microsoft Excel, Visual Basic, Adobe Photoshop to name a few it doesn’t follow that guy can impart knowledge. That is teaching being a skill. That is the reason why driving is not for everyone as well. It’s just too funny but because there’s no good public transportation majority of us are forced to drive to get to work and places. I understand some of you will say but it can be learned. There are skills that are built in and cannot be learned no matter how hard you try. I’ve been practicing since I was young? I want to sing, I even joined the choir and mind you I was put in the soprano group. I was appalled and excited but it didn’t work because I don’t have it. It’s the same as teaching. I can’t be Adam Lambert, Kurt Nielsen or Taylor Swift.
 
In the end, what’s important is your objective as a student; you are in the class to learn. If you want jokes then grab a Reader’s Digest, I love the jokes they have there. Or maybe, grab an Archie’s Comic Book. I grew up with that and still liking it today.

Are you here to learn? This is my first question as always each time I do a class. Follow ups to that could be, are you here for coffee or free Internet access? I’m not in any way counting how many cups of coffee you drank while you’re in my class. What I really mind a lot is the answer to my first question.

Learning is a good thing. To top that, an equipped instructor is another best thing that could happen to you. Striking further your luck in the classroom? Getting rid of head scratching and blinking bulbs are some of the things I want to fix when you leave my class.

Therefore, I have easy rules that I strictly implement:

1.If I hear your phone rings I take it. It’s mine. If you hear mine, it’s all yours. If there are 10 students then divide it in 10 parts so everybody is happy. By the way, it’s not an iPhone or Blackberry. Too bad!

2.Internet Surfing anytime you want? I believe you’re in my class to learn, right? So limit your Internet surfing during the break. If I caught you and you ask me when you get stuck then I don’t hear you.

3.Questions are good for as long as it’s related to the course you’re taking. If you ask me how young I am, what’s my degree, where I came from; I don’t think these are smart questions. Let’s focus on your course and your objective for being in my class.

4.If half of the class hears me without problem then maybe you forgot your hearing aid or you are more focus with what I am wearing, my facial expressions and maybe where I came from, the foot of the mountains. Really?? I came from Timbuktu.

5.Class starts at 9am, if you come in 15 minutes late, I want to understand. If you come after the first break, I will definitely conclude you’re not serious with your learning. If you want me to value your time, do your part. Therefore, I won’t accept you after 915. See you next time.

6.Short stories, jokes. If you are after any of these then you are in the wrong class. I believe these are in standup comedy shows, vagina monologues or whatever flavors there are. I am doing technical classes in a corporate setting. I’m certified by the vendors who created the technology you’ve been taking. Therefore, don’t expect me to be funny and wasting your time with jokes and stories.  Wrong class, wrong instructor; reschedule it with someone funny enough to make you happy.

7.Break, break, and break. We need this to keep you awake. So I’m with you with this.

Classroom management is not easy. Teaching a course is neither easy as well. In the real world, students come from all walks of life. You all have problems, and some of you do not deal well with stress or conflict. I care about my students, but the number one reason you come to school is to learn. Therefore, let’s be focus and learn.