To teach or not

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jimport

jimport

Senior Member
Location
Outside Baltimore Maryland
Occupation
Master Electrician
I would like to hear views on teaching an apprenticeship class next year from anyone that has taught. Good, bad, difficulties etc. I don't want to make the commitment and find out it is not for me. How did you handle topics where you do not have a lot of depth to draw on?
 
I have taught much to many, but not formally/professionally. What better example to set for students than your willingness to admit you don't know everything and to learn alongside them?
 
The worst teachers I’ve ever had in life were those who knew everything. You soon realize that they are the only ones who THINK they know everything.
There is so much more to teaching apprentices than what’s in the book. Work ethic, workmanship, safety, humor, humility... I’ll take a teacher with years of field experience way before one who knows the code book inside out.
There are few things I like better than sharing what I’ve committed my life to with others who are excited to learn. Like the previous post eluded to, you are also sharing the wisdom that once you enter the field, you continue to learn. No one knows it all - however Mike Holt is right up there!!!
Just my opinion...
 
I was a faculty assistant in college. I learned more trying to teach a subject than by trying to learn it.

If that makes any sense...
 
Declined a similar offer to teach a wiring certification curriculum for a popular trade school in 2009.

Back when banks were dealing with massive mortgage-loan defaults, and US congress acted to prevent similar default on student loans. The college boom was standing room only, max-occupancy violations in every classroom, and assembly area. They offered me ~45k year, and pushed me thru interviews, with little regard for lack of curriculum mastery, and muted my observation of a construction-layoff crisis.

Everyone was on board with the training program; even after Union shops had folded, and laid off JW's were waiting for economic recovery. After seeing enthusiastic young people wearing their tool bags in class, in the middle of an unprecedented-construction recession, I knew the terrible experience they were headed for, and realized I don't believe in this business.

When construction work slows, contractors flood into the service sector. Competitors reporting on each other forced me to notice license-board stings, to survive in self-regulated purgatory. Now, competitors take it up a notch by trolling me on Yelp, calling me under the pretext of a client, and undercutting my rates.

You never know who's on the phone, who's inviting you to violate licensing, engage in workers-comp fraud, ask you to install fire hazards, or who's just blissfully ignorant. Trade school prepares no one for this bad business, or the rival trolls on this forum, but it does send naive and uninitiated hopefuls into an uncertain future.
 
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retirede said:
I was a faculty assistant in college. I learned more trying to teach a subject than by trying to learn it.

If that makes any sense...
Click to expand...

Yes it does.

The only teaching experince i had was a few ems intro courses , i really had to bone up

~RJ~
 
jimport said:
I would like to hear views on teaching an apprenticeship class next year from anyone that has taught. Good, bad, difficulties etc. I don't want to make the commitment and find out it is not for me. How did you handle topics where you do not have a lot of depth to draw on?
Click to expand...

I am teaching second year in an area where the direction and guidelines are slim. Basically I am supposed to teach "commercial electrical" and I am supposed to focus on learning how to use the NEC for purpose of taking the journeyman's test. I think the best resource we have is Mike's preparation books. I use the Journeyman's prep guide for the second semester and basically have the guys take test after test. Since it has been a while for me, I am taking them honestly right along with them. I definitely practice what larryfine is preaching. I want the students to see that I have struggles finding things in the code book right along with them. I think it helps.
 
post #2 is spot on.
everyone doesnt know everything

if you anticipate that the questions will be above/beyond the class, then perhaps the students are in the wrong class, etc.

being a teacher/instructors is an art of its own. knowing the material and subjects is just one part, knowing how to handle student behaviors, questions, attitudes adds to the challenge. i think the key to it is being engaged with the audience, keep them involved, challenge them, etc etc. you do not want it to be like a motivational speaking session, that = boring.

i have done a lot of instruction (not electrical) over the years, questions i dont have solid answers for (which are not covered by the materials) i usually just say i don't know but will get you an answer, making sure to note the question and to provide an answer.

opportunities to teach/instruct should not be overlooked, take the opportunity even if you only do it once, it's the life experience that you get from it, etc.
 
In addition to what everybody has said about the subject matter, keep in mind that you will be dealing with a room full of 18-25 year olds who are not fond of doing book work or taking tests. They will spend the time right before class meets copying homework answers from each other. When they go on breaks they will be smoking pot in their cars. Some will get unruly or disrespectful in the class room. Teaching can be wonderfully rewarding, but you must be prepared for all of this.
 
I am teaching totally green students in a community college-4 hours a day- 2 days a week. 4 hour classes are difficult and we often don't make it that long. We do 2 hours of class then 2 hours of lab. These are students who know absolutely nothing about electricity.

As others have said, I too have learned a lot teaching. It takes a lot of work planning etc. One thing our school is lacking is a good lab but we are making due. I was promised a max of 12 and ended up with 17-- too many for the lab but we are doing it.

It is hard for me to recommend teaching to anyone because you really have to want to teach and you do need to be good at it. I would be happy to talk with you about it if you want

pm if you want and I'll send my phone # to you
 
Coppersmith said:
In addition to what everybody has said about the subject matter, keep in mind that you will be dealing with a room full of 18-25 year olds who are not fond of doing book work or taking tests. They will spend the time right before class meets copying homework answers from each other. When they go on breaks they will be smoking pot in their cars. Some will get unruly or disrespectful in the class room. Teaching can be wonderfully rewarding, but you must be prepared for all of this.
Click to expand...

Boy you got that right Copperdude , i can recall setting up a number of 'stations' ,which is no more that a "patient" requiring assesment , simple ABC's prim & sec , standard fare stuff.....which devolved quickly into a bunch of giggling teenagers feeling each other up......:slaphead:~RJ~
 
I do "training" which is a little different, but it's also harder as you are usually talking to people that have some understanding so it's very easy to get off track with the banter.

I will say this about teaching, it is a learned art. I've known guys that were smart as a whip, but could never seem to teach anyone. Sometimes our own egos get in the way and we are trying to show how smart we are and then we go right over the head of whoever we are trying to teach.

I watched and instructor tell a student that they are not wires, they are conductors. Yet we use the American Wire Gauge and not the American Conductor Gauge.

Also everyone learns at a different rate and in a different way, me I'm hands on, others need to hear it and some need to see it. As a student, if I understand the subject I am usually pretty quick to pick it up, then I get frustrated with the slower people to the point that I start to tune out and stop listening.

I'm sure that we've all been to those eight hours classes that you thought would never end, and to the ones that you thought to your self "wow, it's been eight hours already". The second ones are the really good instructors, they keep you engaged and make it interesting.

So I guess in answer to your question, I always feel very fulfilled when someone tells me they learned something, but it would be really sad if you took the position and found out that you weren't really good at it.
 
jimport said:
I would like to hear views on teaching an apprenticeship class next year from anyone that has taught. Good, bad, difficulties etc. I don't want to make the commitment and find out it is not for me. How did you handle topics where you do not have a lot of depth to draw on?
Click to expand...

well, everyone teaches, and teaches all the time.
lots of lessons serve mostly as a warning to others.

don't do it for the money. your compensation directly will suck
for the time you put into it.

there is a feeling that comes with it, that is the real payoff.

and speaking to the person who thinks the muppets will be out
sparking up in the parking lot..... yeah, if you are lucky.

i was told you should take the license exam in the same state of
mind you studied the information. ok. so i studied for my journeymans
license test by staying up all night with a quarter ounce of powdered
enthusiasm, and some freeze dried mushrooms, and a fifth of jack danials,
to provide a stabilizing effect. skipped sleep. entirely unnecessary.

ate a bowl of oatmeal, and walked in, took the test. finished 3rd out of 75.
first was JT, but he was a licensed PE when he took the journeyman's test,
so he cheated.

i remember each of my teachers. i learned a lot from them.
i appreciate the time they took.

go ahead and do it. it's worth it.
 
Good comments all.

As for the OP's questions, only way to know if you like to teach is to try it.

I taught parts of a PE prep corporate course for about 10 years, but was teamed with 5 other engineers and we alternated the weekly classes. Teaching and mentoring was part of unwritten prerequisite for becoming a Tech Fellow at the company, so was added incentive.

All 'students' were graduate BSEE or better already working for the company, so none of the 'student problems' mentioned. One advantage was the text author (J. Camera) also was in the rotation and as co-worker had the advantage of a source to ask as to the intent of sections of the text.

Personally did not enjoy teaching a formal course.
Others may find the experience enjoyable - worth a try, one can always teach just one course then drop it unless it requires a long term commitment.

Have also given seminars at SAE and IEEE/APEC conferences (3 hour seminars) which could be construed as 'teaching'. Again, prime motivation was 'check mark' on road to corporate advancement.
The seminars were educational in themselves as all attendees were very interested in the subject matter (power electronics) and feedback was excellent along with discussions.
 
jimport said:
I would like to hear views on teaching an apprenticeship class next year from anyone that has taught. Good, bad, difficulties etc. I don't want to make the commitment and find out it is not for me. How did you handle topics where you do not have a lot of depth to draw on?
Click to expand...

I would look at the quality of the group that you'll be teaching. Over the years I had been asked to teach in our apprentice school but declined because IMO too many didn't want to learn, they just wanted to get through their 5.5 year apprenticeship. I would also look at how the school is run, if it's like a college full of adults then that's a plus, if it's like a prison then it would be understandable why not many would not want to learn.
 
I was also an instructor in a polytechnic college years ago (1989). I covered a subject six months semester syllabus in two week's time by discussing topic titles in an attempt to enhance students understanding. But I did not wait to see the fruits of my effort because I left next month to join one year apprenticeship training in POCO (India). :)
 
I first taught a year of an apprentice class at night. I discovered I liked teaching but wanted a student body that were more informed about the electrical field so I started teaching test prep courses at different community colleges. I liked that but now I only give seminars for electrical contractors, inspectors and private industry. The money is better and the challenges are greater. Teaching has taught me more than any other thing I have done in my life and has inspired a thirst for more information, I would definitely recommend it.
 
Learning effectiveness drops off after about 20 to 25 minutes, so I have students take 5 min. breaks every half hour.
Worst class ever was a 3 hour non-stop marathon to try to cover lots of essential material...and that was by my department head who is supposed to be demonstrating to us how to teach!
I use lots of powerpoint, and hands on as much as possible. Some learn visually, some tactually.
Use team teaching and use guest speakers when possible.
Give students a chance to speak, but be ready to cut off time hogs, also called hams.
The highlight of my class is a field trip to a job site. Show job site owner that this is covered by community college insurance.
I give a test every class session to reduce test anxiety.
Try to go over every test ASAP so so the right answer will be remembered. If too much time passes, the student will actually learn their wrong guess.
 
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