your suggestions please

Edward 99 · Dec 18, 2005

I am thinking about teaching basic electrical course and/or NEC @ a local city college by using the MIKE HOLT video series.

please give me your thoughts on where should i begin, what should i consider before i start teaching. How do i put a class program together?

tom baker · Dec 18, 2005

Re: your suggestions please

If the class is to be approved for electrical credit, start with what requirements are for approval.
Mikes presentations are in powerpoint, you'll need a laptop and projector.
What you can do is buy his DVD on the changes, review it to get the basics of what to cover.
He may give you the PowerPoint material, but this is depending on if you use his books> I always give out a book in my classes. I was the first instructor to use his material as a power point and gave him the 99 changes as a powerpoint presentation.
I'd start with the NEC changes.
However, it takes as much knowledge and experience as it does to be an electrician as it does to be an instructor. I may spend 40-80 hours setting up a class for presentation. You have to be prepared and it takes experience to present. And you must know the material.

Tom
Master Electrician
BS Workforce Education

pierre · Dec 18, 2005

Re: your suggestions please

I agree with Tom and would like to add, that when a student asks a question of which you do not know the answer, let him know you do not know. If you try to BS your way through, all credibility will be lost.

charlie b · Dec 19, 2005

Re: your suggestions please

I have posted the following "hints" before. But I think they are worth repeating.

Talk to your audience. Never, under any circumstance, look at the image you have projected onto the board and speak in the direction of the board.

The only time you should look at the board is to point to some item on the screen. Then while continuing to point at that item you face the audience and talk to them.

Never turn your back to the audience, not even for the few moments it takes you to move to the other side of the board.

Here's a simple aid to help you follow the "never turn your back" rule: Whichever foot is further from the audience (closer to the board) should be forward of the other foot. Try it. Start on the right side of the board (as seen from the audience) with your right side close to the board and with your right foot forward, and then try to move to the other side without turning your back on the audience. You will see that it is easy. Two steps and an inboard turn of the hips, and you are there.

Every 15 seconds or so, do something to recapture their attention. Their minds work faster than your mouth can speak, and they will drift away from you if you let them. All it takes is an unusually long pause (what's this guy up to?), or asking a question of someone in the audience (oh no, maybe he'll call on me next!), or changing to the next slide, or pointing to one particular item on the slide, or picking up a prop, or taking a sip of water, or asking if there are any questions, or switching from a quiet conversational tone to a slightly louder and more intense tone to emphasize the importance of what you are about to say, or just any little thing.

Never project onto the board a sheet that has more than a couple dozen words, and make sure the text is large enough to be easily read from five seats further back than the back of the room. Remember that the main educational experience comes from you, not from the board. The purpose of what is on the board is to help them follow what you are telling them. Don't make them read.

Understand that 70% of the understanding that the audience is likely to obtain will come from visual clues (words on the board, images on the board, props, and yes even hand motions count as visual clues). 20% comes from the manner of your vocal presentation ? speak in a monotone and you throw away 20% of your effectiveness. Your actual choice of words has no more than a 10% influence on what they learn.

Know your audience. Know what they know and what they don't know. Use what they know to help them make the jump into understanding what they don't yet know.

And my personal favorite, the pet peeve of all pet peeves,

Never allow a laser pointer to come within 30 feet of your hand. They are worse than worthless. They are a serious detriment to process of instructing. If you own one, throw it away. Don't even inflict its evil onto another person by attempting to sell it on MeBay. To those of you who like to use them, I say, "Learn the error of your ways and repent." To those of you who sell them or otherwise promote their use, I offer no apology, and I urge you also to repent.

pierre · Dec 19, 2005

Re: your suggestions please

In reference to turning your back to the audience, I agree. There is an easy way to handle this. I use an infared type handheld mouse that lets me move around freely for 100 ft. It also has a pointer that is only on the screen, elliminating the need for that horrible device called a laser pointer. With this device, I can freely roam the room and also see what the audience sees on the screen, this way I can easily use my pointer and see exactly what they see without being rude.
The best part of roaming the room, is the guys in the back get the sense that I care enough to get closer to them, and I get a better sense of how they are responding to the presentation. Time and again they will come up to me after the seminar and say what a nice touch it was to see me roam the room.

charlie b · Dec 19, 2005

Re: your suggestions please

Originally posted by pierre:It also has a pointer that is only on the screen. . . .

If the pointer is large enough that it can easily been seen from the back of the room, and if you can move to a point on the screen and leave it there as you talk, then you will have solved the two biggest problems I have with the laser pointer. If you can look at the screen of the notebook computer that is running your presentation, and can therefore see what the audience sees (including the position of the pointer), without turning around to look at the projection screen, then you will have solved the other big problem I have with the laser pointer. Bravo.

pierre · Dec 19, 2005

Re: your suggestions please

You can thank Tom Baker, as he helped me with the remote mouse.
The laptop I have is only 15 inches, and my eyes need bigger...I am in the process of getting a new-larger screen- laptop. The only issue at this moment is COST$$$$$. My laptop now is 3 years old, and I want a new one that will also last another 3 years. In the last 7 months of looking, the technology has moved ahead already. Maybe if I wait another 10 years I will be okay

stevearne · Dec 19, 2005

Re: your suggestions please

Hi Edward,

Glad to hear you are considering using Mike Holt products for a class. In addition to the Code Changes class mentioned in this thread by my friend Tom Baker, we have PowerPoint presentations and video classes on VHS and DVD on most all Mike Holt books.

The Understanding the National Electrical Code books would also be a good place to start, depending on your program needs. If you are able to get the DVD to go with the program it provides the whole class taught by Mike using the same PowerPoint that is available for each class. You can use the DVD to help you learn the material and how to present it, then use the PowerPoint in class. It is a nice touch to use some of the DVD interspersed with your own instruction during a class to provide more variety.

For anyone interested in improving their skill as an instructor, I would recommend Mike's June and July Instructor Training programs. They are great workshops for new and experienced Instructors alike.

Sarina is great help with details on any of the Instructor material; give her a call when you decide which program you want to use. 1-888-NEC-CODE

Best wishes on your new venture!

Edward 99 · Dec 20, 2005

Re: your suggestions please

Thank you very much for all the replies.

I think i will do good as an instructor,because i like to pass on my knowledge.

I am thinking about buying the whole library of MIKE HOLT's program.

Once again i appreciate all the input.

your suggestions please

Edward 99

Member

tom baker

First Chief Moderator & NEC Expert

pierre

Senior Member

charlie b

Moderator

pierre

Senior Member

charlie b

Moderator

pierre

Senior Member

stevearne

Senior Member

Edward 99

Member