Narratives work!!!
It's amazing how telling a story evokes emotion and makes us remember what is said. I still remember stories my grandpa used to tell me when I was little. And what's funny is I remember the lesson he teaching me, too. I think if a person wants to make an impact stories are the way to do it.
However, I think there is some limitation to narratives. I think they work on most concepts. Although, if an instructor were to tell a story for every little item then it would take forever to get through a chapter or article. But if the instructor used the narratives to define an overall theme or keys points in the chapter then it would work effectively.
For example, if I were teaching Emotional Contagion (like I told a narrative about in class) I would use my story to show how emotional contagion works and what it is. I wouldn't then tell another story to show different types of emotion in emotional contagion. I think I were to do that it would make the narrative not seem as important. So I think it's essential for an instructor to use narratives strategically in their lessons. If they do then the stories will work!
Challenge: Make sure the story relates, and make sure it is used in the right place and right time during the lesson.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Teaching vs. Training
Teaching vs Training had a lot of similarities but yet differences, as well. Teaching and training both have students and participants in mind. As a teacher or trainer the idea is to reach the most amount of people and have them understand the concepts. However, the time may be different between teaching and training, as well as the structure of the lessons. For example, trainings usually are longer days but in short amounts of time - weekends or an evening. They also may been more structure of time. A lot of information needs to be crammed into the weekend training. On the opposite side, teachers usually have a semester to teach or an entire year. They can also plan lessons in shorter spurts and try not to cram as much material into each lesson, but instead spread it out over the course.
The way we talked about teaching vs training was through an online form, and that's what I want to spend some time on. We used wikispaces and google to develop our class outline of Teaching vs Training. There were a lot of differences between this and an in class discussion.
The part I loved the best was being able to be at home. I was cooking bread and sipping hot tea while interacting with my classmates. Also, I was able to use the restroom whenever I needed, and I didn't feel like I was distracting from the class. (Little things like that make a difference, and I wouldn't think they would, BUT they do). I also, liked having technology at my finger tips. If I didn't know something I would look up a definition or an article.
The parts I didn't like as much was missing out on our laughter together. I couldn't hear anyone's voice or see anyone's expressions. I feed off of that interaction, and I definitely felt a lack. I also think that since I was the only one (at least I think) who was in a different room I felt a little out of the loop. I believe I was at home and the other students were in the grad office.
But overall it was a fun experience. I got to feel what it's like to interact in class online. (That's a funny sentence). If I were to use this is any class I believe it would have to be with a more advanced class. I think if I were to try this with a 101 level some students wouldn't have anything to do with it, and they would use it as a free time instead of work time. But I do see how beneficial it would be for more advanced classes because they could look up articles or definitions while they were interacting with everyone online.
Challenge: Advanced classes try an online class where students get to interact virtually with materials at their fingertips.
The way we talked about teaching vs training was through an online form, and that's what I want to spend some time on. We used wikispaces and google to develop our class outline of Teaching vs Training. There were a lot of differences between this and an in class discussion.
The part I loved the best was being able to be at home. I was cooking bread and sipping hot tea while interacting with my classmates. Also, I was able to use the restroom whenever I needed, and I didn't feel like I was distracting from the class. (Little things like that make a difference, and I wouldn't think they would, BUT they do). I also, liked having technology at my finger tips. If I didn't know something I would look up a definition or an article.
The parts I didn't like as much was missing out on our laughter together. I couldn't hear anyone's voice or see anyone's expressions. I feed off of that interaction, and I definitely felt a lack. I also think that since I was the only one (at least I think) who was in a different room I felt a little out of the loop. I believe I was at home and the other students were in the grad office.
But overall it was a fun experience. I got to feel what it's like to interact in class online. (That's a funny sentence). If I were to use this is any class I believe it would have to be with a more advanced class. I think if I were to try this with a 101 level some students wouldn't have anything to do with it, and they would use it as a free time instead of work time. But I do see how beneficial it would be for more advanced classes because they could look up articles or definitions while they were interacting with everyone online.
Challenge: Advanced classes try an online class where students get to interact virtually with materials at their fingertips.
Interview - Training
How to Impress.
Goodness, if everyone knew how to impress we may not know what to do with ourselves! From personal perspective, I think we sometimes forget how to put our best foot forward. I think in modern society we tend to become very individualistic, and approach people and jobs with an attitude of if they don't like them then I don't care. Which in some cases may protect us for when we don't get the job or don't get along with people. However, in most scenarios it's important to remember we are human beings and we need to use manners needed in different contents. Because, let's face it, an employer, more likely than not, will hire someone who is dressed for the job, acts maturely, articulates their words, and who put in effort before the interview as seen in their resume and cover letter or letter of intent.
Throughout my training I emphasized these important aspects of 'how to impress'. We spoke about how to impress on paper and in person. I used quite a bit of contrast between what is normally done and the added punch of what stands out. I did this with visual aids of resumes and cover letters, as well as mock interviews.
What stood out most to me was the comfort level people have with scripts. It is extremely easy to revert back to a 'script' - where it sounds like everyone you're saying has been rehearsed. And the sad thing is, it sounds like anyone could say it. It isn't personal, and it isn't impressive. To help with this I have contrasting examples of what to do and what not to do. We practiced how to take a question and turn it into a story or experience they could share.
Since I had put together an outline with this on it I knew I would cover the idea of scripts. However, by listening to the group I realized just how important that idea was. So I decided to alter my outline and spend more time in mock interviews to practice avoiding scripts. I feel as though this decision really helped the participants understanding of how to stay away from sounding generic.
The one thing I would change about this training was that I knew the participants. Since I knew them I feel as though they said only good things about me on the evaluations - which was great. But I think there could have been more feedback if I didn't know all of the students.
Challenge: Make sure to listen to the participants. If I listen I will be able to address their needs and they will get more out of the training.
Goodness, if everyone knew how to impress we may not know what to do with ourselves! From personal perspective, I think we sometimes forget how to put our best foot forward. I think in modern society we tend to become very individualistic, and approach people and jobs with an attitude of if they don't like them then I don't care. Which in some cases may protect us for when we don't get the job or don't get along with people. However, in most scenarios it's important to remember we are human beings and we need to use manners needed in different contents. Because, let's face it, an employer, more likely than not, will hire someone who is dressed for the job, acts maturely, articulates their words, and who put in effort before the interview as seen in their resume and cover letter or letter of intent.
Throughout my training I emphasized these important aspects of 'how to impress'. We spoke about how to impress on paper and in person. I used quite a bit of contrast between what is normally done and the added punch of what stands out. I did this with visual aids of resumes and cover letters, as well as mock interviews.
What stood out most to me was the comfort level people have with scripts. It is extremely easy to revert back to a 'script' - where it sounds like everyone you're saying has been rehearsed. And the sad thing is, it sounds like anyone could say it. It isn't personal, and it isn't impressive. To help with this I have contrasting examples of what to do and what not to do. We practiced how to take a question and turn it into a story or experience they could share.
Since I had put together an outline with this on it I knew I would cover the idea of scripts. However, by listening to the group I realized just how important that idea was. So I decided to alter my outline and spend more time in mock interviews to practice avoiding scripts. I feel as though this decision really helped the participants understanding of how to stay away from sounding generic.
The one thing I would change about this training was that I knew the participants. Since I knew them I feel as though they said only good things about me on the evaluations - which was great. But I think there could have been more feedback if I didn't know all of the students.
Challenge: Make sure to listen to the participants. If I listen I will be able to address their needs and they will get more out of the training.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)