Self-Study Course

Task List 5: Working a Class or Seminar

In the last lesson we explored how to use test your own understanding of a subject. The best way to learn something is to teach it. In this lesson we cover how to instruct a class or seminar.

How to Time Your Lessons

  1. Modern research into education indicates that the average attention span is between 15 to 20 minutes. Keep presentations of any single topic within that time limit. Use this as a means of naturally organizing the sections of your presentation.
  2. Include only 1 or 2 major ideas in each section.
  3. Reinforce your presentation by building in either five minute testing periods between topics, or five minute discussion breaks. These serve to reinforce what you have already covered, and it gives students a chance to move around and renew their interest.
  4. It is tempting to get the fundamentals out of the way to get to the interesting stuff; this short-changes the student as they become aware of the short time spent, and the attendant belief that such topics are unimportant as a result. I suggest reversing the order of time and spending a good deal of time on the fundamentals, emphasising their importance.
  5. Plan to revisit topic of importance from multiple contexts.

Preparing Your Lessons

  1. As you plan your presentation, proceed from idea to the name given that idea. Make sure the student leaves understanding that the idea is more important than the name.
  2. Include demonstrations where possible.
  3. Include illustrations where possible. Build up illustrations in layers.
  4. Make sure you leave enough time for your presentation and questions afterward.
  5. Make sure you have personal notes to relate facts not given in your presentation material.

Presenting Your Lessons

  1. Make your lesson nice. Simple and nice is far better than glitzy and poorly done.
  2. Include humor, but don't make it into a joke; keep it light-hearted within the context of the material.
  3. Keep the class active; ask them questions throughout to keep them thinking about the material.
  4. Give simple examples that are easily followed.
  5. Ask the students for additional examples.
  6. Challenge them at every opportunity.
  7. Reward students who have the courage to make an attempt, even if their attempt is wrong. At least compliment them for their courage.

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