After each lesson or presentation we give we should take time to step back and analyze our performance. Not in a self destruct kind of way but a way that help us realize what went well so we can do it again and what didn’t so we can change it. Taking a few minutes to ask yourself and answer these questions after every presentation or lesson you give will improve your teaching. (more…)
Lets dive into the first topic, Content is King, of a 5 part series in becoming a better teacher and public speaker.
Ideas are the basis of every lesson, whether you are teaching the idea of Newton’s law, the idea of appropriate dating or the idea of running a more effective office meeting an idea is the foundation. Everything else is just supporting the idea being taught. It is easy to get caught up in the facts, the experiences or the argument we are sharing, and allow the idea to get lost under it all. (more…)
“Professors known as outstanding lecturers do two things; they use a simple plan and many examples.” - W. McKeachie
We learn in the form of stories we are naturally connected to stories, that is what we are most familiar with. Our lives are one story right after another all blending together with no real end or beginning and so to apply a concept we don’t understand against something we are so familiar with makes a lot of sense.
The majority of our conversations are relaying stories to each other, whether they are the happenings of the day, past experiences in our lives or things we dreamed up during moments of relaxation. We love sharing each other’s experiences and are intrigued by their views and perspectives on life.
Teaching is the perfect place for a story because one of your goals as a teacher is to capture your audience’s attention, a simple truth is if you don’t have their attention you will never be able to teach them. Although we are teaching new concepts and ideas that is not what is going to be the factor that maintains the audiences’ attention. The audience, before they will ever take your words as truth, must feel a connection to you as a person rather then just a speaker. The fastest way to achieve that connection is to share a personal story from your life. (more…)
Teaching is something we’ve seen almost daily from the time we were little. We’ve seen it in Elementary School, Junior high, High school, College, Tech schools, sports, 4-H, Church, Youth Groups, and so many more situations. And most of us at one time or another will find ourselves in a situation where we are teaching others.
But what is teaching? What is the difference between teaching and holding a group prisoner against their desire until you run your voice dry and time expires? We like to justify that teaching is not a form entertainment it is a form of work and therefore if people don’t enjoy it is their own fault. Teaching is instead probably or can be one of the most perfect unions of work and entertainment in this world. (more…)
