it is better to say nothing and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Stardate 26th September
My thoughts on class dwell on the presentation, it didn’t go well I was nervous and under prepared. why was this the case because the hand out describing the task didn’t mention it was a presentation and didn’t indicate it was to be 1o minutes in length had I know this I would still been nervous but I would have researched more.
Also whilst I’m playing oh lonesome me on my violin, everyone else got to work in groups Dan no mates had to tackle the project single handedly, so I lost out in the group discussion elements of the task. I was surprised how uncomfortable I felt talking out of my subject, it’s better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. My teaching has always been of a more practical nature. I am at home showing somebody how to do something. I use hands on approach
Wednesday morning’s lesson went well. Today was the day I made the first stab at introducing the work shop lesson plan. Designed to track the student’s ambitions and progress it relates to their specific projects. I was only asking each learner about their projects and taking notes on paper, but it felt useful. It helped focus not only me but the student on their individual goals.

If you think cutting glass is scary, You should try teaching cutting glass

Stardate Monday September 24th
What is a teacher, well I hope I am one I’m a little late with this entry of my journal due to the fact I scared myself all last week and decided to relax and stop thinking about it for a few days. Last Tuesdays lesson we discussed the qualities and skills a teacher should have, this promoted discussion and seems to have cemented the structure the course appears to be talking i.e.
Steve will introduce a topic which will lead into a general discussion.
Then we are divided up into groups.
We discuss the topic as a group with or without some kind of practical element such as which is the odd one out.
Once the room begins to sound like a pub we are called back to order to discuss our findings as a group
I’m surprised such a simple system works so well promoting social interaction and healthy discussion moves the group along well.
We went on to recap on the previous lesson which served to both remind us what we did and to fill in the late starters on what they missed.
We discussed what constitutes a quality and what constitutes a skill then were set the task to draw one such characteristic as a art school graduate with 6 years training it was only right that I let the nurse push me aside and deride my input but I had fun anyway and despite how it sounds I’m not bitter .

We then did a boundaries task just laying out our roles and responsibilities and what we weren’t expected to do.
Finishing with a legislation task that was cut short by the closure of the library.

Wednesday’s new lesson.

The first lesson can seem hectic I’m constantly aware that new students can find the whole thing scary. I also find myself equally scared, so my tendency is to diffuse the situation with humor. This proves to be a reasonably good approach and somewhat helps to break the ice. If you think it’s scary to try to cut glass for the first time try showing 10 new people how to cut glass for the first time. I find it interesting the different levels of ability learners demonstrate. I try to make the first lesson about cutting class, broken up with some required paperwork(no pun intended)I draw the analogy that learners have use scissors their entire lives and in the first lesson can’t be expected to become as adept instantly. Some students learn fast some learn slowly. I don’t know why it surprises it just does. My job would be easier if they would all learn at the same pace (note to self ask Steve how to make them)
Its crazy how the best laid plans can fall apart because every photocopier in the building can break at the same time, I managed to get it all through in the end but my copier fob ran out also, it’s all sorted now. How can a dedicated photocopier with one purpose in life be so unreliable, to jam and run out and just not do its job? I’m not trained to do so but I seem to be forever pulling it apart and fixing it.

When eating a elephant take one bite at a time.

Star date Monday sept 17
When eating an Elephant take one bite at a time
Omfg there’s so much paperwork here to be read wads of it .I’m trying to wade through it but its flooding in through my eyes and out through my ears do this don’t do this acronyms why can’t anyone just type the damn meaning of the words ,it’s cold and unfriendly .I don’t expect hugs from the course just clarity. Do I need to read it all now, am I better picking through it as required?
I’m worried about the upcoming assignments, my subject is a craft, based the levels of observation and assessment could be a challenge. My learners achieve a great deal on my course .I try to encourage them but as un-accredited course people come because they’re interested in learning a skill, but in general have no desire to gain a qualification .I’m worried if I make the class more academic the class will lose retention. So much paranoia so little time into the course. The teaching is largely one to one the actual speaking to the class as a whole is mercifully little. I’m concerned that unlike a language lesson where question and answer sessions are the meat of the lesson my efforts to aid learners on a one to one basis will seem or be insufficient.

lesson 1 Teaching is like being the host at a party where everyone is sober

Reflective Journal
Star date September 11 2007
Teaching is like being the host at a party where everyone is sober
The first lesson I arrived late, weirdly I arrived early I just had been misinformed about the start date. 9/11 nice start date, seemed to be a bad omen, but then again I don’t believe in that crap however I digress.
The course started with us all designing a t-shirt onto which we drew our interests ,my mind went blank damn I need to invent some cool interests(note to self lie in future abseiling ,extreme ironing p.s surfing is out due to Steves apparent expertise bound to be found out. Seemed an interesting way to get to know a little about each other, seems to help at the very least create some bonds of shared interests (boo hoo I confessed to being as computer nerd I sense impending social isolation
The short treasure hunt was best left unmentioned, maybe a chance to hang with the classmates, lol
Next up the library induction yes I love it I loved it both times I saw it they make it a lively and fun thing. However I’m still faced with a dilemma I looked up stained glass on the online catalogue and as yet they still don’t have any books on the subject, I did order some well I placed an order but as yet they haven’t arrived, so do I have my class inducted or not
Playing on the college computers I looked on the mentioned http://www.intute.ac.uk/ website which had some interesting stained glass links, shame the provided hand out doesn’t appear to have the website address. Took some guess work to find it.
Back to the class room we had a joint task of listing good and bad teaching experiences ah team building skills
Just don’t ask me to catch someone as they fall back am English we don’t do trust
Big piles of paper were thrust my way I seem to be a assignment short. I am sure there was a second one, still it was enough to make my heart pound and my fingers sweat. I wonder if it’s just me freaking from the continual oh you’re doing the teacher training oooh that’s a lot of work that
Sigh