Gilbertson Synoground

It is critical to document every safety meeting. What the topic was. What solutions to the danger where discussed. So on and so forth. It is also critical to get signatures from everyone in attendance. "C.Y.B." Cover your butt. Safety is for everyone, not just the ones performing the work.

Rubrics help clarify the progress a student is making. They are much better than just saying good job or you passed. Rubrics give deeper feedback and Insite into what a student is doing right and what they can improve on.

There are a multitude of learning styles. Learning through action is more efficient than lectures.

I believe that competency-based learning is a great method. Having hands on experience helps to ingrain the theory-based teaching.

Keep files of your used lesson plans. By doing this, when you teach the same class again, you already have a good reference. This along with any new topical industry changes can help make your lesson planning go faster. 

Just like giving a timed speech, planning a 60-minute class will require 1.5x the material you think it will. Even then, have some back up plans (i.e. discussion topics, anecdotes, etc.) to fill time because you never know when things will go to smoothly and you finish your prepared lesson ahead of time.

Keep lectures to a 10-to-15-minute length. Adults struggle to pay attention beyond that. Also, keep steps to procedures to 7 or less at a time. Be sure to walk among the class during labs to verify and encourage good work. Don't be afraid to stop the class and redemonstrate what y'all are working on if the majority of the class is doing it wrong.

Get there early. No matter how many times you've set up and checked the class, it's good to do it one more time before the start of the first class. This is the time to set the tone for the class moving forward. 

Clear goals and objectives are crucial. Also, having a prepared check list for each class helps me as the instructor to not miss any point I put in the goals and objectives.

It is important to keep an ongoing list of areas you need or want to develop. Do this so you can have a laser focus on continuing education classes or materials you use to improve yourself.