James McMillan

Students can learn from their non preferred styles as well as their preferred styles, so it is important to cover as many as possible.  It can also help to make this a habit, to help prevent teaching to your personal preference and avoiding missing the other styles accidentally. 

Teaching future technicians can be a challenge.  These students are usually hands on learners, and covering technical concepts can cause students to shut down. I like to breakdown the vocabulary at first, simplifying a concept to layman's terms to remove the language barrier with mechanical nomenclature.  Then as we repeat the phrase or process later in the lesson, I begin to add the proper title of the part or concept I am teaching.  In this application, it helps to remove the stress of trying to learn a new concept with a new "language" and increases motivation to learn more as… >>>

The REFOCUS strategy was dead on.  I have over 20 years in technical training and this really hit home. I was reminded that taking the time to evaluate your class from the students, trainer, and course curriculum point of view is critical to keeping the class motivated, keeping ourselves focused on the student experience, staying on track with the course material and avoiding the "slump" we can fall into.  Great advice there.  

Motivation is created with enthusiasm for the class which becomes contagious, influencing the room and engaging your students. If we add a little fun in the mix the environment becomes favorable for learning and potentially easy to recall the knowledge learned.

Including students in the demonstrations, like having them be your hands, can help keep students engaged and the lesson in more likely to be retained.

Don't be afraid to let your students see you as a human as well as a mentor. Sharing a little about yourself will help make the training a little more special for the student.  

It is easier for me to create a relaxed and calm learning environment when I am calm and relaxed.  Arriving early, allows some time for my personal de-stressing and acclimation to the learning environment and the same happens as the early students arrive and set their own minds to the process of learning.  

The most important thing that happens in the classroom is learning.  It can be easy to get so focused on teaching that we lose sight of the learning. I think this was a great point in the lesson for new instructors that are probably more focused on the teaching element than the learning.