Through my job I am a member of a organization of like-businessed folks. At their upcoming convention they often offer a class in rudimentary drafting and symbol interpretation but don’t have a teacher for it this year. I’m thinking of doing it, but I’m shy. I’ve never done anything (exactly) like this before.
Advantages:
Raising my profile in the industry
Sucking up to the boss, a former president of the group
It might be interesting
It would definitely be a good learning experience because it would force me to learn and conform to industry standards instead of my usual “That’s nuts! This is how it SHOULD be done!” attitude
My raised profile might put me in a position to say “That’s nuts! This is how it SHOULD be done!” and have people listen to me
Why I might do an okay job:
I’m pretty good at what I do (plenty of technical skills)
I survived Dale Carnegie training and am not afraid of speaking to crowds if I “put myself in my special place” beforehand (people used to wonder why I closed my eyes and controlled my breathing before rising to speak)
It’s not until September, so I have plenty of time to prepare
Disadvantages:
I might screw up
I might bore my students to tears
I might not be able to stay in my special place for the full hour and a half
I might not have an hour and a half of things to talk about
I might screw up
Knowing you fine people, it’s a given that you will tell me to do it, as the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, so I don’t really know what I’m asking for in this thread. Mostly, I’m just talking myself into doing it, except out loud. But a little support never hurts!
Well, here’s a lot of support. Go for it! What have you got to lose? Worst case scenario: they all think “God, he’s nuts!” And isn’t it better to be feared than liked?
Give it a shot. You don’t really have anything to lose.
If you need help putting an outline together, let me know. If you want someone to help with a Powerpoint presentation, I can do that, too. I’ve done my share of drafting for several different industries, computer- and board-based. I also manage our CAD team at my current employer.
May I point out to you that often at conventions, we expect to be bored to tears, so if you don’t then we’re pleasantly surprised.
The screw up factor - hell if you know your subject that’s really not going to happen.
Re: amount of time - practice it. Time it. Keep an eye on the time while you’r presenting, so that if you seem to be running out of time (much more likely than getting done too soon IME), you can zip past some stuff, or if you’re needing to stretch it out, you stretch it out. As a last resort you can always do “Any questions?”
I just started teaching Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) software classes about a year ago. Before then, I had zero experience in training. I would say that I’m somewhat introverted – maybe borderline introvert/extrovert. I’m going to address your concerns here.
I might screw up
You’ve had plenty of experience with the topic at hand, and you’re preparing the material for the class. You really don’t need to worry about screwing up. As far as how you present yourself – I stammer and trip over my words more often than I would like when I teach classes. I have yet to receive a negative comment (or any comment) about this, just to cite an example.
I might bore my students to tears
Well, you are teaching a class in GD&T, so this is inevitable. The best suggestion I can offer here is to share your own experiences as they relate to each subtopic at hand, whenever you can. If possible, invite students to do the same. They will eat this up. Rather than someone who’s just been assigned a certain topic to teach, you’ll come off as a veteran who’s using his experiences to help others learn (kind of a “been there, done that” thing).
I might not be able to stay in my special place for the full hour and a half
I’m not sure what you mean by this one. Can you elaborate?
I might not have an hour and a half of things to talk about
Yeah you will. Sharing your own experiences will stretch this out (see above). You can also add workshops and/or exercises to the class. Don’t forget that ten minute break (see “boredom” topic)! Also, (this is an obvious one) prepare your lecture material accordingly.
Hope this helps, dropzone. Let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I’ll be glad to address them.
Actually, I’ve only been in the industry since July. But reading prints in a number of industries since 1977.
I might freak if it goes on too long.
Just spent two days in training with these guys. Managed to stay awake during the talk by the guy with the $250k speakers and the gorgeous GF. Nearly nodded during the class by the guy from Lucasfilm except I was busy trying to figure out how to talk management into sending me to Skywalker Ranch to learn more about acoustics. And my beeper went off. The rest? I fear some people behind me thought I have a problem with a spastic neck because my head kept jerking when I wokeup. Come on! An hour and a half learning how to program a whole-house audio system? Without a Hands-On? It’s just SOFTWARE! SHEESH!
If it’s like mine, thrown out. I haven’t been on the board since 1988, and that was a one-year fluke.
Hell, they already know that. Most of the people in positions of power in that org are, too. It takes a special (read: obsessive, even messianic) sort to convince people to part with THAT MUCH money just so they don’t have to drive to the movies.
dropzone: I was sent to a four hour seminar on e-mail. four hours. e-mail. f.o.u.r. h.o.u.r.s. the only thing I recall her saying was “oh, we have so much to cover…”
In that case, I suggest talking to some more experienced co-workers and get their war stories. Also, see if you can extract anything from your print-reading that may be relevant (I’m kind of grasping on that second one).
That’s another reason it would be a good idea to have a couple of 10-15 minute exercises in the class. Come up with exercises that are fairly challenging, but not going to result in the students shotgunning you with questions. Then, relax and recover (go back to your special place) while they’re working on the exercises.
Lessee… screw up… Yup, did that today. Bore my students to tears… yup. On a fairly regular basis, actually. Not have an hour and a half of things to talk about… um, my class is only 50 minutes long but otherwise, yeah… Hmm. I do all those things. In fact, I do it to two classes twice a week, and I’ve been doing it for two years now! And not only am I still alive, those silly people keep signing up for the darn class! BUAHAHAHAHA!!!
Um. ::ahem::
Sorry, got carried away there. Honestly, though, dropzone, if you’re good at what you do and you’re comfortable speaking in front of people, you’ve got the hardest parts out of the way.
If you start to feel that way, call a break. I doubt your students will mind.
When I first started teaching my classes, I felt like freaking out was an inevitability. I had no prior teaching experience (minding four-year-olds at a preschool doesn’t count, right?) and I suddenly had to lead sixty students through a whole semester. I told myself that if I ever needed a moment to collect myself, I’d call a break, and run off to the restroom or something. I didn’t call a break once that year, but knowing I could have if I needed to helped.
I say, go for it! You have time to do lots of research (both on-line and off, and maybe you could do a colorful PowerPoint slide show. You might even be able to find some related jokes and other eye grabbing type stuff.
I, too, have done almost no public type speaking things. I will be giving a presentation on crafts on Monday with my neighbor, as a volunteer sort of thing, at the halfway house where I work. I volunteered to do this because I know about the subject, I will have an interested audience, and it is a good start to something that will be necessary (speaking in front of groups) if I want to advance in my field.
Would it be possible for you to do a couple of dry run presentations in a smaller arena as practice for the one in September? Also, is there anyone who would be willing to brainstorm presentation ideas with you, or at least let you bounce your ideas off her/him?
This is so cool. I hope you do it. Good luck and best wishes.
Hm. Sounds an awful lot like why I’m afraid to have sex. (Especially the “not having an hour and a half of things to talk about.”)
Seriously, though, I’m sure you’d do a good job. If not, just imagine your (female) students in their underwear. Once you do that, you can, I dunno, just stand there and stare.
Fortunately, one of the guys I work with, the guy who suggested I do it, is a regular teacher at these things.
Yeah, I have to stop comparing myself with glib marketing guys who do this all the time and concentrate on actually TEACHING something. Let my geekish enthusiasm overshadow my errors.
If my recent experience is any indication, a fancy PowerPoint slide show is required. But I would like to provide a manual as my handout instead of the usual PowerPoint printout. Plenty of time to do that!
Unfortunately, this biz is still too macho for there to be many women in it. Tom Peters took us to task in his keynote speech last fall for virtually ignoring the female half of the purchasing couple, although they will use the stuff as much as the men will, or more.
FORTUNATELY, however, the wimmens who ARE in it are PRIME! Uh, not that this married guy would notice.
I’m almost disappointed. I have to wait until next year.
Conversation with that co-worker who also teaches at the conventions:
“I think I’ll do it. How do I sign up?”
“Well, things are set for this year*, so it would be for next year. But, since I’m the co-dean of that particular track…”
“Then I’m apparently already signed up?”
“You are apparently already signed up.”
Gives me PLENTY of time to prepare. Preparation time I can also use to set up something for my future assistant (with what they’ll be willing to pay, said assistant will be REAL inexperienced). But, knowing me, I’ll put it all off until the night before it’s due.
Would have been nice for him to tell me that YESTERDAY…
I’m a little late coming in on this one, but I want to say that I"m teaching for the first time this semester (college, desktop publishing), and I was scared to do it. I don’t liek talking in front of lots of people, and I’m horrible at planning ahead. I am, however, very knowledgeable about the sbuject, and that has made the difference. Keep a good sense of humor, try to planahead, and don’t let the students give you any crap. Okay, so professional drafters might not give you as much crap as college students try to, but it’s still a good attitude to have.
Teaching is challenging, and I’m sure you’re up to it.
