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Crafts: Reluctant learners or
reluctant teachers?
Most organisations generally only have one, perhaps two members of
staff who are genuinely interested in 'doing' crafts'. You may be
lucky and have more.
If this though is the case, think how valuable it would be to use
instructions that actually teach teachers how to deliver their
projects. How would it be if you could increase the interest
level in other non-crafty teachers? It's all possible if you use
instructions that take the facilitator by the hand.
In this scenario you have to image that reluctant craft teachers are
like children! They need to be interested, cajoled and led by the
hand to become confident learners first and then teachers.
Instructions may need to unravel resistance, in order to re-learn
competence. It's a lot to ask of projects, but if you can find
some that really are written in a 'no-fail' approach then you're all
winners.
The right instructions can increase the number of teachers/facilitators
you have available at any time.
It means no more waiting until Miss Jones comes back from sick
leave. With more staff willing and able to follow a set of
instructions you multiply the opportunities you have to both grow your
staff, and your learners.
If your staff are not confident in teaching crafts then perhaps it's
time to expose them to a new way of teaching. Chuck out the old
projects and bring in some new ones that really are step-by-step: every
tiny step-by-step.
The trouble with most instructions is that they presume a lot.
They presume some ability or motivation. If you want to enthuse
your learners you've just got to enthuse the teacher first. And
that comes with helping them to really feel confident about what they
are doing. But not only once. You don’t want them to master
just one activity but many.
The more activities you can offer, the greater the scope for learning.
The group can be exposed to more ideas, more often.
Another bonus in encouraging craft teaching is that you give your
learners a chance to be taught by a variety of people. People
with their own style and personality.
As you know, the instructions themselves are only part of the
deal. Whilst they might take the teacher by the hand, how the
teacher presents the instructions makes all the difference.
The trick is choosing instructions that makes the teacher confident at
every turn. Everything they could possibly have to know should be
presented to them in black and white. Hopefully with a colour
photo too (we like to see that we're making!).
So next time you're thinking about your reluctant learners think about
the reluctant teacher too. Hunt around for projects and
instructions that change resistance. Look for ideas presented in
a no-fuss style that will make your teachers zing with enthusiasm.
It's only in explaining things to others that we realise how much we
know - or don't know. Using the right type of instructions as a
building block will help you to grow your activity programme, your
teachers and your learners.
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Geraldine Jozefiak is passionate about
crafts and their place in
education. Be part of raising standards in teaching and learning
by offering the best possible creative opportunities.
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Looking for
craft
projects, books, teaching manuals or courses? Need ideas on what
to teach and how to teach it?
"The Craft Teacher" can save you time and stress in teaching and
learning crafts.
Click Here => http://www.the-craft-teacher.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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