Lesson Info
17. Preparation: Practicing Beforehand
Lessons
Day 1
1Class Introduction
15:45 2The Benefits of Teaching a Craft Class
12:46 3Determine Your Expertise
11:45 4Different Types of Teaching Venues
13:37 5Factors to Consider Based on the Teaching Venues
04:19 6The Importance of Lesson Planning
05:02 7The Different Types of Classes
11:16Determining the Class Objective
16:52 9Create a Technique-Based Lesson Plan
18:04 10Create a Project-Based Lesson Plan
30:04 11How to Approach a Venue to Teach a Class
16:18 12Factors to Consider When Negotiating with Venues
09:27 13Skype Call with Christine Haynes
41:03 14Workshopping Students Lesson Plans
13:13 15Preparations: Supply List & Kits
13:48 16Preparation: How to Get Ready & Other Materials
14:20 17Preparation: Practicing Beforehand
10:26Day 2
18The Day of the Class: Before the Students Arrive
07:36 19The Class Begins: Start with the Student's Stories
12:53 20The Importance of a Strong Class
22:31 21Timing & Pacing for a Strong Class
22:10 22Different Student Profiles
17:57 23Pitch Panel: Lisa Shaffer, Marie Muscardini, & Elizabeth Madariaga
1:13:32 24Obstacles That Come Up During a Class
10:12 25Always Use Positive Encouragement
07:50 26Great Answers to Hard Questions from Students
17:24 27Wrapping Up the Class
02:28 28What to Do After the Class
12:55 29Go Forth & Teach!
09:04Lesson Info
Preparation: Practicing Beforehand
We're going to really bring it home today with this point which we referred to before I know we get a little bit like do I have tio can I just go into the first class without you know, running through it I'm a little nervous I don't want to this is it exactly why you need to practice beforehand so what does that look like but first why? I just kind of told you why but way want to make sure that we have as much confidence as well as we can before we go into that situation especially if you've never talked before I can't emphasize this enough and chris we heard christine talk about it as well right? She grabbed some friends she made them she made them do it once and then in her even in her first paid class it was still kind of like a dress rehearsal okay, so grab your friends walkthrough welcome there, grab your kids, anybody, anybody who will you know sit down and go through this class with you so let's talk about a little bit of like what's are some techniques and what exactly to pract...
ice you need to practice your explanations and your demos and I'm going to refer back to what christine said about um I can't remember what exactly she said but it was something like something I thought would be so easy to, you know, way longer took my students way longer or her friends gave her feedback that that that wasn't clear okay, so this is why um practicing your explanations is really important and I guess my my example that I would give um so on a quilt in order to finish the quilt on the binding you do what's called a blind stitch on the back it's a hand stitch and it goes around the entire quilt so it depending on the size of recruits it could take a long time and in a class I was teaching I hadn't thought about how I was going to explain how to do that the blind stitch and I just was like I could not I like could I couldn't explain it I was like in the front of the class and I couldn't I was like, well, you take the needle and then you know, you kind of like you just so it's so you can't see it like that doesn't doesn't make any sense and so I had to come up with a better a clearer way essentially you have the two layers of fabric and you want to grab one layer first, pick up the top layer and then pull it out and then you go back to the first layer, grabbed the second layer, pull it out okay? So think about how you're going to and obviously I'm not in front of ah quilting group so it's going to be it's going to make a little bit last sense but you really want to make sure it's clear okay so pick is it going to be clear to somebody who is a beginner to your craft hey is there going to be cleared to a beginner to your craft and you want to practice anything that you think is a multi step explanation you want to make sure that you've talked it out and you I would go ahead and write down exactly what you're going to say and how you're going to say it okay holly some people learn a lot differently so some people get if you have some kind of rhyme still it sticks in your head or they're more like the found stays with them or exist usually like comparing it to something like give it like using a pneumonic device or you know something some sort of catchy phrase with a deliberation or you know I totally agree that's great um and I also want toe come in on what you said about people learn in different ways so if there's a way for you to not only say it but also to show it and repeated again by saying and showing and then you're you can go around once people start working it's something like for the blind stitch sometimes it's hard tio hard to get if you're just hearing it so you wantto make sure that everybody can see what you're doing and if it's a bigger class you might have to go around and show it a few times individually okay and we're going to talk tomorrow also about ways of doing demos um so practicing your explanations in your demos and then practice what you will say and what you will show so if your show if you're going to are going to say it and show it or is there something that you are just going to say and not show that so it's something that you need to show make sure you have the physical you know the actual thing that you're going toe demo on right? You don't want to be a situation where you like oh and then I'll um ok so really be tedious about what it is that you're going to show in your demos and have those materials with you like christine made reference to like she had to order her demos knowing that she was going to actually use up the materials and she wasn't going to have to go back because she just used it up in the demo ok, which is which is totally fine but you have to keep that in mind when you're ordering your ordering your demos or bring extra materials if you know you want to repeat a demo especially if it's involving materials that you're using up so like painting or drawing ok have enough blank paper to show a technique multiple times over and over from you know from the very beginning um huge reason to practice timing ok? And obviously this is not going to be a dress rehearsal with two of your friends it's not going to be the same experience as a class full of ten people write it just it is not but it's going to give you a good idea okay it's going to give you a good idea of how your timing is so extremely important reason and that's why you should practice um again we've said this and budget times already do a run through with a friend or a group of friends, okay? And this one is my favorite record yourself and I'm not even kidding about that ok? This is something that we get weight that we used to do in one of the schools I taught at right for professional development you would have somebody come in with a video camera and record one of your classes and you are you would be surprised the things that that you see on the kind of habits not madness is early. This is hugely important for our purposes, but I noticed how it's great that I haven't done it a lot today that I was like obsessively holding onto my whiteboard marker you know, like putting in my pocket, taking on my pocket and like almost like I needed it in my hand at all times and I was like, why don't I ever put that whiteboard marker down so it's funny the things that you pick up, but most importantly you're going to be able to hear how you've just explained something, okay? And this is also useful if you don't have anybody around to sit down and do a demo and did like go through your class if you okay, I know it's a little bit forced, but it's a really good way of practicing if nobody's around to help, or if you really just want tio embarrass yourself in front of nobody else and just make sure that nobody gets ahold of the recording, I'm just getting no it's it's just a good way of practicing. Are there any questions? I'll just comment that when you're doing all these exercises well, except for the recording yourself, it's a good time to use your iphone to take pictures of all the steps, and then you can use those for your instructions in the kits or re on the road or your block or whatever great point you've got the technology piece covered that's great that's awesome I love and you can include those in your instructional in your in your handouts to if you if you were really, um, you know, really feeling motivated that's awesome that's a lot of work to go for the beginning to the end to have to do it once for instructions or blawg but then again for your devil to do the timing of stuff, just do it all at once it would you might have to add a little extra time for the photos, but yeah, great point. Great. Um, are there any questions or comments from online? Lily uh, not exactly about how you want to. Yeah, okay, um, so we are just about wrapping up for today, but I obviously like any good teacher, I'm giving you homework since we are backed, it is back to school, you guys so you can't complain all kids across the world are back to school and so are we eso your homework is tio may is to write out actually right out using your template, one project based and one technique base lesson plan from start to finish. Ok, a couple of us have gotten ours kind of already done here today, but you can you're going to go actually go in and fill in all of the timing and everything and don't worry too much about the the beginning, the starting stuff, because we're going to talk about that in a lot more detail and you can refer to the samples that I gave you but it'll it'll make more sense. Once we go over it, and then you're going toe, craft a proposal or pitch for each of those classes. Okay. And for those who have really, you go get them attitude and spirit. I'll give you an extra challenge. Make more than one age extra credit for those of you who write three or four or even five lesson plans tonight.
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Ratings and Reviews
Claude Aimée Villeneuve
This was a very good class, well prepared and packed with such useful information! I've been teaching various arts and craft classes for over 10 years now and did it sort of instinctively. Ashley gave me the tools I needed to refine my classes and prepare really good classes outlines and how to find venues to teach and pitch my classes. That was awesome and I plan to watch it again and again because there is so much in it! This was a first class presentation! Thank you Ashley! Claude Aimée Villeneuve, Visual artist and teacher
a Creativelive Student
I'm not even half way thru the online videos and want to recommend this class to anyone who just needs that extra boost to start their own classes! I like the fact that Ashley suggests that we think from a student perspective to help us to better plan. This class covers many things I have heard before BUT in greater detail. When I hear the 'WHY' of doing things, I'm more likely to follow thru. These videos explain many 'WHYs' (There are many informative sites/classes for this topic but not many people give you 'this is WHY' it should be done this way) Ashley gives the "WHY' and the 'HOW to'. If you want to teach and are mostly ready to teach, take this class and all the gaps will be filled in and you will be ready to go forth and teach your craft!
Barbara Schiffman
Great class -- watched live (most of it) and purchased for ongoing review. I've taught many things, including some crafts (decorating gourds, collage, making your own tarot-collages) but I gained new insights, ideas and confidence from Ashley's advice, the students questions and input, and the panel! I recommend this for anyone who wants to teach a class -- craft oriented, personal development, or anything else!