Tuesday, February 26, 2013

What Makes a Good Teacher

I attended a 2-day very intense soldering class this past weekend.  I signed up for the class last fall and I have literally been counting down the days - I was so excited! It was offered through a local bead store, and featured a supposedly well-known teacher. Well, I will not divulge his name, as that is not what my blog is all about.  I will share some things today.

I am basically self-taught.  I have lots of books.  I have taken several e-classes.  I even have more DVDs than I care to mention.  But I have only taken a handful of classes through artBLISS.  And after this weekend's class, I realize how blessed I am to have taken the classes at artBLISS (Jeannette and Cindy  - thank you!).  The teachers at artBLISS are well known - Kerry Bogert and Stacie Florer.  The teacher this weekend COULD NOT EVEN HOLD A CANDLE to these two exceptional teachers.
 
The first problem, in my opinion, was booking 11 students who sat around elongated 8' tables.  We were dealing with fire people....my opinion is that the class should have been limited to 6 students maximum.  The five of us on one side of the table felt utterly and completely neglected.  At one point, I soldered a charm to my piece.  He came over, asked "did you attach it properly", and then fiddled with it, and the charm fell off.  Instead of assisting me, or giving me any guidance whatsoever, he snatched it from me, and yelled "I have another repair to do".  He proceeded to place it at his station and then walked around for 29 minutes (yes...I timed him) while I sat with my arms crossed...waiting....
 
This went on for 2 solid days. I am not the only person that experienced this in his class. Not once did I hear ANY positive feedback.  I am not saying that I needed to hear "Oh Patti...you are wonderful!"  What I needed to hear was "Yes, Patti, you are doing that correctly". Or, "No Patti, that is wrong, let me SHOW YOU how to do it correctly".
 
I added up my total "idle time" from the two days (15 hours) - AT LEAST 4.5-5 hours.  There was actually one point on Sunday, around 1:30 PM, that I almost got up to throw my $50 kit fee on the table and just walk out.  But,  I kept repeating my word...my mantra - FEARLESS - in the back of my head, and I stuck it out.
 
I am also in no way, shape or form, a "prude".  However, I do not want to hear about a man's bathroom habits while I am attending class in hopes of learning a new jewelry design technique.  I would also like a little enthusiasm...just a little.  I am not even sure he actually he actually enjoys creating jewelry. 
 
Okay - my rant on this past weekend is over.  Phew!  I feel better.  Now, I do want to again thank Kerry Bogert and Stacie Florer for exhibiting the qualities that I believe make for being a good teacher:
  • Enthusiasm-they actually enjoy what they do!
  • Congeniality-two of the nicest women you will every meet!
  • Knowledge of the craft - oh to spend just one day in their studios would be a dream come true!
  • Preparedness-not just for the task at hand, but also what to do if something goes wrong
  • Patience - if these women were flustered by the students, man, I could not tell!
  • Ability to involve the students in the task at hand-both Stacie and Kerry had students exchanging ideas - it was awesome!
I know that I am leaving things out of the list above, but those are the most important, to me.
 
In the end, I am STILL glad that I went to the soldering class.  I really did learn a ton of information, even though it was truly an agonizing weekend!  Here is my completed pendant:
 
 
 
I try so hard not to be negative on this blog - but I actually feel better after venting! 
 
Thank you for stopping by and indulging me in my rant! :)  Enjoy the rest of your week!

20 comments:

  1. Oh, Patti - so sorry to hear about your experience. You're right: it takes so much more to be a teacher than showing up and being smug. Glad you have learned something - the pendant is beautiful, and the knowledge will be put to good work with you, I know :)
    Maybe in the feature ask for references for any unknown (to you) teacher ;)

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  2. Your pendant is beautiful, Patti, but it's awful to have spent the weekend that way. Good teachers are really a gift and I often wonder why some people teach at all. I'm sorry your weekend was awful, but you'll definitely put what you did learn to good use, I'm sure!

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  3. As a teacher myself (not jewelry), I'd say you got the contrast spot on! I have to say that I did a soldering class with more than 11 people around a long table, and the first thing the teacher did was complain that it was too many for her to monitor--but she managed (and with some tact). I've had another class where a (famous) teacher "corrected" a "mistake" (that I'd done on purpose) without asking me first. It isn't easy to be a teacher and keep your eye on so many active folks, I know--but some definitely do it better than others. All I can say about your unfortunate experience is that I hope you got to leave feedback; that teacher needed to hear some.

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  4. Hugs to you, dear Patti...and thank you for totally getting what we try to do in our workshops...xo!

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  5. Your pendant is lovely and I am glad you did learn some... but sorry to hear the teacher was less than ideal. I think your reasons for dissatisfaction are really worth reporting to the organisers. Many years ago, I went to a lampwork class at Band B. They were still setting up, doors were open and the flame was dangerously all over the place. I mentioned my annoyance to the organisers and was given a partial refund which was pretty decent of them. When you are learning to use a torch you really do need a bit more attention..11 students sounds like a lot!

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  6. First, your pendant is gorgeous. Well done! But wow! No matter how well known you are, if people are going to pay you to teach then you actually need to teach! Nothing excuses what you put up with. So sorry to hear you were so excited, yet let down by this guy

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  7. Patti - I am so sorry you had an awful instructor! Can you submit an after action review (I can't think of a civilian word for this) of the class? Let the bead store what was good and bad about the class - maybe that will help them in the future when offering classes?
    Your pendant is stunning and I am glad you were able to get something out of that class. Way to be "Fearless"!!!

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  8. Patti, I am so sorry to hear about your awful experience but happy to hear that Fearless got you through. I am amused that you timed things. Only because that's exactly what I would have done. I hope you'll persist in soldering though. It can really expand you 'tool kit.' I totally agree that Kerry and Stacie bring the very best to a class. They are fantastic.

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  9. Patti - great job on the pendant! Sounds like your mantra is working! I agree totally with your teacher-quality list. I know that those of us who have been blessed to take ArtBliss workshops are spoiled! Sorry you got a dud...you definitely need to file a complaint with the bead store who sponsored the class.

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  10. Patti, your pendant is beautiful and very hard earned. To have a lousy experience taking a 2 hour class is unacceptable, let alone a TWO DAY class. People are paying with time and money. Small class sizes are always optimal for actual learning. Too bad Mr. Patience doesn't realize that.

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  11. So disappointing when you were so excited to take the class. And two days of it! Kudos for hanging in there. Sounds like he's quite the jerk. Maybe he's been teaching too long and needs to quit. But in spite of it you made a really gorgeous pendant!

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  14. Patti, I can't imagine how disappointing this must have been. I hope you'll keep teaching yourself to solder. It's such a good thing to know. Your pendant came out great! (Weird, I thought I had left a comment here a week ago. Maybe I was dreaming.....

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  15. Patti, I have been meaning to comment on this experience...gosh how disappointing! I'm sorry you went through this (but boy is your pendant beautiful!!). I wanted to tell you how wonderful Nick Barnes is - he teaches at Star's Beads in Vienna as well as the Art League (soldering, metalwork). Thank you for the kind words about artBLISS - and yes, Kerry and Stacie are such fine instructors! Looking forward to seeing you at the event this year - we'll make up for this negative experience! ;-)

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