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Comment by Matt Mikowski on September 1, 2010 at 4:13pm

Guys thanks for all the great advice, I do teach out side of my department. I also teach at a fire academy in Lansing and i have learned alot from the guy's and gals that are the head instructors.
It is very difficult to teach at my station I dont get a lot of support from the higher ups here to control the masses. But i will use all the tactics that you have given and hopefully i will see a change in the class room.
Thanks guys stay safe.

Comment by Station10Capt106 on September 1, 2010 at 3:57pm

Trust is not something that can easily be gained. It has to be earned over time through your actions and attitude. Yes, your age and experience will be a hinderence to some. Do you have the attitude that some youngsters have that think that just because they took a class and got a pretty certificate to hang on the wall that you know it all? If you do, a wall will already be put up between you and your students.

As mentioned before, try to call out the trouble makers . . . not in a bad way, but by having them come up and demonstrate or explain something. See if they know what they are doing. If they don't, by all means don't degrade them but instead turn it into a teaching opportunity by explaining an alternative way (I try not to say that they are doing something wrong, instead I phrase it as here is an alternative that I've found better or that you should try).

Lastly, you need to have the support of your leadership. If things are getting out of hand, then they should step in and rein things back in.

If your confidence level isn't quite up there yet I've always found it easier to teach people I don't know. See about going to a neighboring department to present a class or two. You will generally get more respect and attention from others outside your department since they don't know you and will usually be on their best behaviour. This can help build your confidence and experience presenting material.

Best of luck to you.

Comment by CHIEF NORMAN on August 27, 2010 at 12:57pm

Well Matt for one thing you better make for dang sure you know what you’re talking about if you’re teaching it. For the ones who are disrespectful in my classes I call them out and put them on the spot and have them play a roll in a exercise and its a learning experience not only for that person but for the entire class...In my classes I have found it to be a whole lot easier to integrate the hands on portion with the class room event and if its a large class you need more instructors and that all depends on the class being taught. What you’re running into is your age / experience verses your knowledge. For you (Preach what you Teach) and find a way with what your teaching it can be used for the firefighters at hand, what I'm saying is your teachings should revolve around them and there district and what they have at hand. Your wasting your time if your teaching them aerial rescue and they only thing they have is a class 9 truck in service and the tallest building is a single story dwelling. At the start of you class have them introduce their selves and learn a little about them and the personality and work with that as you teach. I mean every instructor has to find there own way to grab the attention of there class and once they find that so to speak "nitch" keep using it...

Comment by FETC on August 27, 2010 at 12:45pm

Matt,

Your problems are shared by all new instructors when they enter the field. The complexity of your concern has many variables to factor. Your profile says firefighter and not an officer. Then you have your age, years of service, actual experience can play a part into the problem. Then again, from the day you started in your department, others have formed a preception of you and your work ethic. Some who were the jokers, (never serious) will struggle to modify that preception when it is time to become an officer or trainer. Some will never overcome the persona and struggle for a long time for others to take them serious.

In your case, how does your department feel about training in general, does the fire chief provide support with empowering the trainer or the officer staff to control unsatisfactory behaviors. Have you seen this attitude towards you during didactic delivery or is it during physcomotor manipulative drills as well? New instructors build personal confidence from positive deliveries, and sometimes internal department training will not afford the new trainer the opportunity for just that. I would suggest, you seek help from your immediate supervisor (officer) and confirm their committment that the non-constructive behavior not be tolerated by the officer's. If so, then you need to start off fresh at the next training delivery, set forth the ground rules and expalin that everyones time here is valuable and nobody wants to waste it over unnecessary distractions. If the individuals persist, then ask them to stay focused, direct the attention to them, ask them to demostrate, assist, or provide input of the subject matter. Many will shut down the behavior after being pointed out, good progressive school teachers have to deal with this type of behavior everyday in the kids classroom.

Your Fire Instructor 1 and 2 should have discussed how to handle distractions and misbehavior in the program, review your training materials as well.

The process of delivery is complex, understanding interpersonal dynamics is a challenge, these type of problems will continue throughout your career. Time is now to figure it out. If your department supports the problem, then I suggest you deliver some FF 1 training outside the department to build your experience in a more positive learning environment.

Keep in touch,
Bill

FETC Services
www.fetcservices.com

Comment by lutan1 on August 27, 2010 at 8:19am

5 years doesn't sound like a lot of time to be teaching these topics. Maybe it's simpley the street credibility issue (or lack of?). Don't know the answer....

Alternatively, it may in fact be your teaching style. If in doubt, set up a video camera and video yourself and watch it afterwards. I've done it and it's pretty confronting :-) But it may help you pick up some presentation tips.