While serving in the U.S. Army, I was trained as a Senior Instructor. I learned that to be good at instructing others there are three basic rules…
1)INTRODUCTION: Tell the class, what topic you are about to instruct (talk to them about, and if there will be demonstrations) Highlight the major items of importance being cover by the topic (light overview).
2)TEACH: Do the instructions, and demonstrations. If there is a demonstration, first do it at normal speed with no commentary. Then do the demonstration again, breaking the demonstration into seqments, with commentary (best to do the commentary before or after the demonstration segment, so you are looking at the class, while speaking).
3)REVIEW: Closing out with a review of the most important items covered during the class.
TIPS: If you want to include group participation, asking question of the group during the class. I learned that the best way is to …
A) Ask the question, then pause… this allows everyone time to think about the question.
B) Ask if anyone wishes to respond.
C) If the question is not the one you were looking for, Thank them for their answer. Gently reword the question, explaining that the previous response was not quite what you were hoping for, repose the (reworded) question to the group again. This will save face for the person that responded with a different reply from the one you were seeking.
At the end of the class, open the floor to questions from the group, for you to reply to! If time is short, limit the number of questions.
It is hard to stand upfront of a group and talk about something, write out the lesson outline, before you give the class, and practice the whole class (including demonstrations), until you are comfortable with the instructions. Time yourself, you be surprise that, the time alloted for the instruction, is too short or too long, for the instruction you will be giving. This will help you either add material or delete. It helps to tape record while you are practicing, so you can hear yourself, and polish up you speaking habits.
Always turn to face the group (or look up if you are doing something on a table while facing the class), when speaking! Do not look over the heads of the class when talking, instead look at various members of the class as you speak, this helps to give them the sense that you are speaking to them.
~ Parnelli
Post Script: I found that to prepare new material for a class instruction, required 8 hours (minmium for each hour of instruction) for writing, preparation, and rehersal. To do the same topic again at a later date, required at least 2 hours of reviewing the lesson outline, and rehersal.
[This message has been edited by Steven H. McGarthwaite (edited 25 January 2006).]