A New Order

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Changing Lessons

Good day to you all. Lots of busy days for me and like most of us, there are times when I feel I could have got more out of the day. Waddling along on my morning walk the other day, this got me thinking about how I used to teach the electricians entrusted (rather foolishly) to my care and there is a useful suggestion here for WA too.

I always started my lessons at 8.30 am prompt. My reason was simple, there is a set amount of work and learning to get through each day, if you want to go home early and leave at 4pm, then we start early at the beginning of the day. That sounds fair to me and it suited most of the lads and laddesses.

BUT … There is always that one person that can’t get it. Every day, 9am/9.15/9.30 they would wander in. Too much traffic, the bus was late, I had a puncture (what! Every day!). So tell me about the take-away coffee that you’ve got in your hand, you weren’t too late for that were you.

The problem was, that if, during that half hour or so of lateness, they missed anything that was important for their exams, I would have to repeat it all again. Sometimes the whole thing and this seemed to be a waste of time and then the students that had arrived at 8.30 felt frustrated because they were listening to the same thing twice when they could be learning something new.

Then it occurred to me (several years ago now) that during each day I always had a fault finding and tips session at the end of the day, usually from the last coffee break to home time. It was something for the students to look forward to. Most of them preferred practical things to do and this was a time for them to relax and learn some interesting tips for their future careers.

Why not, I thought, why not move the practical session to the start of the day instead. If they miss it because they are late then too bad, there is not the opportunity to catch up on practical work once we return to the classrooms, so if they miss it - tough. And a lot of the practical work involved me showing them tips and tricks to make their workday routines and on-site testing easier, things that you can’t learn from a book, and everyone enjoyed the practical part of their work.

Now, if anyone arrived late, they would look lost and confused. The chaps had already split themselves up into work groups and they weren’t prepared to let a late arrival into their group and have this person slow them down. It really was the strength of the peer group and for most latecomers it was a wake up call; if you want to be a part of our team then turn up with the rest of the team. They only arrived late once for a practical session before realising just what it was that they were missing out on.

I say most, because there was always the exception to the rule; there was always that one student who was not prepared to change their habits. They often decided to change career paths. Instead of learning to be an electrician with a vast earning potential, they chose the career of an unemployed couch potato.

So, back to WA. How does this fit in with us. Changing your daily routine can show up the things that you like doing – or not. It can show you where you’re strengths and favourite activities are to be found - and you can ask yourself why.

I did, and I found that I was passing too much time on the nice stuff, the graphics in my case, and not enough on the boring but essential tasks like website management. Once I realised this I took steps to make those drudgery tasks my morning’s work, the writing part became an enjoyable afternoon frenzy and the nice drawing activities, my favourites, are now my evenings reward for being productive during the day.

Try it yourself. When planning work, plan in the rotten jobs first and the pleasant bits last. After all, if you go to a fancy restaurant, you always have your cream cake last.

Try it and see. It may work for you; and if it doesn’t, go back to having the cream cake first.

Ciao for now

Bux

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Recent Comments

41

Hello Bux,

I hope you're doing well. Thank you for your thought-provoking and interesting blog post!

That sounds like a difficult game, teaching young people a trade! I like for example that you give of people being late and yet they had a cup of coffee in my hand! That's classic, it almost reminds me of being back at school apart from I don't think we had takeaway coffee!

It sounds like you had a good plan to get your students more motivated, which is very important indeed. I cannot imagine the frustration of having to go over the same thing over and over again due to people being late! It's different if they don't understand!

I find that if I have a job that I really don't want to do and I keep putting it off. It actually holds me back from finishing other jobs as it's always on my mind. It's much better to get those jobs done that you don't want to do at the start of the day. In this way, I can kind of work with a clear head or clear conscience!

Have a great evening.

Roy

Thanks Roy. I am still in touch with lots of ex students through Facebook, it's great to see their progress. Some guys from 10 or 20 years ago are now well established with apprentices of their own. I will always do what I can to give them a chance, a good start. But let me down and ....
Bux

It's a pleasure, Bux!

That's really great that you are staying in contact with lots of your ex-students, that says a great deal! I can understand that it must be great to see their progress as you mention, especially with the trials that students bring!

How nice to see the apprentices that you taught now have apprentices of their own! That's fantastic and very rewarding for you!

Yes, I think I would be the same, if someone is willing to learn but doesn't understand something, I can cope with that. But if they want to take advantage and are not keen, then I understand the consequences!

Sleep well.

Roy

Thanks Roy. Yes, I must think about sleep soon.
Half an hour with a good book first.
And there's a pork and apple sausage left over in the fridge, shall I shan't I. Or should I save it for breakfast.
Look after yourself
Bux

Good morning Bux,

That's a good way to unwind before you sleep!

As regards the apple sausage, I would save it for breakfast, but my suggestion may be too late!

All the best.

Roy

No Roy. Its 7am and the sausage has survived the night.
Bux

Good morning, Bux,

That's good, I must admit I am surprised, good for you! Enjoy it and have a great day.

Roy

You too buddy, have a great day.
Bux

First, you're a nicer person than I would have been. I would NOT have repeated information for the late comer. It wasn't fair to those who got there on time. I like the way it worked out though.

Don't we all procrastinate on things we don't want to do. We do the fun stuff first but if you "eat the frog" first thing, the rest of the day is better.

~Debbi

Definitely true Debbi. Eat the frog first.
I'm still in touch with some of my old students and some of them have really listened and made a career for themselves.
That spotty little kid is now a father of three with a four bedroom house and a Mercedes outside.
Bux

WOW. Impressive. Good for him!!!!

I always told my kids "what goes around comes around" Of course, that's what I was told and it sure did--I had 2 like me (not a good thing) lol

From my experience students like the one mentioned will always exist my friend!

I could tell a few stories about mine from my time in Brazil.. but it's getting late now, and those stories will have to wait for another day!

Love the message though... get the most undesirable tasks out of the way first, then the day can only get better!:-)

You get some rest chum.
The most memorable was a young chap, Kyle, who could obviously do the job but in his own words he couldn't be bothered. I got him through two of three exams with threats of violence and water torture. The third exam he took, his boss also took the same exam. Kyle refused to answer any questions on the exam paper, didn't see why he should and if his boss wanted to waste money on exams that was up to him. Obviously he failed and after spending £2000 on exams and training for him, he was out of a job the next week.
Bux

I imagine that he would lose his job after that behaviour Bux... what a waste my friend.

Yes, fancy behaving like that in front of his boss. It was only a small outfit, father, son and his son's mate (ex-mate) and they could ill afford to waste £2k. The father and son came back for more courses and just work the two of them now.
Bux

Well thought out Bux.

Myra

Thank you Myra. Tried my best.
Bux

When I taught electronics, Bux, I didn't have quite the same problem.
They were all high school students and bussed to the Vo-Tech, so all got there together.
Quite often I used that same technique though, of teaching the hands-on skills first, just to get their minds working and blood circulating
before going into the less interesting theory.
I have to admit that even with WA I prefer that cream cake first, however. Just my nature but eventually I still get to the rotten jobs.
Great analogy here in your post.

Archie

A useful confession!
Respectfully
Vasile,

I remember my own student days and electronics theory. Valves, transistors, ohms law zzzz.
The afternoons were better, let loose with a soldering iron and a wind-up Megger.
Bux

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