TRAINING YOUR STAFF TO REACH THEIR AUDIENCE: CONFERENCE SESSION FOR APPL 2012 Margie Klein NDOW Conservation Educator Certified Environmental Educator & Interpreter Licensed Nevada Teacher Member, Nevada Storytelling Guild Winner of the 2011 Conservation Education Award from The Wildlife Society MAKING A RELEVANT CONNECTION
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Appl Presentation Training Staff To Reach Audiences
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TRAINING YOUR STAFF TO REACH THEIR AUDIENCE:
CONFERENCE SESSION FOR
APPL 2012
Margie Klein NDOW Conservation Educator Certified Environmental Educator & Interpreter Licensed Nevada Teacher Member, Nevada Storytelling Guild Winner of the 2011 Conservation Education Award from The Wildlife Society
MAKING A RELEVANT CONNECTION
Program description
“Making that all-important connection to the audience is the goal that every education and interpretation staff or volunteer strives for. But how do you make a deeper connection and why do you need to? The information and instruction we give at our public lands can affect people’s lifelong attitudes. Reach your public lands visitors in a relevant way by utilizing some methods from environmental education, as well as some tips from formal educators.”
Agenda – Connection – what is it and why do we want it? – How do we teach audience connection? – Training/teaching techniques
• Planning • Communication • Delivery Methods
– Who is our audience and how do we address them? • Learning Styles
– Classroom Management – Tips to make it better – Assessment – Along the way…
• Examples
_____________________________________
How do we relate audience connection to our staff?
Through our training techniques.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Where we are going to go…
“In the end, we will conserve only what we love;
we will love only what we understand;
and we will understand only what we have been taught.”
- Baba Dioum
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Why we do what we do
Tilden’s Ideas…
• “Chief aim of interpretation is not instruction, but provocation.” (4th principle)
• Provocation new information try new things critical thinking changing attitudes/behaviors
• Provocation prompts a response • Provocation via connection
Presenter
Presentation Notes
How does an interpreter evaluate his/her effectiveness? Measuring changes in attitudes/behavior – How? Conservation actions, for one.
CONNECTION =
ENGAGEMENT
Connection – What?
• Getting the audience to develop an awareness of or sensitivity to their surroundings
• Our audiences need to be made aware of the resources we preserve / conserve.
Environmental Ed precept #1: Awareness
Connection – Relevance to Whom?
• How does it affect them? • Give information about where
the resource came from or how it works.
• So they can convey the significance of our resources.
Environmental Ed precept #2: Knowledge
Connection – How?
• Techniques
• Give them the skills to find out more on their own
• By relating information, they can help their audiences find out more and continue their interest. Environmental Ed precept #3: Skills
Connection – Why?
• To get others to take action to
protect our lands, if they so desire
Environmental Ed precept #4: Action
E D U C A T I O N
origin of the word… educare (Latin) “to bring forth from within”
Teaching is helping another person to learn new knowledge, skills,
and attitudes.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
In the act of training our staff, we provide them the example for engaging their audiences.
Teaching Techniques
• How to Communicate Effectively • How to Develop a Positive Classroom
Style • How to Create an Exciting Classroom • How Students Learn • How to Teach Effectively • How to Manage the Classroom • How to Use Assessment
Getting Started
• Preparations – Necessary for any expedition – Necessary for any worthwhile endeavor
• Need to consider:
– Date & time – Logistics (the site) – Materials needed – Followup
Materials / Supplies
Teacher’s Kit The Lessons Displays Props Handouts Posters Presentation / electronic media Student supplies Giveaways / throwaways Exams & score sheets Certificates or cards of completion Emergency number …Snacks?
Planning the lesson(s) • Start with a topic • Do research / get background info • Make an outline / agenda
– What are the elements you need? • Introduction, Supporting Evidence &
Recommendations, Conclusion
• Create a presentation • Write out a script • Gather materials • Rehearse
Planning the lesson(s)
Lesson planning model: Warm-up Introduction Presentation Practice Evaluation Application
Gathering & organizing ideas
• Identify the topic • Brainstorm the topic • Assemble related materials • Separate main and supporting
ideas • Develop examples • Organize the lesson
It’s All About Communication
Captain, Road Prison 36
“What we've got here is failure to communicate.”
Cool Hand Luke
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Most conflicts arise from a problem in communication.
7 Keys to Effective Communication
• Have confidence • Show genuine interest • Organize & clarify your ideas • Be clear about your purpose • Stay on topic • Use a questioning strategy • Listen twice, speak once
Start the minute they arrive
• Welcome each individual • Smile, handshake, enthusiasm • Make a connection • Show interest • Focus on them • Get their name
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Make a good first impression.
The personal connection • Who are you?
– Let your students get to know a little about you.
• Keep the conversation limited – Give them a story they can relate to
• Not storytelling hour – Not the place for tall tales or fish stories – Or your life story
• Remember to ask them about themselves
Listen • Remember, we have two ears, one
mouth
• Give them a chance to ask questions – No such thing as a stupid question – Repeat their question so all can hear – Ask others for their input
Clear & correct ideas
• Make sure you know your ideas ahead of time
• Stay on topic • Guide any discussions • Gently correct misconceptions • State facts • If you don’t know the answer, tell them • Don’t make things up • Be “in” the moment
The “parking lot”
• In-depth discussions can take place outside of the classroom
A Positive Experience
Use a positive communication style
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Speaking of food…
Positive vs. negative styles
Positive Welcoming
Friendly
Interested
Genuine
Confident
Negative Cold
Doesn’t listen to others
Arrogant
Patronizing
Unsure
Verbal communication
The way you speak
Tips: Think before you speak Choose neutral and understandable language Vary the tone of your voice Restate questions Allow student feedback
Nonverbal communication
The way you act
Tips: Eye contact Smile Open gestures Be relaxed but confident Move around the classroom
Use 7 principles of instruction
• Encourage student – instructor interaction
• Encourage cooperation • Encourage active learning • Give prompt feedback • Emphasize time on task • Communicate high expectations • Respect different learning styles
Being fair and objective
• Leave your personal opinions at home
• A teacher is a facilitator of learning
• Not the place for war stories, brags, or sermons
Downplay the negative messaging
• “You can” works better than “Do not”
Avoiding boredom…
NDOW volunteer!
4 guidelines
• Make it exciting • Be practical • Find out how things work • Use technology
• Follow agenda & goals • Stay on topic • Guide discussions • Keep pace • Control distractions
“Tell them what they need to know, tell them again,
then ask them what you told them.”
Pacing • Check the time • Check the agenda • Try to keep on schedule • Wrap up or add a discussion to speed
up or slow down • Flexibility ok – address goals
Utilizing “flow”
What is it?
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Flow ties everything together
Student feedback
Checks for understanding Encourages participation Connects student – teacher - material
Teachable moments
• Take advantage of spontaneous occurrences
– Something unexpected • May illustrate a concept • Gets students to think • Adds to understanding
– The AHA moment • They GET it
Crowd Management
What can you do? • Set up the classroom so you can
see what’s going on • Tell students what they’ll be
doing ahead of time • Move around the class to check
student interactions • Have rules for movement in and
out of the classroom and for behavior
• Stick to the rules • Monitor results and adapt
techniques
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Examples: The attention-seeker Give them attention by assigning a task The knowledgeable person Thank them for their input; tell them to continue on break The disrupter Call for break; speak to individual Remember to remain professional.
Assessment
• Who / What – The students – The course – The instructors
• When / How – Before class – At the beginning of
class – During class – At the end of class – After class
Assessment = Evaluation
Have they acquired the following?
• Awareness • Knowledge • Skills • Ability to take action
A combination of techniques assesses all
of these.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
4 precepts of environmental education
Pre-test / Post-test
How much do you know about the subject before the class?
How much have you learned from the class?
A survey of knowledge
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Do post-test here
Question & Quiz as you go along
Tell them, tell them again, then ask them what you told them.
Checking comprehension
Practical experience
Help me to do it.
“Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.” Chinese proverb
Checking application of knowledge to skills
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Testing their knowledge and skill
Evaluation • Let your students tell you:
– How was the site? – How was the overall atmosphere? – How did the teaching techniques work? – Were the props / handouts useful? – Did they learn what they expected to learn? – Did they learn something new?
Retrofit • Instructors review:
– Logistics • Classroom set-up • A/V materials
– Content • What went well • What didn’t work • Student comprehension
– Classroom management problems – Communication
MAKE CHANGES
Final thoughts… • Pump up the Connection
– Teaching Tips – Storytelling Secrets – Polishing the Performance
Presenter
Presentation Notes
There are resources out there…
Final thoughts… • Build the Excitement
– Market – Advertise – Get the word out
“Teachers have the power to encourage or discourage their students.”
AHA! Aim for the …
moment
Presenter
Presentation Notes
No greater fulfillment for a teacher than when their students “get it.” The AHA moment.
Front-line communicators • Remember, YOU represent your agency!