Training Day
Monday, June 19, 2006
Why do adults suddenly act like children when in a classroom?
Let me roll back. Today was my first day to train my own class on the electronic medical record system. I mean, this is the *whole* of my job...and it didn’t go as well as I would have liked it too. Now, i may be a bit too hard on my own performance, but it just wasn’t the fun time that I had hoped it would be. But then again, how exciting can learning computer software be? No matter how much you’re in to it, it can be boring. Or frustrating. Going to fast or too slow. Unapplicable to some jobs or completely engrossing to others. Oh, and i so wanted it to be fun!
Anyway, so my class went well enough. I think people understood the benefits of the system. They may have gotten a bit lost, but i think they’ll be alright. The part that really bummed me out was towards the end when we had to get the learners to do evaluations in a very frustrating system. People got so discombobulated and confused that there was general chaos. I had to actually YELL at them to bring them back to order. WHAT?!? Do i really have to yell at adults as if they were a kindergarten class to get them to pay attention?
I was completely defeated after that. Now, I know I shouldn’t take it that hard. After all, it was my first class. But I was still frustrated. All in all, i really liked the people. It was after lunch and people were probably drowsy from that anyway. So i’m trying to take it constructively. I have to find a way to be interesting enough to keep them engaged for 3 hours straight and yet not take it personally if they are noisy and confused and negative and in la-la land.
So we’ll see how things go in the upcoming weeks. Wish me luck and pray for me, too! I can’t waiti until this becomes second-nature!
It’s your FIRST class, you perfectionistic freak! Of course it will become easier and more fun, for both you and the students. That said, I’ve always thought that teaching is exhausting work. Not only do you have to work out something in your own head, but you have to figure out how it can best be worked out in someone else’s. I have no doubt that you can do this and thrive. And I love you.
Posted by on 06/22 at 12:18 PMHate to disappoint you, but I took a CE class filled with “adult” dentists in SF this last March. The instructor actually had to yell out, “Stop talking and listen to what I’m saying” followed by “You. . . in the corner. . . I can still see your lips moving!” This was shot at a 40ish male talking to his friends. Boy did this cut down talk. . . quick. What’s really sad is that everyone pain about $600 for this one day class! Sad.
Posted by on 06/23 at 09:53 PM