CHL instructor ?

[ctsmith9962]

Hello Everyone,

I am thinking about getting my CHL instructor license and was seeing if anyone can answer a questions for me.

Do you recommend any classes I should take to make me a better teacher? I have been looking at the classes the NRA offers but not sure if some are better then others.

Thanks

[WildBill]

What is your background/profession? Do you have any teaching or public speaking experience or training?

Reading and posting on this forum may not make you a better teacher, but you will certainly learn more than you need to know about CHL laws and other related subjects.

[apostate]

I believe a working knowledge of adult learning theory would be extremely useful in that role. When I conduct training at work, formally or informally, I definitely find it beneficial.

[Keith B]

One of the days in instructor class is spent covering things you will need to know about teaching, but it is far from enough to make anyone a good teacher. Same with the NRA Basic Instructor Training portion of their instructor certification. Look to your local college or even private companies for a course on public speaking. That will be a good start to help you over nerves of standing in front of people. Then, look for any courses you can find in basic education and they can help you with learning how to develop a course outline for your classes.

[ctsmith9962]

I work as a commercial account manager for CITI and have a little experience with teaching in relation to work stuff. The ideas mentioned in the above post sound good and I will look into them.

Thanks for the info everyone!

[C-dub]

Teaching a class is hard. You have people like me to contend with. I don't tend to ask dumb questions or come off with wild opinions, at least I don't think, but I do have a hard time keeping my mouth shut sometimes once I get going. Be nice Keith B and Crossfire. You also get those that insist that something you are teaching is wrong and they KNOW what they think to be correct IS correct. Folks like that would be my biggest problem and I would probably end up loosing my teaching credentials over.

I train people, but I don't really teach anyone except my daughter, but I got that whole daddy/daughter thing going, so she's only tough every now and then. She is, after all, my daughter and takes after me. See above. Training, I think, has a different dynamic than teaching.

I don't know how long that "adult teaching theory" has been around. Is it required in the course? I did not get it in my first two classes, but did a few months ago in Crossfire's class. I thought it was very interesting and useful.