How To Teach For Extra Income!

By William Samek

This book is designed by an experienced producer, Bill Samek, of audiovisual and technical training materials. He has taught classes in photography, video production, amateur radio and some of his other hobbies. It is designed to to get business people, hobbyists, technicians, craftsman and professionals started in teaching classes, seminars and workshops. The book covers basic and detailed information on preparation, teaching methods, techniques, marketing, advertising and execution of the reader's classes. He has also provided an extensive list of additional references for reader that will help them become better instructors.
The author has been teaching courses since 1980 and at the request of friends and associates he wrote this book to aid others in starting a teaching program. His goal has been to help start others on the road to sharing their skills and knowledge, some of them rapidly becoming lost arts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: William Samek
• Release date: Apr 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452439044

Book preview

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Table Of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1-My Personal Perspective

Chapter 2-What Does It Take To Be An Instructor?

Chapter 3-Getting Started - Making Preparations To Teach

Self Evaluation Questionnaire

Answers For Evaluation

Chapter 4-Basic Preparations For Teaching

Chapter 5-Developing Your Class Information

Chapter 6-Developing A Class Structure

Chapter 7-Preparing Audiovisual Materials

Chapter 7A-Audiovisual Update - New Technology

Chapter 8-Interactive Teaching Methods

Chapter 9-Logistics Of Teaching

Chapter 10-Marketing Your Classes or Seminars

Chapter 11-Teaching Your FirstClass

Chapter 12-Teaching The Regular Sessions

Chapter 13-The Process Of Teaching

Chapter 14-Teaching Techniques and Methods

Chapter 15-What Subjects Can you Teach?

Chapter 16-Secondary Sales of Materials Extra Income!

Chapter 17-The Business Aspects Of Teaching

Chapter 18-Potential Problems You Might Face

The Fundamentals Of Teaching - A Checklist for The New Instructor

Appendix & Reference Materials

Sample Handouts

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Introduction

This manual will instruct you on how to enter the profitable and exciting pastime (or profession) of teaching hobbies, crafts, and traditional subjects. Being an instructor can be a very profitable way of earning good money while enjoying yourself as well!

The average person assumes that teaching is only for highly educated people with degrees. This is not true! Many subjects are being taught by mentors, masters, journeyman or other skilled people in their specialized field willing to help people learn. So don't think you're not capable of being a good instructor. If you're good at some particular subject, craft, hobby, trade etc.you can probably teach it with proper preparation and a good attitude.

Most craftsman, hobbyists, and business people skilled in specific areas do not realize that their talents are badly needed. Colleges, clubs, individuals, professional organizations, speakers bureaus, etc. are constantly looking for people willing to teach their knowledge. Acquisition of knowledge is one of the fastest growing fields in business today and more people than ever are looking to take classes for self improvement.

Take the time to look around, you will find many people from all walks of life - ordinary people, skilled amateurs, and professionals offering courses, seminars, lectures, classes, demonstrations etc. on every subject imaginable! And they're making excellent money doing it!

In spite of the number of people offering such courses, there is still a shortage of good instructors. Many independent education companies have sprung up to fill the growing desires of people to learn new skills. People are always looking for ways to improve themselves in their jobs and hobbies. So, if you are looking for a well paying and very rewarding way to earn extra income, be self employed, or just a way to share your talents with others, teaching can be the answer.

My purpose for creating this manual came from discussions with other people, instructors and friends who would like to share their skills but weren't sure where to start. It became obvious to me that many of these potential instructors could easily get started with basic knowledge of simple teaching methods. I have to tried to cover as many of these basic techniques as possible, including what has worked well for me over the years. Of course, no text book or guide can be an all-inclusive study on the art of teaching.

Most potential teachers are not sure how to organize a class, how to design course materials, where to find students, and what teaching methods will work best for them. This manual is designed to help the average person with skills and knowledge, in any field, to learn the basics of teaching a class. It will introduce you to all of the fundamentals necessary to set up a class or seminar. Once you are familiar with these techniques, teaching a class will be easier!

This manual is not designed as a college level course, nor will it give you any professional credibility with state or Federal regulators in education. In most cases, it is not necessary to have certification to teach hobby related courses. Certification may be necessary in more traditional classes that are teaching such subjects as accounting, financial planning, legal courses etc.

It is written to help you become familiar with well established teaching methods. It will also show you how to develop these techniques. The manual will guide you through various aspects of operating your classes, including materials, advertising, outlets for your programs, where to teach, when to teach, and numerous other subjects you should know.

Once you are familiar with the basics of teaching, and have set up your program, the fun begins! The satisfaction you get from helping others is reward enough, but the income potential can be excellent also, so give teaching a try, you won't regret it!!!

Good Luck ! William Samek - Author

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Chapter 1

My Personal Perspective

One of the incentives I had for writing this manual was my own success as a teacher and the satisfaction I receive by teaching others. I have been teaching classes in one form or another for many years. These have been in my profession and the hobbies and crafts that I enjoy.

In all honesty, my initial motivation for teaching a course was a financial one. I originally started teaching non-credit, adult education college courses in photography. It was a way to supplement my income while starting my photography business. The pay was, and still is, excellent for the amount of work involved. Even today my teaching and development of educational materials provides a reliable source of income as well as being fun.

Most of my college education was in the area of secondary education - primarily for teaching in the Industrial Arts areas. My area of specialty was visual communications, graphic arts, and photography. When leaving college I decided to pursue employment in a non-educational environment. I still found teaching a rewarding experience on a less formal basis and later pursued teaching my hobbies.

My own career has been in commercial photography, graphic arts, and the publishing fields. I enjoy working in these areas a great deal and like teaching them as well. My skills have provided a great opportunity to teach others how to be better photographers, graphic artists, and publishers of their own materials and photos.

I have also found many opportunities to teach people skills that come with my many hobbies and crafts. Some of my hobbies include electronics, amateur radio (WB3BUW), photography as a fine art, fishing, skeet / trap shooting, computers, desktop publishing, collecting art, wood working, picture framing, and photo restoration. In one form or another I have taught classes or given demonstrations, lectures and training in a number of these areas. The opportunities to teach have been limitless!

On a regular basis I have been teaching various levels of photography, and darkroom skills for over twelve years through our local community college. My involvement has been rewarding and pays quite well.

I have also been involved with a local art gallery/frame shop on a part time basis. Part of what I do is help people design custom matting and framing and help them assemble their artwork. We teach these do-it-yourself framers the fine points of handling, preserving, and displaying their treasured artwork and photographs.

The gallery has a large, regular, clientele who are willing to pay for the privilege of being a do-it-yourself framer. Many of you business owners can do the same in your own businesses for extra profits!

My classes and seminars have also included my hobbies. I have given demonstrations to local clubs, the Boy Scouts, local fire companies, church groups and other organizations. In all cases the rewards have been worth the effort, emotionally and financially. The recognition in the community, and the promotional advertising benefits to my business have been tremendous.

There are far more opportunities to teach than I can realistically take advantage of! If you look around and check your local papers and business magazines you will find many seminars being offered in every field imaginable. These include self help and personal goal setting, better sales techniques, and how to make money in any way possible. As you probably know, many of these people make six and seven figure incomes on the lecture circuits! If you check the course listings for your local community college, you will find classes for every possible craft or hobby subject. Someone has to teach these courses and it might as well be you!

Some of the best benefits I have obtained from teaching are not financial. My teaching has been a great social outlet. I have met many new and interesting people from all walks of life and learned a great deal from them as well. Many of these people have become good friends and business associates, and many have become my mentors in their areas of expertise. I can honestly say that the return in benefits to me has been a great deal more than financial!

Keep in mind, the need for instructors to teach adults, students, and children is enormous. Many people in this country and around the world are still in need of training in areas as basic as reading. Unfortunately, the illiteracy rate in this country is appallingly high for a first world country.

The skills and trades are hurting for people to train their subjects. The average population of this country is getting older and is in serious trouble because there are fewer, skilled, young adults to replace these older workers. Part of this problem is due to the fact that the skills of these older adults are not being passed on to younger people. Many of the great skills, crafts and trades are dying because there aren't enough people to teach them!

Young students of all ages also need good instructors to get them involved with hobbies, crafts, and non-academic pursuits. This invaluable training helps them to grow into diverse, well rounded, and responsible adults. The Big Brothers and Sisters Program, Junior Achievement, The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, 4H Clubs and others are great examples of people willing to be mentors to kids.

In the adult world, people are craving for education in every subject imaginable including basic business operation, assertive-ness training, hot-air ballooning, and fly fishing. The demand for people to teach hobby and self-help classes is climbing rapidly. In the high stress world we live in, hobbies and crafts are an essential form of relaxation for people.

I think you'll find a great deal of satisfaction, as well as opportunity in teaching your skills, just as I have. Some of my most memorable evenings have been spent with my students in class, and after class over a pizza! Your teaching services will provide immeasurable value to your community!!

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Chapter 2

What Does It Take To Be An Instructor?

The correct question to ask is What does it take to be a good instructor? Anyone can be a bad instructor, but it takes a person dedicated to a specific field (hobby, craft, skill, business etc.), who is good in this field, with the desire to help others, and the desire to succeed as a good instructor.

Does this mean that you can't teach if you aren't the very best in your field? Does it also mean that you can't teach if you don't have any formal teaching experience? Not at all! If you are good in your chosen endeavor and have the desire to teach you can learn easily by reading this manual and applying its' techniques!

What it does mean is that you must have something to offer potential students -specifically skills and information, that they will be interested in and willing to learn. In addition to that you must be willing to prepare the information you will teach in a way that will be understandable and beneficial to your students. It means that you must have certain skills and attitudes in dealing with people of all types and personalities.

At this point it may sound like a lot to do to become a good instructor. As in any successful endeavor, teaching will take some work and development of new skills. When I taught my first classes, it seemed like a monumental task getting prepared. I had to learn many teaching techniques and skills the hard way. But in a short time, with the help of other people who were teachers, some reading on the subject, and experience, teaching became much easier. Today teaching is a pleasant form of relaxation for me, a great social outlet, and a good source of income.

This manual will condense the essentials into a source of reference for you, a place to start. It should make your first experiences as a teacher much easier and more pleasant. Please don't let the initial preparation scare you out of trying. As we all know, success only comes with work and dedication.

Qualities Of A Good Instructor

In preparing this manual, I spent a great deal of time thinking about the qualities of a good teacher. Over the years I have had excellent teachers in many different fields, and I've had some that were just plain bad, to put it bluntly! I'm sure you've had similar experiences! Some of these excellent instructors were professionals in elementary school, high school, college and professional seminar instructors.

Most were ordinary people who became mentors and good friends and helped me learn many skills and hobbies. Like most people, much of my knowledge and skill in various fields has come from these friends and associates. In thinking about the qualities that make a good instructor, I found a number of universal traits that make many people good instructors, including the average non professional person. I will list what I consider to be the good points of a skilled and enjoyable teacher. I will also list what I think makes a poor teacher.

It is unlikely that any teacher will have all of these traits. The best you can do is strive to acquire as many of the good teaching traits you don't have and always practice eliminating the bad ones you do have! (Good instructors aren't born, they're created by the individual striving to learn more, teach more, be more patient with the students, learn from his mistakes, and trying new methods.)

Since we all have had good and bad teachers in our lifetime, I'm sure you will agree with me on many of these points. You probably have a few of your own opinions as well. Keep them in mind when you begin developing your classes and your teaching style!

KEY POINT

A good way to improve your own teaching skills is to list all of the good techniques that your teachers have used with you. Also list all of the bad characteristics that you remember from your instructors, and techniques that didn't work. Then think about why they did or did not work. See if you can use any of the good techniques in your own classes.

Here is my personal list of what makes a good instructor.

• A person whose primary goal is to help others learn!

• One who shows enthusiasm and enjoys the subject they are teaching!

• Encourages creative and independent thinking

• Feels they have succeeded when a student's skills surpass their own

• Is skilled in a specific field or fields

• Is above average in their field (being the best you can be)

• Is always learning more about their field

• Will take classes themselves to stay current in their field

• Will recommend other good classes besides their own

• Uses a wide variety of teaching techniques

• Will keep students interested in subject

• Will keep students involved with subject

• Will use more demos, practical experience techniques and hands on techniques.

• Keeps lectures minimal, uses informal discussions

• Will be on time for classes

• Will dress appropriately when required

• Available to help students as much as possible

• Will answer all questions or find the answer if they don't know

• Makes a class an enjoyable social event when appropriate

• Will take field trips when possible

• Will invite guest speakers

• Will always keep the student's safety foremost

• Will always get feedback from students, what they like, dislike, and what they think can be done to improve class

• Will use lots of audio visual materials for clarity

• Will help students solve class related problems

• Will keep classes light hearted and enjoyable

• Will never chastise or humiliate a student at any time for poor performance or slow learning

• Will never indulge in sexist, racist, or ethnic slurs, bigotry or opinionated activities in a class

• Will always treat and respect students as he expects to be treated and respected.(Golden Rule)

• Will never become personally involved with a student during classes

• A good instructor will take extra time to help slow learners

• Above all else, a good instructor will remember that their first goal is to help other people learn the subject successfully

What characteristics do you think make a good instructor? List your own ideas and try to live up to them!

What are the signs of a poor instructor?

• Improperly prepared for classes

• Lack of knowledge in subject (obviously)

• No enthusiasm for subject

• No self confidence

• Shows no interest in students being successful. Only interested in the paycheck

• Poor attitude or temperamental with students

• Lets their ego get in the way of teaching material, (spends time bragging about their own skills)

• Has no respect for a student's opinion or position

At this point I'm sure you may feel a little overwhelmed with everything I have listed. That is to be expected, so don't worry about it! Most new instructors realize that they have a lot to learn to be good teachers.

Surprisingly, a lot of the skills that make a good teacher, you will already have, and the others you will learn quickly. If you were not curious about teaching, or did not feel the urge to teach, you would not be reading this manual. You probably already have a specific subject in mind to teach in which you excel. This puts you more than half way to being a good instructor.

The Instructor's Personality

A final discussion is in order about teaching students. It encompasses many of the points mentioned above and will play a critical factor in your success at offering classes. The degree of your teaching success will depend on your ability to communicate with people. Getting along with people is essential for your success!

You must have a tremendous amount of patience with all types of people. You will run into people who are less than pleasant to deal with and who can be down right difficult at times. We all have our bad days at times, and usually this is only temporary with most people.Keep in mind that you will run into people who have every personality trait you can imagine. When you are charging these people for your education services, you must always provide a quality service with a smile.

This is not to say you should take abusive actions from a student. You shouldn't, because you deserve respect as a person. It is important to be assertive and in control of your classes at all times. Other people have paid for your classes and they deserve a quality class without constant interruptions by a nasty or temperamental student.

KEY POINT

You must honestly judge your own personality first. If you are a tolerant and understanding person who likes to work with people, you will probably be a good instructor, even with temperamental or less than desirable students. If you are short tempered, intolerant of mistakes, can't deal with irritable people at times, can't control your own irritability, or are only teaching for the income (as many people do) you probably won't do well as a teacher.

Teaching will never be a get rich quick business when done correctly. There never has been a way of getting rich quick without hard work, and teaching is no exception!So good luck! With preparation and a positive attitude you should do well. Just remember to Know thyself and always seek ways to be a better instructor!

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Chapter 3

A Teacher's Responsibility

Now that you have decided teaching appeals to you, the fun begins. It is important to remember that teaching a class can be fun and profitable, but it is just as important to remember that if you are not adequately prepared, teaching a class can be a real struggle.

Whether you are paid as an instructor, or just doing it for fun, as a teacher you have a great responsibility to your students. This responsibility is one of personal character and can be a financial one as well if being paid to teach.