Tips For A Successful Weekend
Licensing Class
Knowing Is Not As Important As Doing
The purpose of a weekend
Amateur Radio licensing class is to get people licensed and excited to learn
more about our great hobby
Today's active lifestyles
are making free time a rare commodity, yet people still want to get involved in
activities such as Amateur Radio.
Some of these potential hams
are looking to serve their community in times of emergency or are looking to
enhance their technical skills or perhaps they simply wish to meet new people
and experience the camaraderie that ham radio offers.
Whatever the motivation is
to get an Amateur Radio license, the majority of the knowledge required to
become a good ham is learned after one is licensed.
The three major components
to a successful weekend class are:
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Pre-study. Students must get
familiar with the material beforehand.
-
Enthusiastic and energetic
instructors. Instructors are there to motivate the students and positively
reinforce the goals of the class.
-
Follow up and mentoring. New
hams should not be allowed to fade away. Including these new operators in club
activities and exposing them to experienced and knowledgeable people will help
them develop good operating skills.
These suggestions come from
instructors and clubs that have conducted successful classes. We hope that you
find the experience of others helpful to you and your group. Please send any
feedback or suggestions to club@arrl.org
Thank you to all
instructors, mentors and examiners who volunteer their time in order to
introduce new hams to the exciting world of Amateur Radio.
Before The Class
Location and Facilities
-
The location for a weekend class
should be easy to get to. If it is off the beaten path then use markers on the
main roads similar to those used for hamfests or yard sales. Provide a simple
map and clear directions.
-
People will be spending a long
time at the class. Make sure that lavatory facilities are made available.
This may require notifying the building supervisor to make sure that facilities
are unlocked and accessible.
-
Clean up after yourself. Your
staff and your students will most likely have beverages and perhaps a bag
lunch. Please police the area before you leave so that you will not have any
problems in obtaining future use of the facilities.
-
If you will be using projectors
or other teaching aids, verify that you will have access to electrical
outlets. If your facility has projectors, black (white) boards, etc. be sure
to get permission to use them for your class.
-
Don't assume anything. Be very
clear with the facility management as to what areas of the building you will be
using and what is off limits.
Pre-registration
-
By having students pre-register
you will have a good idea on how large your class will be. In order to become
familiar with the material, students should be provided with a schedule, class syllabus
and a study manual at this time.
-
Have a contact person that is available
to take calls from prospective students. Make sure that your point of contact
has all of the information about the class and is prepared to answer any
questions.
Draft Your Team
-
Dividing the course material
among several instructors will keep things fresh for both the students and
instructors.
-
Instructors need to be energetic
and lively. No matter how well a person knows the material, if it can't be delivered
with enthusiasm then the point will be lost.
-
Be specific about what is expected
of your volunteers. Let them know that their contribution is important and how
it will benefit the class.
-
Take the class seriously. Always
be positive about the class. Don't joke about being "railroaded."
-
Know who your VE team will be.
Make sure that there are extra examiners in case someone can't fill the
commitment.
-
Have your VE team arrive early
enough to set up and introduce themselves to the class. Again, positive
reinforcement is needed by the VE team. "Don't be nervous. You can do this."
-
It is a good idea to have a VE
team separate from the instructors to administer the exams. Not only does it
eliminate the appearance of any impropriety but it also relieves the
instructors who have just given a full day's work.
-
The entire team should be
prepared to remain after the scheduled end of the class and exam in case there
are any loose ends to be addressed. It is easier to obtain a missed signature
or answer questions if all are still present.
Prepare The Material
-
The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual
and the companion Instructors Manual offer complete
material for teaching the Technician license.
-
Make sure that everyone who will
be teaching is familiar with all of the material. It is a good idea to have a
backup plan if one of your instructors can't make the class.
-
Break down your presentation of
the material into easily digested segments that will fit into the "50 minute
hour".
-
Stay on schedule. It is
important that you don't deviate from your scheduled lesson plan. The goal is
to pass the exam and then learn more in areas the students enjoy.
-
If you will be using teaching
aids such as slides or handouts make sure that you have enough on hand and that
the projector is working properly.
-
Keep demonstrations short as time
is of the essence.
The Class
Begin On Time
-
By starting the class on time you
are showing respect for everyone's time and you will set the pace for the class
and establish control.
Set The Mood
-
If the instructors are positive
and upbeat then the class will be the same way.
Introductions
-
Take the time to introduce
everyone on your team and then have the students introduce themselves. This is
a good way to break the ice and make everyone feel comfortable.
Set The Goal
-
The goal is to pass the exam and
learn more afterwards. Let your class know that they are here to pass the
Technician Class Amateur Radio exam in order to enjoy ham radio. Reinforce
this goal throughout the class and emphasize the fun that everyone will have
while doing so, as well as after they have their ticket.
-
Be Positive. Use phrases like
"When you get your license..." Avoid negatives like "If you don't pass..."
-
Instructors are motivators.
Establish Ground Rules
-
This is where you let the
students know how long the periods are and when breaks will be. This is also
where you let them know what areas of the building, if any, are off limits and
where the washrooms are.
-
How are you going to handle
questions? Shout them out or raise a hand?
-
You are not going to be the police
but if you let people know what is expected of them then they will behave
accordingly. Remember that students have a lot of ground to cover but will have
fun doing it.
Have A "Parking Lot"
-
Use a corner of the chalkboard or
hang a piece of paper that will be the "parking lot" for question that are not
directly related to the topic but will be addressed at the end of the period or
class.
Pre-test
-
By giving a practice exam at the
beginning of the class you will be able to gauge the students' level of knowledge
and what areas need to be emphasized. Be sure to explain the purpose of the
pre-test so that they don't become worried. If the students are aware of the
test format it will help to ease any jitters that they may have.
50 minute hour
-
Breakdown your class into 50
minute sessions, allowing 10 minute breaks between sessions.
-
Provide a one hour lunch break
for the class. Be exact on the time that class will resume
-
Some clubs tell the students to
bring a bag lunch so that the class can begin on time after the break. Make
sure that everyone cleans up and disposes of refuse properly.
-
Give the class a good 15 minute
break before the VE team administers the exam.
Mentoring and Follow Up
Have
a plan
-
Have a plan for mentoring the new
hams that you have just graduated. As newly licensed hams, they will have a
thousand questions and it is up to us, the experienced hams, to welcome them to
Amateur Radio and help them become good active operators.
-
Be sure to provide a point of
contact for those who were not successful this time. These people will
eventually pass the exam with a little help. Be positive and don't discourage
them.
-
Suggestion: Some clubs offer a free one year membership to new
hams that come from their licensing classes.
The
Four I s
-
Invite
-
Inform
-
Inspire
-
Involve
Invite
-
Invite everyone,
the new hams and those who have not yet received their CSCE, to attend the next
club meeting where the program will be based on things that the new ham will
need to know.
-
Invitations should be in the form
of hard copy with day, date and time. Hand an invitation to each student
personally at the end of the class or mail the invitations to everyone that
attended the class. A big shout out to come to the next meeting lacks
sincerity.
Inform
-
Provide a packet of information
that has contact information for people who can help the new ham get on the
air.
-
It's also a good idea to provide
club information as well as some operating aids like a list of local repeaters
and how to access them.
Inspire
-
Congratulate your new hams and
remind them that they have just completed the first step toward a life long
journey of learning and fun.
-
Encourage those who were not
successful this time around to keep trying because the reward is worth the
effort.
Involve
-
Welcome new members to your club
and to the world of Amateur radio.
-
Encourage the new hams to
participate in club functions and on the air activities. Make sure that they
know they are welcome to join the next on the air net, fox hunt or other club
activity.
Without involvement, there is no commitment. Mark it down,
asterisk it, circle it, underline it. No involvement, no commitment.
-- Stephen Covey --
Page last modified: 02:22 PM, 12 Dec 2006 ET
Page author: w3iz@arrl.org
Copyright © 2006, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
