OSI Rock Stars

I must be the luckiest gal in the universe!!! Janelle Elms has turned over podcasts to me on Monday nights. She told me I could create any program I wanted. My wish - more training as an eBay Education Specialist.

So, I started on a mission to find other Education Specialists who would share their techniques and tricks with everyone. I have been truly amazed at the generosity of my colleagues and quick responses. Our Monday nights are going to be better than Monday Night Football!

I'll be interviewing them and asking then the questions you may have about improving your teaching techniques. So, when you sign up - please feel free to ask a question.

Those who aren't Education Specialists will learn too. Here are the best of the best and they are sharing their hard learned eBay knowledge. So, please join us - we might even talk you into teaching eBay.

It's Free!
For More Information:
http://www.clovercitysells.com/successwithcindy.htm

Here are some observations from a round table discussion held by the Business Community Development with continuing education instructors here in Washington State. There are some great tips and the challenges seem to be universal amongst teachers. Please feel free to continue the discussion by adding your tips, challenges and observations.
Teaching Techniques
* Ask students to introduce themselves and their skill level. This will give you a way to tailor your presentation.
* Tell Stories
* Be entertaining, don't forget to laugh
* Use humor to capture your students interest
* Be fully involved in the classroom session
* Be enthusiastic about your topic
* Encourage your students to be part of the class dialog, exchange and share information
* People like to be recognized, try to learn your students names
* Listen to your students
* Don't underestimate your students. Many of them worry about the ability to learn but do well regardless. Your job is to cheerlead as well as teach, encourage them to try.
* Encourage questions, especially as you start out
* Focus on the positive avoid weaknesses
* Be aware of cultural differences
* Have your students demonstrate what they've learned

Teaching is about good customer service, too!

* Return student emails and calls promptly
* Take time to get to know your students
* Follow up on interactions regularly

Some of the toughest challenges
* Deciding what is really important and how to communicate it to the students
* Information overload, having more to say or more material than the class time allows
* All different levels of students experience and needs
* Maintaining interest and overcoming the "I already know this" phenomenon
* Senor students who are chatty and often not related to the topic
* Including all learning styles in the presentation
* Frequent problems with software and hardware - either not working, not installed - most schools IT departments are stretched too thin
* Conveying sufficient info in a very limited timeframe

Teaching Deaf People

In one of my recent photography classes I had a deaf student. The school district did a great job of preparing me and hired an interpreter. Here are some of the facts and techniques that the Seattle School District provided me.

Speech:
Voice Use: Deaf persons have normal vocal organs. Some deaf person persons choose not to use their voices. They either think their speech is difficult to understand or feel they have inappropriate pitch or volume control. However, many deaf people do choose to use their voices in their interactions.
Speech intelligibility: the speech intelligibility of deaf persons varies greatly depending on skills, abilities and age of onset of deafness. There is absolutely no correlation between a deaf person's speech abilities and intelligence.

Hearing:
Residual Hearing: Most deaf people have some hearing. This limited amount of hearing is called residual hearing. Its usefulness for listening and understanding speech varies with each individual.
Hearing aid use: A hearing aid amplifies sound: however, not all deaf people benefit from them. The aid's usefulness depends upon the wearer's ability to discriminate between speech sounds without an aid. If a deaf person can distinguish speech sounds without an aid, the use of an aid will provide better understanding of speech.

Speechreading:
Speechreading: it is often thought that deaf people can read lips as effectively as hearing people can hear. However lip-reading is a skill in which some deaf people excel; others have difficulty mastering such a talent. While good lip-reading skills can help with communication approximately 25 percent of all speech is visible on the lips. Even the best speechreaders cannot lip-read everything that is being said.

Language:
Many people see deafness as just a loss of hearing. It is far more complicated. The biggest problem of prelingually deafened people is being cut off from the normal means of acquiring and transmitting the English language. In most cases, English should be regarded as the second language of the deaf. Consequently, communication is affected because deaf people do not have a language base when they learn to speak, write or lip-read.

Communicating With A Deaf Person
Deaf people communicate in different ways depending on several factors: amount of residual hearing, type of deafness, language skills, age deafness began, speech abilities, lip-reading, personality, intelligence, family environment and educational background.
Some deaf people are more easily understood than others. Some use a combination of sign language, fingerspelling, speech or writing or body language and facial expression. The key to is to find out which combination of techniques works best with each deaf person. You may have to experiment and try several different communication methods. The important thing is not how you exchange ideas or feeling, but that you communicate.

To communicate with a deaf person one-on-one
* Get their attention before speaking. Tap them on the shoulder, wave or another visual signal.
* Clue the deaf person in on the topic of discussion. It is helpful for them to know the subject so they can pick-up words and follow the conversation.
* Speak slowly and clearly. Don't yell, exaggerate or over-pronounce.
* Look directly at the deaf person when talking. Even a slight turn or your head can obscure their lip-reading view.
* Do not place anything in your mouth while speaking.
* Maintain eye contact. Eye contact helps convey the feeling of the direct communication.
* Avoid standing in front of a light source, window or other bright light.
* First repeat, then try to rephrase the thought rather than repeating the same words over and over.
* Use pantomime, body language and facial expression to help communicate.
* Use open ended questions which must be answered by more than yes or no. Open ended questions ensure that your information has been communicated.

Classes & Group Situations
* Seat the deaf person to his/her best advantage. This usually means opposite the speaker so they can read lips.
* Provide new vocabulary in advance. If new vocabulary can't be presented in advance write the new words on paper, chalkboard or use an overhead projector.
* Avoid unnecessary pacing and speaking. It's difficult to lip-read when the presenter is moving around.
* Slow down the pace of the presentation slightly to facilitate understanding.
* Repeat questions or statements from back of the room. Remember the deaf person are cutoff from whatever happens outside their visual area.
Use an interpreter in a large group setting.

Working with an Interpreter
* Speak directly to the deaf person not the interpreter. The interpreter is not part of the conversation and is not allowed to voice opinions or enter into the conversation.
* Remember the interpreter is a few words behind the speaker. Give the interpreter time to finish before you ask questions.
* Treat the interpreter as professional. It is courteous to introduce the interpreter to the group and explain why they are there. Do not ask them to introduce themselves. It is helpful to meet with the interpreter a few minutes before the start of the program to go over special words and what will be covered.
* Schedule breaks during the class. Following an interpreter for a long time is tiring for the deaf person. Plan a break at least once an hour.
* Provide good lighting for the interpreter.
* Permit only one person to speak at once during group discussions or question and answer periods.
* Speak clearly and in a normal voice when using an interpreter. Try not to rush through your speech.
* Allow time for everyone to study handouts and charts. A deaf person can't watch the interpreter and study written material at the same time.
* As a final courtesy thank the interpreter after the service has been performed. Also ask the deaf person if the service was satisfactory.