Guest speaker

[-MNC_RN-]

I lead a critical care orientation course that has been very successful over the last 8 years or so. We have a lot of variety in learning... simulation, online, case studies, etc. We do, of course, have some lectures. In enjoy teaching and do it very well. However, I am cognisant of the fact that, as the primary instructor for critical care, EKG interpretation, some new graduate courses, and some orientation courses, the particiapants probably see more of me than even I would be able to stand. I like to provide them variety where I can and ask other people to teach as well. (Plus, it gives me a nice break in the class day, let's be honest.)

In this critical care course, other staff dev educators, like myself, usually do guest lectures. In this particular case, however, I asked our critical care CNS to do a talk about ALI and ARDS.

Let's just say that chunks were blown. And blown far.

She readily admitted that she is not "an education expert." I guess I didn't realize that not only is she not an expert, she is an education novice. A teaching virgin. Lecture naive.

But what's done is done. So...

I am in the unique position of having to teach a content expert how to impart her knowledge most effectively. Any suggestions to start?

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

For starters, maybe you could have her sit in on your lectures to see how it's done.

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

If she had trouble speaking in front of people then a group like Toastmasters can help. I can sing in front of people and can talk to a room of visitors and family but when it came to speaking in front of peers I was a nervous wreck!

My hospital had a TM group-very safe environment for adults to feel comfortable speaking.

This is one of the reasons I could go back to get my MSN and become an Educator!

otessa

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

There is education axiom that should always be remembered --- "the best educators are not the ones who know the most, but the ones that can communicate best with learners"

"Experts" tend to want to assume the sage on the stage role -- show off all that knowledge. "To heck with the objectives and lesson plan- this is about me!" Other people simply aren't comfortable speaking in front of a group - and they never will be.

So - the questions are - Is she trainable? Does she really want to do this? Do you want to put forth the effort to coach her?

If yes - start out with a very structured lesson plan.... script everything. Insert things that should be intuitive for average eduators "Ask students ...... & wait for answers". Move away from lecture and into some interactive stuff - we use waaay too much lecture anyway. REHEorifice!

Remain in the back of the room with pre-arranged signals that mean things like "slow down, you're losing them" or "time to stop and ask questions"... remember, you're the coach.

This will be a work in progress -- and may take quite a while. Are you sure you don't just want to start over with someone else?

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

now we know why we have objectives - so we can keep focused on the big picture. You might consider a mini-course in presentations that could be available to lots of folks (nurses and others). Cover writing objectives, adult learning principles, learning styles - all the stuff you use with each presentation. And please! Make sure they understand NOT to read the slides of a PowerPoint. After 1st grade no one likes to have others read for them.