A few rebuttals, from someone who taught basic computer usage at a community center for a few years:
> If it's not obvious to them, it's not obvious.
At first, yes. If, however, I explain it, I demonstrate it, I guide them to do it five times in various contexts, and they do it themselves for me in five more contexts—and then they call me back over because they still "can't" do it—then is is their fault, and they're just being helpless because they want attention.
> You are the voice of authority. Your words can wound.
I wish I was the voice of authority. 90% of the "guidance" I gave people was of the "X does not work like Y, you need to learn a new skill to do X" variety, with them not listening and going ahead and treating X like a Y, and then asking me why it doesn't work.
> Your primary goal is not to solve their problem. Your primary goal is to help them become one notch more capable of solving their problem on their own. So it's okay if they take notes.
Oh, I wish they saw it that way. They want "an answer, not a lecture." They want me to be a magic elf who comes, saves them from their mess, and lets them live in ignorant bliss, even though they came to be taught computing skills. It's quixotic.
Comments
A few rebuttals, from someone who taught basic computer usage at a community center for a few years:
> If it's not obvious to them, it's not obvious.
At first, yes. If, however, I explain it, I demonstrate it, I guide them to do it five times in various contexts, and they do it themselves for me in five more contexts—and then they call me back over because they still "can't" do it—then is is their fault, and they're just being helpless because they want attention.
> You are the voice of authority. Your words can wound.
I wish I was the voice of authority. 90% of the "guidance" I gave people was of the "X does not work like Y, you need to learn a new skill to do X" variety, with them not listening and going ahead and treating X like a Y, and then asking me why it doesn't work.
> Your primary goal is not to solve their problem. Your primary goal is to help them become one notch more capable of solving their problem on their own. So it's okay if they take notes.
Oh, I wish they saw it that way. They want "an answer, not a lecture." They want me to be a magic elf who comes, saves them from their mess, and lets them live in ignorant bliss, even though they came to be taught computing skills. It's quixotic.