to judge you. Other methods for getting to know yourself, in terms of your instructing ability, includes: audio/video recording, test results, outside observer input, and trials with proper feedback. Once you know yourself it is necessary to know the audience. Knowing the audience will allow a good instructor to adapt the presentation methods or material to suit the audience. The differences in audiences include: instructors/students, old/new firefighters, firefighters/normal citizens, men/women, officers/firefighters, career/volunteer, generational gaps (baby boomer, X, Y, etc.), and many others. The main concern with understanding these differences boils down to how to avoid offending them and presenting the material in the best way possible. The example given was a video of a woman talking to the news about a fire. In the presence of most firefighters it would be a considered appropriate humor. In a room of citizens or chief officers it may not add to the lesson or convey a point that makes it needed. The final subject covered during this presentation covered motivation. Lt. Carrigan stated that motivation is often misrepresented as something you can give to someone else. The truth is that motivation is completely internal and the only thing good instructors can do is create an environment that fosters motivation. There are many motivators although the are more realistically satisfiers. “external motivators” Internal motivators include: self-respect, personal achievement, personal growth, and sense of responsibility. External satisfiers which only temporarily foster motivation include: money, benefits and bonuses. By creating an environment that fosters motivation, it is possible to make people want to retain the knowledge you as an instructor are offering. Poor instructors or indifferent instructors suffer from a lack of motivation exponentially since it is hard to pass on an
to judge you. Other methods for getting to know yourself, in terms of your instructing ability, includes: audio/video recording, test results, outside observer input, and trials with proper feedback. Once you know yourself it is necessary to know the audience. Knowing the audience will allow a good instructor to adapt the presentation methods or material to suit the audience. The differences in audiences include: instructors/students, old/new firefighters, firefighters/normal citizens, men/women, officers/firefighters, career/volunteer, generational gaps (baby boomer, X, Y, etc.), and many others. The main concern with understanding these differences boils down to how to avoid offending them and presenting the material in the best way possible. The example given was a video of a woman talking to the news about a fire. In the presence of most firefighters it would be a considered appropriate humor. In a room of citizens or chief officers it may not add to the lesson or convey a point that makes it needed. The final subject covered during this presentation covered motivation. Lt. Carrigan stated that motivation is often misrepresented as something you can give to someone else. The truth is that motivation is completely internal and the only thing good instructors can do is create an environment that fosters motivation. There are many motivators although the “external motivators” are more realistically satisfiers. Internal motivators include: self-respect, personal achievement, personal growth, and sense of responsibility. External satisfiers which only temporarily foster motivation include: money, benefits and bonuses. By creating an environment that fosters motivation, it is possible to make people want to retain the knowledge you as an instructor are offering. Poor instructors or indifferent instructors suffer from a lack of motivation exponentially since it is hard to pass on an
fire-department-instructor-conference-2012.docx