DIFFICULTIES IN TEACHING SKILLS IN THE WAY SUGGESTED

1. Difficulty: Not enough equipment for all the students to practice with, or only one piece of equipment.

Solutions:

• You may have to do the demonstration only.

• Involve some students in helping you during the demonstration.

• Allow at least some students to practice with the equipment you have after the demonstration.

• Arrange extra times when others can come and practice with the equipment.

2. Difficulty: Material too expensive to do more than one demonstration e.g. material for making a dress.

Solution:

• Miss out stage 3. Go straight to stage 4. You may not be able to do stages 6 and 7.

3. Difficulty: No tools, equipment or materials available.

No solution?:

• Decide whether it is worth trying to teach the skill. If not, leave it out. Theory notes alone are not going to be much use to anyone when they go home.

• Try your best to get materials and tools next time.

• If your RTC cannot afford tools or equipment at all ask whether it is worth continuing to teach. Teaching practical skills using notes on the board only is a waste of time. We are not teaching skills at all.