To go along with the item on getting kids into ham radio, Guido AB0SI offers the following tips on teaching kids what they need to know to get their licenses. He says:
As an ex-middle school teacher, I would suggest the following:
- For code, use the same technique you’d use to teach
old f**tsadults, only more so. Practice sessions should be 20 minutes MAXIMUM. (15 minutes is better.)- Don’t push the student if she becomes disinterested. Of course, there is a fine line between encouraging and pushing.
- Reward her efforts, not her success, and remember that a reward is not the same as a bribe. Encouragement, such as frequently saying, “Way to go…” is important because at some point the student will have trouble getting over some hurdle or other. It is important that she sees that her efforts are valued, not merely her success.
- Because many of the questions on the test require memorization (allowed frequencies, emmission codes, etc), it’s important to know the student’s learning style. Some students do best hearing the information, some by reading it, many by one of the above plus writing it. Whatever works is the right way. Find out the student’s style her style and help her that way. By the way, many kids learn best when they use “muscle memory,” so it might be a good idea to get her a code oscilator. Better yet, let her use your rig’s side tone with your headphones.
These are great ideas. If we, as ham radio educators, can teach ourselves how to be more effective teachers, we’ll be better able to draw in and retain more kids.