My first One-Day Tech Class at the Dayton Hamvention yesterday was a big success. I had 23 students, and while I don’t have the final count for how many passed the test, I can say that it was one of the most enjoyable that I’ve ever taught.
The main reason for this is that the students were really interested and engaged. They asked lots of good questions. They even stuck with me when I explained the concept of resonant frequency.
All this in spite of less than ideal conditions. The class was shoehorned into a relatively small space below the grandstand, that was being used as a storeroom. I not only had to wipe the fairly thick dust of the tables, I had to vacuum the carpet as well. And, while I had been told that the room could accommodate up to 30 students, I had to kind of shoehorn in the 23 students that I did have.
All in all, though, it went really well for my first effort at doing this. And next year’s class should be even better.
Here are some comments that were emailed to me today:
I got a lot out of your Tech course today at the Hamvention. I enjoyed the day, and learned quite a bit. I took the Tech exam and got a perfect score! I’ll look forward to the opportunity to connect with you once I’m official and have my call sign…..Jeff
I passed my Technician exam! Thanks for an entertaining review of the material….Guy
Just wanted to say thank you! I enjoyed the class, it was a long day, but went fast. I passed the test and am looking forward to using my Tech class license…..Greg, waiting for call sign
Just wanted to say thanks for doing this class at HAMVENTION. I passed the test. I missed 4…..Teresa
And, thanks again to my sponsors:
BTECH: five BTECH UV-5X3 5 Watt Tri-Band Radios. | |
Comet Antenna: two M-24x dual-band mag mount antennas. | |
GigaParts: $25 gift certificate. | |
DX Engineering: $50 gift certificate. | |
3rd Planet Solar: four different kits | |
RT Systems: five software/cable kits for programming radios | |
MP Digital: 100-ft. LMR-400 coax |
Steve - W8SFC says
Congratulations on another first! Sounds like the class was – as usual – a great experience for all. If it were not for your class, I’d still be a listener and frustrated at not being able to participate, and I wouldn’t know half of what I learned about amateur radio and the technologies that make it possible. I know I thoroughly enjoyed the class when I took it because you took the effort to make it entertaining and more than a bunch of dry facts and numbers.
73!
KE8JWQ says
Dan,
I was one of your Hamvention 1-day Tech License boot camp class students. It was cozy in the room, but not uncomfortable or unbearable. I didn’t have time to do more than a couple hours of the recommended pre-study, and those who know my schedule and circumstances fully understand why that was. Even still the little bit of study I did get through along with your excellent class helped me pass the exam only missing 4 questions. I imagine that I would have aced the exam had I actually been able to put in serious study time as you’d advised. However, even the person that finishes last in medical school is still called “Doctor”… :)
Full credit for my passing the Tech license exam with a respectable score was undoubtedly due to your excellent teaching! This had been on my to-do list for quite a number of years, and your class immeasurably helped me complete a big goal. I am the first licensed ham in my family, and I doubt I will be the last. I would venture to guess that the vast majority of your students passed the exam that day if not all of us. Thank you so much!
73
-KE8JWQ
Dan KB6NU says
Thanks, Matt!