On Oct 22, 8:15?pm, Steve Bonine wrote:
Dee Flint wrote:
Also keep in mind the new privileges that Technicians have regarding HF
since the changes in Dec. 2006 and February 2007. Possibly print out the
NEW band charts from the ARRL site and hand them out. You could give an HF
operating demo for example.

I actually have a bit of a problem explaining to potential Technician
Class licensees that they have CW privileges on HF bands. It just seems
either ironic or silly.

An HF demo is an excellent idea, but probably not possible as part of
the actual class. Setting up an HF station at the classroom location
would be an interesting challenge. (Might be fun, though.) Perhaps I
will invite the class to visit me at home so I can do some HF work, or
even schedule an extra session that's billed as a review session plus demo.

I prefer to explain things from the point of view that Technician is the
entry-level license, then demonstrate HF and explain that it's available
by passing additional written exams that are similar to what they're
studying for now. My experience is that "CW" is a four-letter word. YMMV.

I do plan to do some demos as you suggested in your other article,
including using a repeater, and maybe something related to EchoLink.
This will depend a little on the background of the students, something I
won't know until the first class.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Steve, I would say that a DEMO of anything that appeals to the senses
is excellent, be it a whole station or just a handheld VHF-UHF, with,
of course, a prearranged contact with a friend who knows that its a
class demonstration.

Audio-visual presentations have worked for six decades in getting
interest started and as a break in the formality of pure classroom
environments. It is a basic principle of effective marketing. It
gets the hook in the students to keep at it.

Yes, it is a lot more trouble to do, but even a short-and-snappy
contact with a "shack on the belt" handheld will have an emotional
appeal and break to the students. Quite probably most have already
heard this elsewhere but, with prearrangement with another ham, it
will be a solid contact. Even better, if the on-air conversation is
done with the contact's knowledge, the back-and-forth will be more
solid evidence of what can be done by Them later.

Everything should be aimed at the STUDENT. So far, I sense you have a
feeling for them, a very good thing in my opinion.

The students are all looking at you in the class. You are their
primary focus. The instructor has to be LOOKING and APPEARING relaxed
and at-ease with the subject. You will have to appeal to their
emotional senses to hold their interest. That's very subliminal but
it is also an almost essential thing. It isn't acting. It is just a
matter of remaining in contact with students, keeping their attention.

A lot of actual testing involves memorization of regulations, of the
law itself. Memorization of such things is indespensible at any level
of license class testing. It might be effective to have short periods
of the class involving spotlighting just one part of that, get the
class involved by having them do minor competition between themselves
in front of the class on what you've just explained to them. That's a
very old trick of many instructors, from public school on up to highly
theoretical subjects. It can be good if presented in a friendly
manner. It cannot be done effectively if it downplays the
intelligence or emotional being of the different students.

Just a few words of friendly advice on your good volunteerism. I hope
your classes do well and it is a success.

73, Len AF6AY