Next week I am starting a Newsletter series on Being a Good Student. The series is based on a short article I wrote in a magazine many years ago. Now I don’t pretend to be the worlds authority on educating, but I have taught dog training to people since 1988 and I am pretty observant so I feel I have some good ideas to share on this topic.
I love to challenge my students. Sometimes I put “pressure” on them just for the opportunity to give them a chance to see how well they respond to pressure. Like in this photo of one of my students. During a seminar I asked her to pose for a picture for me. Now she only tried this balancing board for the first time only a day or two earlier so to put pressure on someone while they are fairly new at something may seem unfair but it actually is helpful. I was patient until she had success (which she did pretty quickly because she is a cool cucumber). But by adding “pressure” it helps you to learn how you react in pressure situations. Laying down a great foundation for future “pressure” events.
I decided to write this series not only for all of my newsletter subscribers but for myself as well. I am a perpetual student. I love to learn so am constantly signing up for seminars or on line courses of my own including but not exclusive to the subject of dog training. Some of the topics I study are unbelieveably frustrating to me because I am such a neophyte and the learning curve is so steep. Being the best student I can will help me maximize my learning opportunities.
By studying the characteristics of people I feel have made massive improvements while in my classes or courses I am helping myself to be a better student while I am learning.
I would love to get feedback from all of you. What do you think makes you a great student and what do you think holds others back from learning. Would love to include some of your ideas in my series (especially if you are an education expert). As I said I am publishing this series only on my newsletter so if you are not a member sign up by November 1st–that is when the first article goes out. You can sign up both here on the blog or at my website at www.clickerdogs.com
Today I am grateful for that I am going home after being away from John and the dogs for 8 days.
My part in dog training is as a stockdog trainer, and with my students I find that the biggest obstacle that I face time and time again is a person’s relationship with their dog. Some people are very willing to step up and do what it takes to fix it, others seem to have a mental or emotional block in that area.
That is what I struggle with the most as a teacher – getting through the emotional connection that holds people back from doing what it takes to be successful. Some chalk it up to “they’re not ready at that time” and “everyone takes their own journey”, and I believe that. But it is frustrating to me when someone is begging me for answers, I’ve given them those answers, but they are not willing to step up and apply the solution.
It’s the constant “I can’t”, “I tried”, etc. The people that say they want to succeed, but don’t follow through with the work to do it. As a teacher it is hard for me to be fully present with that type of student because I get to the point where I feel like my words are falling on deaf ears.
To me, a great student is one that is hungry to learn, willing to be a full partner to their dog and hold up their end of the team. They don’t blame their dog, they hold responsibility for their actions and their training. They take criticism in stride and do their best to apply it to their lesson.
Just some disjointed thoughts and mumbling from a stockdog trainer that is facing the end of training season and ready for a break! (c:
I can relate to that Ferreh
I think some of the things that make a good student are intelligence, memory, focus, intensity, familiarity with the subject but not necessarily the topic of study. Some of the things that detract from learning, besides the opposites of the things above, are lack of rest, lack of nutrition, pain, distress, lack of support, lack of language and communication skills. I’m not a teacher by profession but I think I have been learning new things for most of my life and hope to continue. Some of us have an attitude that is conducive to learning but others have negative attitudes because of past experiences or failures. We all like to be successful even if we are not all on the same level. Some of us have busy lives with little leisure time; some of us may have learning disabilities or physical disabilities that interfere with study. Some of us are financially strapped. Some of us may be locked in old ways and don’t understand a new approach.
I love being in the loop and think that it’s a fabulous idea. Don’t shy away from having admiring “groopies”!
I think of myself as a serious student of dog training and other topics. I know that my main problem is I have to know the GESTALT before I nitpick, and not all teachers teach that way. Therefore I become the pain in the A**, however unwittingly. I must know why I’m doing something. I am also a teacher, but not in the dog world. I try to take responsibility for the great as well as the disastrous students. I’ve discovered that people can perform badly for very complicated reasons.
I am looking forward to reading the articles on What Makes a Good Student. Having just retired from teaching Special Education Students for 35 years, obedience for almost that long and agility for over 10 years, I have my ideas on what makes a good student. Can’t wait to read what you think!
This sounds very interesting and I’ll be keen to see how I’d measure up as someone who is on both sides of the fence so to speak! I often think I wouldn’t want to teach me as I’m so full of questions and a need to understand where something is going – my instructor assures me otherwise, but then he is a pretty good friend though too 😉
This is a wonderful topic and one I’ve contemplated from time to time. I think at certain times in our life we aren’t ready to learn and that we are too committed to our own rightness to accept that somebody else might have a better way!! I think when we give that up, our potential for growth is seen.
Liana
I’ve always loved the “No guts no glory” motto and believe that at some point “I can’t means I don’t want to”. Lofty statements from someone who struggles not to perfect her training faults.
I’m looking forward to your good student articles. I have to imagine that they will bring new challenges not only to my training skills but in shaping my own goals.
This a great subject and it’s also generating a great deal of interest.
Being a great student in part is having great respect for the person you are training with. I have the opportunity to train with a person that put more into her students and their development, than any trainer that I have workrd with. For that reason I really listen to her and her ideas. Success is very hard in this sport and without someone you really respect to train you it would be even more difficult.
Al is right you always seem to hit the right topics at the right time. Our obedience club is about to put on a coaching seminar in Dec. That will teach us how to teach people with all kinds of learning difficulties. Everybody learns differently and with a combination of your news letter and this seminar I hope to become a better student and instructor.
The idea of a series of articles on being a good student is excellent. I, too, love learning new things and could probably be a perpetual student–but sometimes I have to take time out to apply what I have learned to tasks required to earn a living!
I was wondering how much you know about NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) and the larger body of knowledge regarding information processing and learning styles. I think this has a great deal to do with the success of students. Most of academia stresses visual and auditory learning styles, so it is easier for those who prefer these styles of communication to succeed in school. I hae a sister who is a kinesthetic dominant processor who struggled mightily to learn most subjects until we almost accidentally figured this out while she was dealing with fractions in the fourth grade. She now has three college degrees and a successful career as an independent consultant to the food industry. She is an EXCELLENT student, though her second grade teacher might not agree with that!
I am an auditory-dominant processor, and my agility instructor is not. She is an extremely capable instructor and competitor, but sometimes we have difficulty communicating because of the difference in our preferred information processing styles. It seems I always want her to DESCRIBE things to me (often in detail that she doesn’t feel is necessary) while she just wants to SHOW them to me (and expect me to remember what I see!). I love to have course outlines in advance, take notes during class, and have printed reference materials to use at home, and therefore prefer to have classes that allow some time for taking notes and jotting down practice assignments for the week, but many students do not find this helpful at all.
Regardless of information processing style, a good student will usually have curiosity about or passion for the subject matter at hand, and a good deal of persistence. It helps to have a humble but somewhat outgoing personality, so that one is willing to admit his/her shortcomings and ask questions without being too concerned about looking like a fool. I have often heard it said that the reason there are more female than male agility competitors is that it agility one must be willing to fail, and fail repeatedly and publicly. I think the same thing could be said for learners in many fields.
Sorry this is so long–auditory folks like words!!!
Susan I think the topic is important. I am blessed to have wonderful trainers. As a senior handler with a young dog I have benefited by paying attention and by trying things that were out of my comfort level.
What makes me a good student? My ability to be a positive part of any class or seminar I attend. I love to learn and can focus for long periods of time. I am not one of those who would tug with my dog when you come up, but am thrilled for your feedback on my work with my dog.
I’ve learned embrace pressure and I have my own goals firmly ensconced in my head so I don’t get intimidated by those who are more skilled than I.
What I see as inhibitions to learning are negativity, criticism of the location, instructor, temperature, desire to socialize rather than listen, belief that one knows it all etc.
I have been lucky to teach many things with many different groups. For work I have taught “required” classes with a good number of people who didn’t want to waste their time. Having to get over the “I know it all” and “I don’t need this” to those who “I can’t ….., I can’t …, I won’t work, Mine doesn’t”. Fun and humor and competition and chocolate and “don’t feed the rats” and the term I learned from you “don’t let them drive the bus”.
I love interested students but some are over the top and want all the attention. A balance of interest. Those that are committed to working at it.
These are some of the things that come to mind from my teaching and taking classes, they may be very basic but I have seen them all.
Be prepared (right equipment and clothes, take a shower and keep the scents at home – your classmates will like this), do the prerequisites (read if required, practice, so on), arrive on time, stay for the whole class, listen, keep the side chatter off, sincerely try,no phones, be polite to instructor and classmates, clear you mind of other stuff, come in with a positive outlook, ask when you don’t understand, be supportive to classmates but don’t let them eat you alive, keep working it, LISTEN! be engaged, don’t keep making excuses – really try you can find a way to over come it, and want to be in class.
Hear, hear. Sums it up.
‘Being a Good Student’ in my view is a continuous process of improvement (as is the process of improving as an instructor). We all have room for improvement and can set a goal “Learning to be a better student”)
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘good dog, shame about the handler’. It should be ‘shame about the handling and that can be fixed!’
As others have noted this is a great idea and as students improve, so do instructors, other students and best of all the performance and learning of our dogs in practice and competition which after all is the goal for all of us while having fun in the process.
One more note is that people/dogs learning skills will always be at different rates and respond to differently to different methods. As instructors we need to seek multiple ways to apply learning principles, feedback and methods and be open to students and their needs. Pressure for one person may not be enough and for another may be deemed so intimidating that no learning takes place at all.
Fantastic idea! I look forward to reading it. I want to be a good student because my seven-month Parson Russell Terier Fido is an extraordinary dog. I do a lot of mistakes every day but I realy want to be better.
Thank you Susan!
more goodies 🙂 thankyou!!!
I think what makes me a good student is my eagerness and willingness and desire to learn and improve but what makes me a dreadful student is ‘pressure’ and if the environment feels intimidating. Happy to report the environment created in recallers felt so safe and supportive that I learnt a ton!!!
oH BOY !! OH BOY !!! OH BOY !!!!!!!!
I am just so excited to gain your insights and perspective on this topic. I Can’t wait !!
I love to learn,especially about dogs and people !!
I am just so thankful for you !
Looking forward to the newsletter. I love the way you open all these subjects related to training and competition for discussion. It makes us think and grow.
I think to be a good student you need a true interest and fascination with the subject and be willing to persist and be positive through the learning plateaus
I have always said that I learn more from a coach than from a teacher. A coach is trying to make you better at what your doing. For that reason they look at other ways to help you understand what it is that you are trying to do. I teacher on the other hand is trying to get you to do it their way. With a teacher if you don’t understand what they are trying to teach then you are out of luck. I love to learn from a coach. Look forward to your class!
I love to learn. The more information I get, the better I understand. Plus, being profoundly dyslexic, I will not do anything I do not understand. Your recallers series was great, and though I haven’t done many of the exercises, I come back and review when I have a blank spot, and I review things in my dreams (makes for running in the bed… LOL), and I am looking forward to do more. I have read books by many trainers from all over the world on as many topics as I can.
Knowledge is power; Power to change people and dogs for the better. Maybe we need this kind of training for politicians! sigh
I am looking forward to your articles on being a good student. I am sure they will be helpful as I am very new to this agility thing, just love it to pieces and cant get enough.
I think our own perceptions hold us back from moving forward. I went to a Linda Mecklenburg seminar this summer. It was my last sequence of the 4 days. At least 3 times my dog went off course by cutting behind me. ( I went to fix my constant off course problem). Linda started talking to me telling me not to just LET my dog go off course. My perception of how she talked to me was all wrong. I felt like she was talking harshly to me and it really made me feel bad. I left there feeling horrible. Thank goodness I had video taped my sequence and what she said to me. When I watched it, I started laughing. I dont even know why I felt that way when she was talking to me. She was really nice to me , no harsh tone and was mostly talking to the whole group. And that “not letting my dog go off course” has really opened my eyes to my training and why I have the trouble I have. Wow, what learning experince for me. Thank god I taped it. How many other learning opportunities have I lost out on because my perception of what took place clouded me from learning.
Yes, I think the topic of ‘what makes a good student’ is very valid. For one thing many of us are teachers and it’s something that I ponder many times in my own classes, even though most of them are only manners classes. I have my own ideas about it, but I would love to hear yours.
As far as a ‘members only’ topic is fine. No one is prohibited from becoming a member, correct?
Johanna Ammentorp CPDT-KA
You asked two questions, the first one am I a good student, I believe I am a good student and feel that asking questions if I don’t understand and not being afraid to try something whether I think I can do it or not. It frustrates me when students say their dog will not do something without ever trying it. They miss out on the experience and chance to be successful and waste energy explaining why they cannot do it instead of learning how to do it.
Your second question was about leaving this discussion public or only to the group – since anyone can join your group I would keep it with the group. If someone is interested enough they will join.
Today I’m grateful for you and your blog.
I think three things are really important when being either a student or an educator:
1. Checking your ego at the door. There is always something new to learn, even from the most humble sources, and you need to be receptive and open to new ideas, and new ways of looking at things. Likewise, you can’t be afraid of looking stupid, or having shotcomings exposed – after all you are there to LEARN, you’ve already identified the desire to know more.
2. Know how you learn. Do you need to stand back and observe, and hear things? Do you need to be repeating the actions, and doing something? Do you like to read information a few times and then try it out?
3. The willingness to see things from a variety of vewipoints, and to explore and discuss different ways of looking at the samething, with an understanding that the best solution to a problem changes with the circumstances.
My best students are willing to say: “I don’t get it.” It is amazing how many do not recognise it (they are unaware or they think they are ‘stupid’ when they are not) or are too afraid to voice it.
I think part of being a good student is to have an “I think I can” attitude.
A good student should be open to new ideas, have the discipline to change, and that is easier said than done. It’s easy to fall back into old habits.
I did a lot of individual tutoring in math and group and individual lessons of ESL. For me a good student is one that participates actively, willing and daring to ask questions and make remarks (for me stupid questions don’t exist!). They give a good feed-back to the instructor, help the student phrase his problems and get the interaction between students and teacher going. For me teaching is about motivating students, giving them self confidence so they are willing to try something new, to move their current boundaries. Asking questions and allowing all questions to be asked for me is a crucial part in that.
Why wouldn’t you share the information with the general public? You could require a signup to comment, but if you feel the information is valuable, and you want to increase readership, you shouldn’t restrict who can read it. You want the information passed around as widely as possible, with correct attribution–make it easily accessible.
Depending on the program I’ll choose the individual lessons because I like to know details, I learn slower on when it comes to new material.
Yes, follow thru is another reason I may fall short of being a really good student. It a mater of managing time.
I like the “members only” idea and I love your topic. If I can understand what makes a great student, then maybe I can modify what I do to help make that connection.
Looking forward to the newest learning series. Sounds like a class that will help us to understand our own students as well as to become better students ourselves in whatever discipline we are tackling.
I don’t know about having a private area only….I can understand having a forum where one would like to chat about various ideas presented, but an area that is closed to the public might discourage people from learning what they need to learn, but are hesitant for whatever reason to join yet another group on-line.
As to what makes a good student?
One who is willing to apply the knowledge they learn.
What holds some back from learning/doing?
Fear, previous experiences, previous knowledge that contradicts what they are learning now, lack of intelligence, physical limitations, lack of understanding about what the teacher wants, or what the student is capable of and so forth. 🙂
NOTE: not every student will mesh with every teacher, nor will every teacher mesh with every student. Doesn’t mean that either is bad, just means that combo didn’t work out together.
Are there bad teachers and poor students? yeah, but it’s not always as easy as saying THIS one is a bad student because they didn’t do what I expected. (and vice versa).
I was married at a very young age (16) and will celebrate 40 years next June! I say this because for the first 23 years working outside the home to help support our family, I had no education, only the thirst and willingness to learn on the job. In those first 23 years, I worked as an insurance agent, waitress, grocery clerk, auditor of a major chain store, then for a large county auditor’s office, administrative assistant, medical biller, received my Certified Nurses Aide certificate; then at the age of 39, I got my GED, then started nursing school that same year and ended up as an Oncology Nurse (my dream and love). I am not bragging in saying all this, just when you want to learn, you give it all you have. You listen, watch and pratice over and over until you have accomplished that particular job, gleaning from it every good thing; then go onto the next challenge, loving every minute of victories and failures, as they are the greatest learning tools of life (beside having God with you!)
I have found when you hold back from learning, you are afraid of failure. That is a word none of us want to feel; it takes the joy out of us. But when you see it as the greatest tool of learning, then you face it as a challenge until you make that failure into a victory. Believe me, I’ve failed many times in my life and I hated it; but it made me more stubborn to overcome the obstacle that kept me from victory. I don’t mean ‘victory’ as winning the top prize, but victory on overcoming that failure and making it a lesson.
I’m now going on 57, have acquired a beautiful red/white Border Collie pup name Snap; to keep me mentally and physically active and young. I’m now learning from her more patience, more unconditional love and lots of laughter! I’m just beginning agility (we are in Fly ball classes), and hope to advance to the agility classes when ‘Snap’ is a year in the next 6 months. I wished there was a herding association in this small rural area I live in!
I apologize for being so long winded. I’m excited about the next journey of my life!
Looking forward to this one, I just recently started training my dogs for agility and began working with a trainer, perfect timing for me as well!!
I don’t know how you do it, but you always seem to hit on topics that I need right NOW. I consider myself a good student but deep down I know I fall short in some areas. Defining the problem is always the first step, so I hope your articles will ask some probing questions to help each one of us assess what our individual soft spots are. Some things that hold me back from being a really good student are expecting too much too soon, of myself, my dog and the people I’m teaching; not asking enough or the right questions to make sure I understand what I am trying to learn, which leads to incomplete knowledge; impatience; not listening carefully, which I also notice in my students, and, finally, I confess some tendency toward laziness, not practicing long enough or working hard enough to analyze the training problems I’m having. I’m sure I’ll discover others. As always, I’m really looking forward to what you have to say.
Great subject. I think having both a ‘members only’ and then a public access. Member only – then we could discuss the topic more indepth and the information is valuable that it should be shared with the public.
As a beginning instructor, I look forward to hearing about ‘what makes a good student”.
Being a good student is an interesting topic for sure. What works best for me is to first actively listen to what is being taught. I see lots of students not giving their full attention and therefore not able to totally benefit from the knowledge and experience being given. I think for some, it is much easier, when failing to achieve their goals, to find fault in the teacher than to redirect that failure to ones self. That being said, being a great teacher is a gift that only a few possess. Just being able to do it yourself does not mean you can always successfully transfer those skills to another person. But, when the good student has an opportunity to work under a truly great teacher, the possibilities are endless.
continued
– I usually find my failure as a good student is in the practice part of the equation.
Great Idea Susan—
I think the best students are the ones that approach their classes with an open mind, ask questions, are willing to try new concepts and ideas and practice when at home.
Judith
This series will be very interesting! Thank you!
Thank you for this series! I am very excited for your incite. I am always striving to be a better student. I think I am a good student because I am always wanting to know more… how things work, why, how it all fits together. I tend to take the material and try to work it like a puzzle until everything falls into place. I think my weak point is fear of failure. You have blogged a lot on this subject recently and I am intrigued. I would love to get over this fear and become a better learner.
Thanks again!
Melissa
What a wonderful idea, Susan. Everybody can improve – no matter how good or “bad” they are. Actually, I think there are no bad students or trainers, just those who are mislead by an idea or thought. Probably those individuals, at one point, don’t succeed with their dog training skills anu further and will not make an effort to improve. So sad, but it happens. Therefgore, I can’t wait to read your suggestions for being a “good student.” and therefore a better dog trainer 🙂
I look forward to receiving the newsletter! As someone that also teaches students, I will be curious to see what you have to share on this. I definitely have students I love and I have a few that need more help than others.
I think something that makes a great student is someone that thinks and believes “I’ll try it” versus the student that thinks and believes “I don’t think we’ll do very good”. It’s about attitude and willingness to put yourself out there and put pressure on yourself as well as accept pressure from others, just as you’ve said.
I am a newsletter subscriber and I very much like the idea of this topic! I also am a lifelong student as well as a teacher of doggie stuff! I will have to think for a bit to see if I can come up with any characteristics that I believe make a good student.
Robin
This is a really interesting topic and I look forward to reading more about it! You have had tons and tons of students over the years so I can’t wait to hear your observations.
Susan,
I think having a private group is great because it helps keep the focus on the topic.
Learning How to be a Good Student from someone with as much teaching experience as you have will certainly be of benefit to me.