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I've been teaching CHL classes for a while now and I feel pretty qualified to do so, doing several classes a week. I have no problem explaining the intricacies of hospital and church carry and I've cleared malfunctions in almost every handgun known to man. I do anonymous course evaluations at the end of class and I've been getting only positive feedback. In short, I think I'm a decent instructor. I'm certainly not perfect, but I believe I meet the minimum standards.

My question for everyone however, is what sets a "good" instructor apart from a "great" instructor. That is, what are some of the things that really make someone the type of instructor that you would want to send your friends and relatives to. I posted this in the general forum because I want to know what non-instructors (but instructors too!) found helpful in their CHL class.

I know we'll get some great responses on this forum, so I'm looking forward to what everyone has to say!

Blend of quality information and entertainment. If your students pass the tests, *and* are disappointed when the clock runs out, you're doing great.

I'm reminded of this because of how my wife described her women's only CHL class with Charles. Everyone was there because they'd been nagged into attending; but the hours flew by and many students were dismayed when it was time to wrap things up!

My wife's friend and her husband took my class and told my wife - - - "You know, I thought it was going to be boring but, Morris kept us laughing the whole time." Feedback like that keeps me going.

croc870 wrote:My question for everyone however, is what sets a "good" instructor apart from a "great" instructor.

Good instructors are very familiar with the material. They may not know every esoteric detail, but they do know some, and they have the core material down pat. They can answer fairly complex questions from the top quartile. They can break down the material and explain it in simple terms for the lower quartile. If they don't know the answer to a question, they're not afraid to admit it, and look it up if applicable. Good instructors add value, above and beyond the powerpoint, textbook, and/or other course materials.

Great instructors possess all or most of the qualities of a good instructor. In addition, they motivate students and involve them in the learning process. They make the material (more) interesting and relevant. They can challenge and engage the top students without losing the rest. They can nurture the struggling student without boring the rest. Great instructors inspire students long after the class is over. It's a tall order but nobody said greatness was easy.

Think back to your own school years, grasshopper.

Why did you like/enjoy some teachers/instructors more than others? Once you answer that question, you will have answered your question.

This may come with time and feedback, but I would imagine that the better instructors get a feeling for areas that provide their students confusion and are able to allocate more time to dissecting those issues -- while covering more quickly the straight forward portions of the statutes. That way, students don't feel as if the class were something they could have merely picked up by reading the instructional materials. Rather, the students appreciate the instructor for pointing out the issues of contention a head of time and addressing those possibilities, giving them added confidence to carry legally in a variety of situations.

apostate wrote:

croc870 wrote:My question for everyone however, is what sets a "good" instructor apart from a "great" instructor.

Good instructors are very familiar with the material. They may not know every esoteric detail, but they do know some, and they have the core material down pat. They can answer fairly complex questions from the top quartile. They can break down the material and explain it in simple terms for the lower quartile. If they don't know the answer to a question, they're not afraid to admit it, and look it up if applicable. Good instructors add value, above and beyond the powerpoint, textbook, and/or other course materials.

Great instructors possess all or most of the qualities of a good instructor. In addition, they motivate students and involve them in the learning process. They make the material (more) interesting and relevant. They can challenge and engage the top students without losing the rest. They can nurture the struggling student without boring the rest. Great instructors inspire students long after the class is over. It's a tall order but nobody said greatness was easy.

+1. In addition, great instructors are the ones who have ways of helping their students retain the material over time. It isn't just what happens in the class but how well the students can remember at least some of the major points that were covered two years after the class that sets a great instructor apart.

For a great instructor "its all about the people in the class". Are you concerned about helping the people learn to carry and defend themselves or is it a puppy mill trying to process the most students.

I am not a CHL instructor but I have done a lot of training.

I don't know if CHL instructors are a jealous lot.

One of my favorite ways to learn is to sit in on as many peers as possible when in their own class and cull the good parts.

RHenriksen wrote:Blend of quality information and entertainment.

For me the entertainment aspect helped greatly will the retention of information.

croc870 wrote:My question for everyone however, is what sets a "good" instructor apart from a "great" instructor.

A good instructor will explain the required information and answer questions. A great instructor will explain the required information, and answer not only the questions that are asked, but also the questions the students didn't even KNOW they SHOULD be asking! That takes experience - sounds like you're well on your way there!

Wayne
who does that (instruct) for a living, too

george wrote:I think a great instructor should have a knowledge of, and cover the basics of material; he should be experienced enough to answer questions intelligently; he should be able to control the class; and he should be able to speak before a crowd.

I think that describes a good instructor. A great instructor should be more.

On the other hand, a bad instructor fails to adequately cover the required subject but complains there's not enough material for 10 hours. A bad instructor tells war stories that puff himself up without teaching the students anything useful. (Wasting some of those 10 hours.) A bad instructor teaches his opinion as fact, instead of distinguishing between the two. (Misinformation.) A bad instructor teaches outdated laws. (Misinformation.) A bad instructor teaches to the test only and skips other important knowledge. (TAKS anyone?)

A good instructor keeps the class interested, and provides enough information to be safe and legal. A great instructor, teaches us that we don't have all the answers, and that We the class is just a start, and beggining of a lifelong quest to understand and perfect our skills and knowledge.
I am fortunate enough to have been instructed by 2 of the best. Tom and Charles.

All of these responses are point on and illustrate how great instructors behave. I want to add my personal observation.

I teach engineering concepts to non-technical students as part of my job. What I try to do is actively listen to their comments and questions and then answer questions (or their observations) with respect and courtesy. I have found that, in Texas at least, courtesy and respect indicate competence in an instructor. As implied in several of the earlier responses, if you treat the class as a group they don't engage personally. I want each student to feel I am teaching them as if we were one-on-one.

My feedback is always stellar. Make each student feel important and worthy of your expertise. This habit will also guarantee great questions so the training never gets boring for you.

Happy Trails! N