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carpentries / instructor-training

Instructor Training
https://carpentries.github.io/instructor-training/
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Instructor training requires more breaks #1442

Open martinosorb opened 2 years ago

martinosorb commented 2 years ago

As @konrad and I were teaching an instructor training last week, we received multiple requests of more breaks. I completely support the idea. The sections are about 3.5 hours long, with only a 15-minute break in the middle. This is not enough. The instructor training itself reminds future instructors of the importance of breaks, and it feels like it's not practicing what it preaches.

brownsarahm commented 2 years ago

I sometimes do one 5 and one 10 minute break to make them more frequent without changing the total timing and for some people that helps.

I agree overall, but the challenge is what to cut in favor of the breaks. That is what we need to discuss in order to do this.

tajuakins commented 2 years ago

The break during training is very important most when the sections is more than 30 minutes. Given short break of 5-minutes seems important but not too long because adult will intent to engage in some other things and re-joining again very late.

ragamouf commented 2 years ago

As we run instructor training online across 4 x half days, we extend the duration to 4 hours, put a half hour break in the middle, and stop for 5 minutes every hour for a stretch, a bathroom break, make a cup of tea, walk outside and back in again. We originally didn't include the 5 min breaks, but trainee feedback was adamant. And consider, if you have pregnant learners, they will need those breaks! There's not particularly any content that we cut in order to do this.

Our greater difficulty is the timing of the half days. 9am-1pm is generally regarded as the ideal schedule, but typically I'm teaching from 12-4pm. That afternoon period can get very wearisome for learners.

One thing I haven't tried (that occurred to me just now) is 3 x 6 hour days with a full hour break in the middle. Conceptually that might work better for learners because 3 days doesn't dominate the week in the way that 4 half days does. Indeed it might even help trainers team teach in groups of 3 but that is a different thread. @brownsarahm let me know if planning a 3 day IT program would be a welcome thread.