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I'm reading a @kateatherley thread from a couple of days ago, about what sort if info should be included in patterns, etc.
(BTW, she has a new book coming out on Tuesday. I can't wait!!)
And as someone who had trained/taught people since I was a teenager (no hyperbole)...
(BTW, she has a new book coming out on Tuesday. I can't wait!!)
And as someone who had trained/taught people since I was a teenager (no hyperbole)...
I have SOME THOUGHTS.
The single biggest mistake instructors make (and I include pattern writers here) is forgetting what it's like to be a beginner.
"But everyone should know that"
But we don't. Not at the beginning. And yes, we can figure it out through trial and error...
The single biggest mistake instructors make (and I include pattern writers here) is forgetting what it's like to be a beginner.
"But everyone should know that"
But we don't. Not at the beginning. And yes, we can figure it out through trial and error...
But thinking that is actually a form of survivor bias.
"Well, I figured out how to do that without being spoon fed!"
Bully for you. How many didn't and simply stopped participating? Do you really want to be the gate keeper who leaves people out?
"Well, I figured out how to do that without being spoon fed!"
Bully for you. How many didn't and simply stopped participating? Do you really want to be the gate keeper who leaves people out?
And people aren't doing it maliciously! They really aren't!
They've just forgotten how much is NEW when you are starting something for the first time.
Hell, it took me FOREVER to figure out how to do a YO between a purl and knit stitch. What a simple thing right?
They've just forgotten how much is NEW when you are starting something for the first time.
Hell, it took me FOREVER to figure out how to do a YO between a purl and knit stitch. What a simple thing right?
Everyone knows that!
Except when they don't.
And no, I don't expect patterns to be 20 pages long.
But maybe add things that can help beginners. Because it opens your area up to more people, and more people = more money, to reduce it to pure economics.
Except when they don't.
And no, I don't expect patterns to be 20 pages long.
But maybe add things that can help beginners. Because it opens your area up to more people, and more people = more money, to reduce it to pure economics.
I was lucky enough to go to Vietnam a couple of years ago, to help a college there. I was working with the instructors, helping them create effective SOPs and course documents for lab classes.
My favourite session?
The afternoon I taught them how to knit.
My favourite session?
The afternoon I taught them how to knit.
What?
Yep. It was GREAT.
I wanted then to viscerally understand how frustrating it is to try something new, and the instructions are minimal.
To grok the idea that just because *they* understood their material didn't mean a new student would.
Yep. It was GREAT.
I wanted then to viscerally understand how frustrating it is to try something new, and the instructions are minimal.
To grok the idea that just because *they* understood their material didn't mean a new student would.
It was so much fun. And they had a great time too - so very willing to get up in front of their coworkers and air appear silly as they tried to wrangle string and pointy sticks.
So my main take home for instructors - every so often, go learn something completely new to you.
Because it forces you back into leaner mode, and the best instructors never forget what that's like.
And that's the reason I'm now a beer judge
Because it forces you back into leaner mode, and the best instructors never forget what that's like.
And that's the reason I'm now a beer judge
