[Sca-cooks] Teaching in the SCA

[David Walddon]

Excellent alternative approaches.
The problem in AnTir is that the Ithra schedules are set. We don't  
have a HUGE twice a year colligium but many, many (Ithra is really  
active) smaller Ithra's throughout the year spread across the Kingdom  
which makes it really hard to be proactive as a teacher.
I think your comments below have huge amount of merit and should be  
incorporated into the overall document that comes out of this  
discussion.
I also think that those autocrats that want a specific teacher or  
specific class should remember timing and be flexible.

Comment number two is critical! And we all should have an up to date  
list of what we are willing to teach (I do), but inevitably even when  
provided a list someone asks about a class I taught 10 years ago and  
couldn't I please dust it off. It never hurts to ask, but common  
curtsy might suggest that after the first or second no that perhaps  
they should move on. I am not saying every event planner does this  
but more than a few have if we are talking about what motivates us to  
teach this is not high on my list! :)

I hope someone is capturing all this great data because it would make  
a great article.

Maestro Eduardo Lucrezia (aka David)

________________________________________________________

Food is life. May the plenty that graces your table truly be a VAST  
REPAST.

David Walddon
david at vastrepast.com
www.vastrepast.com
web.mac.com/dwalddon


On Apr 23, 2008, at 9:33 AM, Mike C. Baker wrote:

>> I rarely teach in the SCA any more.
>>
>> Not because I don't want to but because the autocrats of the
>> Ithra's (our classes) either ask me to late (to late being 3
>> months) or to early (being a year in advance). Timing is
>> everything. I am almost always booked 3 months in advance
>> with work, or other engagements. On the other hand I am not
>> able to commit a year in advance because my work schedule is
>> not solid that far in advance.
>> I love to teach, and will go anybut the reality is the Ithra
>> Chancellors who get me to teach at their events are the ones
>> that continue to ask (and ask early, but not to early).
>> Also it is important to have an open mind in what you want
>> someone to teach. I have had people say "I would like you to
>> teach A and only A and nothing but A" and I no longer want to
>> teach A or I will teach A if you also let me teach B.
>> Flexibility is critical if I am going to teach. Have an idea
>> of what you want me to teach, but be flexible.
>>
>> David
>
> I've been watching this thread with interest, and watching for a  
> moment
> where I could contribute.  Found it!
>
> I have several suggestions related to Ld. David's experience, all of
> which I have used / offered previously.  NONE of the following is  
> meant
> as a criticism; I am only attempting to describe alternative  
> approaches.
>
> 1.  If you know in advance when a re-occurring event is scheduled, go
> ahead and add it to your personal schedule as soon as you have the
> date(s) available.  (Events with "permanent" event dates, such as  
> "wars"
> or reserved dates on kingdom calendars, are simplest for this
> strategy...)  Decide whether or not you are willing to attend, THEN
> whether or not you are willing to teach.
>
> 2.  Prepare the class or classes you are willing to teach.  I have  
> three
> "standards" and several more in the status of "I can wing it" or that
> otherwise need very little additional work -- and other material  
> that I
> can dredge back to the surface from my lifetime in Scouting.
>
> 3.  Offer the autocrat / course coordinator the courses you most  
> want to
> teach *first*, with preliminary details (time, space, student  
> capacity,
> any fees or pre-requisites).  Be willing to compromise, but only  
> within
> you own comfort zone.
>
> 3A.  If the target event requires substantial travel, also consider
> offering to teach at non-event locations on the way to or from the  
> event
> and contact "local" A&S leaders in the appropriate branches with a
> proposal.
>
> 4.  If you are going to attend an event and the format doesn't include
> formal classes, you can still offer your material informally.
>
> 5.  If an event has formal classes scheduled, if you have a class
> prepared but are not otherwise scheduled, offer the class  
> coordinator /
> autocrat your services as emergency fill-in (for instructors who  
> fail to
> appear -- "life happens").
>
> 6.  Where possible, structure at least one class in your repertoire  
> for
> flexibility in terms of time, facility, materials, etc.  For  
> example, I
> teach a class on the myth and history of Bards -- I've done a  
> version in
> less than an hour, and a full session in three, as well as at the
> "natural" two-hour length.
>
> 7.  If the material lends itself to the concept, prepare a children's
> version as well as an adult version (or vice versa) -- and consider a
> "blended" version that will engage both adults AND children.
>
> Hope this has not rambled too far...
>
> Adieu, Amra / ttfn - Mike / Pax ... Kihe
>
> Mike C. Baker
> SCA: (al-Sayyid) Amr ibn Majid al-Bakri al-Amra, F.O.B, OSCA
> "Other": Reverend Kihe Blackeagle PULC (the DreamSinger Bard)
> Opinions? I'm FULL of 'em
> alt. e-mail: KiheBard at hotmail.com  OR MikeCBaker at verizon.net
>    Buy my writings!:   http://www.lulu.com/WizardsDen
> http://wizardsdenblogedition.blogspot.com/
> http://www.livejournal.com/users/kihebard/
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sca-cooks mailing list
> Sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org
> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/sca-cooks-ansteorra.org