Answers to PART 2 QUESTIONS

Walter & Group...

Additional comment on answers to the first set of questions:

As always, I received far more answers to these questions than I could send.  Some even by phone ..... some requesting my private comments with request not to share.

More than one stated that they would consider asking all of the available CCI's to assist.  (Note Rene Hesse's contribution.)  I think this would have been very appropriate if this had been an FFF event or a volunteer community program, etc.  It would have spoken to the spirit of cooperation we promote among instructors.

As Dennis pointed out, when giving a course (where there are fees for service) it makes good sense to pick the number of assistant CCI's on the basis of what is practical for the venture.  I'd do it from a standpoint of their combined and individual expertise as well as the finances involved.

Some other things you should know about Dennis:

He has been doing this for many years on a regular basis.  When teaching, he has no need or wish for name tags, since he gets to know his students so well he can remember each one by name even with classes of 15 or more !  (Wish I could do that.)

Gordy

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Answers from Gary Davison :

PART 2

 

CLASS DAY:

 

When we assess the class we find there are different reasons for coming:

 

8 people have no gear at all. They saw 'A River runs through it' and loved the way Brad Pitt cast and want to learn everything about fly fishing. (actually it was Jason Borger an FFF MCI) 

 

3 people have been fishing for 5 years or more, have their own equipment, one person has a shooting head set up on a 10 weight rod.

 

2 teens are at the class because their father sent them. One of them has his grandfather's 3 piece fiberglass rod from the 50's (yikes I remember those very well)

 

2 women are there with the husband's fishing equipment, the husbands have tried to teach them but have given up and sent them to class !!

 

Our CI's are here and ready to go:

 

1. What now ? 

 

Get to the class site early along with the CCI's to set up the casting areas and class room.  Do some pre-preparations as is needed to make sure all equipment is set up and working for the class room.  Also assemble all the gear needed for those that conveyed that they did not have equipment.  Being prepared means having enough rods for all participants if needed just in case. As shown above.

 

Have beverages available for the students, Coffee, Orange juice, Soda's, Water, Donuts would be a must.

 

As Students are socalizing pre class, have a short discussion with the CCI's and advise that we have to review the equipment being used prior to the initial warm up session and change out accordingly as needed for the two day class.

 

After review of the student body would provide the following breakdown for the groups to the CCI's.

 

After analysis provide the following plan to the CCI's

 

A.)  Place the 3 experienced casters with the two ladies as one group, being as the ladies may of had casting experience with their husbands for my group (Master)

 

B.)  Take the 10 beginners and divide up into two groups making 1-5 ratio for the CCI's.

 

 

 

2. Any change in our goals ? No

 

Is there a common goal ? Yes CCI & Master are both teaching the substance of the fly cast, so the experience is both educational and enjoyable for both students and teachers. 

 

3. How will we start the day ?

As the Master perform a walk through of the casting area for weather conditions, wind direction and to making sure all is in place that was to be put in place for safety, prior to starting the day.

 

A.) Introduction of Master, CCI's and CCI Candidates. Go over bathroom locations, safety items, make sure the waiver sign in has been signed by all the students attending,  make sure all name tags have been provided.

 

B.)  Provide an overview of the FFF and what the organization strives for in the teaching of fly casting.  What our job entails being CCI's and Master CCI's. What benefits there are available to those that become members of the FFF.  Plus the information that is available to all Fly Fisherman who may or may not be members of the FFF. 

 

C.) At this time the Master and the CCI's should provide their back ground and their story about the CCI journey with a little bit of history so the students know a little about us.

 

D.)  We would then turn the floor over to the Students around the room. This is a very important part of the class. Giving the Master and the CCI's an idea of students back ground.  Where they are from, what they do for a living, where they like to fish, and what area of Fly Fishing is important to them.

This will also give the instructors a hint as to their learning needs.  Verbal, Touch, or Visual styles.

 

E.) Then provide a hand out showing the class plan which would be followed for the day.

Showing class format  example: (class room 30 min, casting time 20 min, 10 debrief.) next series of sessions.

Outline would show breaks, & time for lunch. 

Would also show topic's to be covered through out the day with designated CCI providing the presentation. 

CCI Outlines of presentation would be attached so the student could follow along during the presentation.

 

F.) Make sure everyone had safety equipment for the casting area's before going to the casting area. Have a map of the casting area showing each area and indicate to all where to line up to make their casting based on wind direction for that day's class. Those needing equipment would have to meet outside to be given basis instructions on the equipment before going to the casting area for warm up.  Plus recommend that those that brought their own equipment should let one of the CCI's review before going to the casting area. 

 

E.) Go to Casting Area to warm up and get the feel of the equipment.

 

4. Will we (you and the CI's) approach responsibilities differently ? Yes

If so, how ?

The Master instructor is responsible for everything associated with the event. 

Making sure the event is going well for CCI's as well as the students.  Plus meets the challenges of those unexpected problems that may occur through out the two day event.

The Master is responsible to provide support to all of the CCI's in the class room, and in the field, to make sure they can fulfill the needs of their students, that have given their time and money, to learn how to become better fly fisherman. 

 

All the best

 

Gary Davison

Gulf Coast Spey 

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From Don Pendleton:

 

1. What now ?         Welcome everyone to the class.  Introduce everyone.  Encourage the group to get to know each other.  Tell where the casting area will be, restrooms,  give a brief time schedule of events, lunch, break, .

        Give a brief outline of how the class will be taught.

 

2. Any change in our goals ? Is there a common goal ?  As far as the average fly casting class, the individual MOs are pretty realistic,  the group description sounds pretty normal!!!    This group would not surprise me at all.  Just always be prepared for different levels of fly fishers to show up.  Even those that have fly fished for several years have a reason for being at your class.  Seek out and satisfy their needs as well as the movie dreamers. No changes in your goals,  the common goal is to teach fly fishing and teach students to cast a fly line.  Over a two day class teach the essentials, variables and fishing.

 

 

 

3. How will we start the day ?  Begin with an immediate explanation of tackle and equipment used.

 

Appears as though you have immediate equipment issues to deal with.

 

        8 people need to be equipped.

        

        the 3 people with their own equipment need to be checked, the guy with the 10wt. should be encouraged to  use a lighter wt. rod, if he insists on using he own rod keep an

                eye on him for tasks he will have problems doing, make sure he understands his equipment's advantages and disadvantages.  Use his equipment as an example

                to explain to students the wide variations available in fly fishing rods/lines/uses.  Leave the door open for him to try your equipment.

 

          Match up the two teens properly,  a husky strong teen may well handle a 9' rod,  a weaker smaller teen might be better fitted with an 8' rod.  The student with his

                    grandfather's rod may have a special sentimental attachment to learning with and using that rod.  Handle this appropriately to the student's wishes but leave

                    the door open for him to up grade to better  rods that you may have for the class.  Similar to the fellow with the 10 wt.  keep a special eye on him for equipment

                        limiting problems and professionally deal with them.

 

            Outfit the two ladies appropriately,  their husband's rods may not be suitable for them.

       

 

4. Will we (you and the CI's) approach responsibilities differently ? If so, how ?   The MCCI should be leading the CCIs, the students, school and lessons.  The CCIs should be assisting students and the Master in teaching, demos, individual student needs.

 

Don Pendleton 

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Don:  Just how would you go about outfitting those with inappropriate tackle ?  Allowing them to try your rod is one thing.  Outfitting several of them for the course quite another.      Gordy

 

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Answers from Gary Kell :

 

Our CI's are here and ready to go:

 

Wow, Gordy your right, there is a lot to deal with here -- to put on a good school takes lots of thought and preplanning.  If you have CI's that have at least been involved in a school settng before it would be a big help.  I find some instructors are great one on one but get the jitters or are not practiced at group presentations!!   If this is a school that students paid for I'd be sure CI's got together at least the day before and practiced the teaching moments beforehand and made out their own instructor notes or used my instructor notes to guide their presentation.  Anyway here are some thoughts based on my experience with developing and putting on such schools with class make up just like Dennis describes. 

 

1. What now ?  Organize, make assignments, agree on overall responsibilites, develope and review lesson plan/schedule with team, make final adjustments.  Make sure each student has a functioning rod, leader, & yarn fly.  I like to mark fly lines with magic marker at spot where line should be held during each casting exercise.  In this case if at all possible I would use "school rods" ready to go.  Then on second day have session where students can use their own rods if they desire.  Have them come early to set up for casting or do it over lunch with help from one of the CI's.

 

In lesson plans, I like to divide time into teaching moments and coaching moments then with CI's agree to time allotments for both. ie Teaching moment - Roll Cast/5 minutes whole class,  Coaching Moment - Roll Cast Practice/Divide into 3 groups 1 instructor for each group.  Rotate every 10 minutes.  I like to have instructor notes for each teaching moment - not that the instructor does not know how to do the task but to note the essential information that should not be forgotten and to keep instructor on track and off tangents. We instructors have trouble talking too much!! 

 

The style of teaching is up to each instructor but we all should cover the essential info within time limits agreed. 

 

Agree on Coaching approach...rotate to each student during coaching moments - praise first, one correction at a time, use simple, clear language, allow student practice time, keep to couple minutes each student. Ratio in this case is about 5 to 1 --- If possible I would have chosen 3 CI's to get closer to 4 to 1 ratio. 

 

Team teaching has some great benefits to students once they get used to it.  Each instructor has a different set of coaching tools and different delivery.  Often a student will relate/respond well to one or another of the instructors and often take something from each!!

 

With the varied skills in this class I would approach it from the lowest common denominator - no experience.  Often people with only 5 years experience and no formal training really need to start from "scratch"  they often benefit the most but sometimes also difficult to coach because of bad habits!!  Often during coaching moments an experienced student can be introduced to advanced techniques one on one --without confusing the beginner.  As a coach when approaching this student just ask what have you been working on? Go from there.

 

Agree to "hands on" approach - if you decide it is OK ... get permission first.   I stand off to casting side and grab blank above handle to avoid the personal space issue alltogether. 

 

2. Any change in our goals ? Yes, with the make up of this class I would add a "knowledge goal" along with a "casting goal".  Since this class has many beginners I would add - Student will understand the concept of fly fishing, the basic equipment, fly fishing terminology and fly fishing strategies.  Fly Casting Goal - Overhead cast 40 feet, retrieve line, false cast and shoot line back out to 40 feet. 

 

Is there a common goal ?  The overall, common goal is to have fun, enjoy learning, go home with a smile. 

 

3. How will we start the day ?  Equipment and facility set up before students arrive.  Introductions - students & instructors, review of schedule, review of facilities,  general approach and goals.  I like to start students out with a bang..... get out and cast.... I start with the overhead cast but many well thought-out approaches will work.

 

4. Will we (you and the CI's) approach responsibilities differently ? If so, how ?  

 

Identify Lead Instructor - makes sure everyone is having fun.... does intros, moves folks along to next task does reviews etc.  makes decisons on adjustments and changes on the fly... making last minute assignments etc. in consultation with team. 

 

Identify Time Instructor - one assigned to watch time -- very important.  As instructors we often get caught in "data dump" mode -- telling captive audiences all that we know!!  Bad idea -- be brief using simple language that audience understands and will retain.  More is not better .... just the opposite... more confuses the beginner in a way that he takes nothing home but "Wow is that fly fishing complicated"!!   Agree on signals to be used to indicate "times up"!!  (Use the Instructor note cards if you have this problem!!)

 

Identify Logistics instructor responsible for students with logistics problems...Like -- I have to leave early -- I don't feel good --- where can I make a call etc etc..... Make sure students know who this is. 

 

Also, assignments should be made as to who sets up each teaching/coaching moment ..... prepares materials, sets out cones, ropes, targets, checks and repairs leaders etc.  before the students arrive at the next task.

 

Gary

 

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Gary:  You have come up with a common goal.  Would you set a specific goal in terms of student achievement ?

 

Gordy

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