The Future of Education

Conversations on Teaching and Learning in a Networked World

TEACHING TECHNIQUES-THE BEST ONE OF ALL I would like for all teachers to perceive themselves not as teachers but as trainers, and high end sales people. (I have been all three) Teachers present les…


TEACHING TECHNIQUES-THE BEST ONE OF ALL

I would like for all teachers to perceive themselves not as teachers but as trainers, and high end sales people. (I have been all three)

Teachers present lessons, motivate (hopefully) and enlighten. Trainers help the charges internalize marketable skills. High end sales people get their clients to BUY whatever they are selling.

Teachers should be selling the JOY OF LEARNING and the desire to make GREAT GRADES.

I want to focus on TEACHERS PERFORMING AS HIGH END SALES PEOPLE.

FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT is a book entitled the “One Minute Sales Person”

The most important concept in this book is this.

PEOPLE DO NOT BUY YOUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.

PEOPLE BUY “HOW YOUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MAKE THEM FEEL”

I do not believe a woman has ever purchased a mink coat because it will keep them warm. I believe that all mink coats are purchased because once a woman puts one on she feels special.

I do not believe that any man has ever bought a Rolex watch because it keeps good time (it does not). Men buy Rolex watches because they feel that it makes them feel RICH.

Rappers do not buy GOLD CHAINS (I do not know what to put here)

They buy GOLD CHAINS to show that they now have money.

SO NOW WHAT?

Design your classes so that a student is never embarrassed. Design your classes so that the student will feel good about participating.

I would never ask a question of a student that did not raise their hand to answer.

I also explained to my students, that when we had visitors (I like to show off) I will ask a question, and if you do NOT know the answer raise your hand, if you know the answer put your head down and look nervous. If all the hands went up I would quickly say “all of you know that one and ask another question” I would always call on the student with their hand down because I knew she could answer correctly.

Students quickly realize my goal was TO MAKE THEM LOOK GOOD.

I tried as many ways as possible to achieve the goal of making them look good.

I gave every student the opportunity to do a presentation on whatever they knew the most about. My teaching credo was “SCIENCE IS EVERYTHING”

When I worked in corporate America we all had job descriptions. I would always look at my job description and write a sentence about the first element on the document. That sentence was ‘MAKE MY BOSS LOOK GOOD”.

If anyone thinks that is an invalid entry, make your boss look bad and see what happens.

This concept will give you great results as a teacher if you reverse it.

In other words MAKE YOUR STUDENTS LOOK GOOD.

Let me recommend one more book. Zig Ziglar has written a book on how to close the sale.

You goal is to get your students to buy what you are selling (that is, if you really care about them). The problem is teachers do not know how to sell! In the book Secrets of closing the sale you will learn how to get people (students) to buy what you are selling. It really works. I dare you to try it.

Public education seems to be going down the drain, It seems as if the focus is on teaching the standardize test and on keeping down discipline problems. I believe there is HOPE (Pandora did leave it in the box). I believe that if teachers learn how to teach as Great salespeople have learned how to sell the results will surprise all.

One of the main problems is that in teacher’s education classes in college there is very little taught concerning teaching techniques.

So teach yourself.

ACTION STEP:

BUY THESE TWO BOOKS

PRETEND YOU ARE A HIGH ENDS PERSON THAT WORKS ONLY ON COMMISSION.

APPLY THE PRINCIPLES

IT WORKED FOR ME, IT WILL WORK FOR YOU

click each book

Views: 9

Comment

You need to be a member of The Future of Education to add comments!

Join The Future of Education

Reviews

"The depth of your observations from last night is still resonating with me. I'm trying to think of another interview I've given where the questioner understood the material so well that he/she so regularly (and fluidly) went into new intellectual territory. I can't think of any. Pretty amazing. Thank you."
-David Shenk
 
"Steve is one of the most influential yet understated individuals in the world of Education. He gives thought leaders a widely attended global platform to voice their ideas to transform Education, and he does so with tremendous respect and intelligence."
-Charles Fadel
 

"Steve conducted the most in-depth interview I've ever been through and I enjoyed it to boot!"
-Doc Searls

 
"Steve is the Oprah of education."
-Monika Hardy's Students
 
"The nicest guy in ed tech."
-Rushton Hurley
 
"Steve is a national treasure."
-Leonard Waks
 
"Steve Hargadon is one of the most important change-makers of our time!"
-Connie Weber
 

More:

The Future of Education is a free series.You can support the interviews by using our Amazon link:

Steve's futureofeducation book recommendations, reviews, favorite quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists

You can also support the site by making a donation (any amount): 

Badge

Loading…

About

Recognition

“I've learned more from this webinar series than any other source I can recall." - from the nomination

Thanks to:

 

Event Series Partners


© 2013   Created by Steve Hargadon.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service