Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with instruction

Suggest some world music styles for me and my students to explore

argybarg — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:36:02 -0800

I'm looking for striking, rich new fields of world music to explore with kids. I'll be teaching elementary school music starting in the fall. I'd like to introduce my students to musical traditions from around the world that will catch their ears, preferably styles they can play around with themselves.

An example: Gamelan music. It's dreamlike, circular, exotic sounding and not too hard to reproduce with drums, chimes and idiophones set to a minor pentatonic scale. But I already know about gamelan music!

A counter-example: Bulgarian choral music. Beautiful, but full of tricky harmonies, dissonant to American ears and too demanding for children to play around with themselves.

So what world music styles can I introduce that kids can pick up with delight?

twist my arm

crazylegs — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:12:18 -0800

fiddle filter: why won't my arm do what I want it to do when I play the fiddle? I've just decided to learn to play the fiddle. Fifteen minutes into my first attempt at practicing scales, my left arm is stiff and hurting and won't bend properly. The position that I need to get my hand into seems very unnatural and uncomfortable. Is this me, or does it come with the territory? Am I physiologically unfit to play the fiddle? Am I doing something wrong?

What are the best resources for computer novices?

contraption — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:14:36 -0800

What are the best resources for computer novices? I often find myself in the position of helping friends and family figure out how to operate their computers (typically Windows XP or Vista, but OS X tips are welcome too.) While I realize there's no substitute for face-to-face instruction, my time is not infinite and I'd like to be able to set them up with some bookmarks or documents that will give them guidance when I'm not around. I'm especially interested in a well-structured, non-intimidating quick reference tool with general tips like locating a file in the filesystem, compressing/decompressing files, using the clipboard, and selecting which program is associated with a particular file type. It should not take any knowledge for granted, and wherever possible should offer detailed step-by-step instruction with explanations of any necessary jargon terms. Reliable, regularly updated lists of good free programs for various tasks would also be helpful.

What are good culinary reference books?

schroedinger — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:00:52 -0800

I just got a job as a chef's apprentice, and I'm trying to collect scholarly culinary resources I can use to help me with my studies. So far my instructors have recommended The Professional Chef textbook put out by the Culinary Institute of the America and The Food Lover's Companion. Are there any other websites or books that are essential for would-be culinary professionals trying to learn a little more of culinary science, history, and cuisine classique? I'm not looking so much for simple instructional cookbooks like The Joy of Cooking or How to Cook Everything. Nothing against them--I own them--but I need things that will give me deeper information about knife cuts, glaces, pastry work, French cooking, etc.

Online guitar instruction?

daisyace — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:26:50 -0800

Is there a great, free website where a child with no prior experience can learn to tune and play her new guitar? The girl who I mentor was just given a new acoustic guitar for her 9th birthday. (This Hannah Montana 3/4-size one, I think.) She can read at or above grade level, she's comfortable using a computer, and she's enthusiastic about the guitar. On the flip side, she has no guitar experience at all, she doesn't like things that are difficult for her, and she only has a long attention span for things that are pretty fun and active. She can't afford instruction, not even a low-cost option like learning from a music student. So, is there any fun, free, guitar instruction website out there?

What do you dig about books with instructions?

lauranesson — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:53:51 -0800

What great workbooks or instructional books have you found? I'm looking for really great examples of the workbook style of text: the kind of books you can follow from beginning to end, with exercises or assignments to complete. I'm thinking of creating one as an art project for some friends, so I'd love to know what you liked about the good ones.

I'd also love to hear about terrible workbooks that just didn't work for you. Subject matter isn't important to my request, so anything from art to math to psychology is useful. It also isn't important to me whether the book includes space to write in it (just that it has assignments), unless you find that such space was useful/annoying.

What makes a workbook great?

Thanks for your help!

Blackboard course on standalone network?

midwestguy — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:57:32 -0800

I need to find a course management system to deliver course materials over a network that is NOT connected to the internet (students are in prison and don't have access). I have loads of faculty with great independent learning courses designed using Blackboard. Can I set up Blackboard to run on a standalone network? Some other product? Can work students submit via blackboard be easily downloaded and moved out on physical media? This is my first post on the green--I'm so excited to access the hive mind!

I want to learn to soar in Phoenix!

Alterscape — Sat, 10 May 2008 08:46:49 -0800

So I want to learn to fly sailplanes. Any advice, recommendations for soaring instruction in driving range of Phoenix, AZ? Google finds me a bunch of sailports and organizations in the area, but I'd rather get some opinions before I give anyone my money. In terms of my experience level and what I'm looking for -- never soared before, but I grew up around private aviation. I'd like to get my soaring rating both because the skillset and challenge involved seem bloody awesome, and because I've heard that it instills discipline that will be useful if/when I have the time and money to pursue a powered rating. With that in mind, can anyone recommend a training organization? A specific instructor would be great, too.

Help me help my son learn to play baseball.

qldaddy — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:49:52 -0800

I need some coaching tips and resource suggestions for a nine-year old boy heading into his first year of little league, please. My (just turned) nine year old son asked us to sign him up for little league this year. While brilliant and talented in many ways, he has never before shown any interest or aptitude for atheletics. He's never really wanted to play catch or wiffle ball or anything like that. As a result, he is pretty terrible right now. Bad thrower, bad hitter, bad fielder.

He is also four years behind almost everyone he'll be playing with and I am worried about the other kids being mean b/c of his lack of skill - he's a real sensitive kid and I want to him to enjoy this experience b/c I think team sports can be a great learning experience for kids.

I know I can't turn him into Chase Utley before opening day (nor am I looking to) but I want him to be competent enough to enjoy himself and avoid derision. So, Mefites, what should I do? Suggestions on drills, videos, pep talks, etc anxiously awaited.

Stuff about him that might help inform answers/suggestions. He's a big kid - 4'9" and 94 lbs - which isn't helping him since he's got that too-big-for-his-age difficulty with coordination thing going on. He's left-handed and I'm not. He loves performing (plays, guitar, etc.).

I'm trying to find a good online class platform which can be installed on a hosted windows server environment.

sagewithin — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 00:36:05 -0800

I'm trying to find a good online class platform which can be installed on a hosted windows server environment. I need to be able to have text and audio with multiple paths based on student input. Ideally would be inexpensive or free.

Where to look for instructional design jobs?

Jupiter Jones — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:05:33 -0800

Looking for help finding work as an instructional designer in social services fields in the American Southwest. I’m asking this for a friend of mine who is looking for a specific type of work in the Southwest. Here’s her question:

I am an instructional designer interested in developing curriculum and training materials in the law and social services field, specifically in the area of behavioral health, cultural competency, juvenile justice, adult corrections or border protection. I am looking for companies or government agencies in Arizona, Nevada (Las Vegas), or California (San Francisco, Silicon Valley or San Diego) that might hire instructional designers in this area. I'm not sure where to begin my research in order to find these career opportunities. Any ideas, suggestions or leads would be greatly appreciated.

help me get my hair did.

cilantro — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:04:38 -0800

Please help me find a still photo of the haircut from this Regina Spektor video (with or without the little fringe), and/or tell me how to explain to the hairdresser how I want it cut I haven't been to a hairdresser in at least 15 years. For me, a haircut involves dividing it into two tails, pulling them forward over my shoulders, and trimming them at about solar-plexus level. Since I have major curls any unevenness is hidden, but it's pretty boring unless I put it up and I want something with a more interesting shape that's still long.

Japanese Language Instruction in New York

Julnyes — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:10:32 -0800

Has anyone taken the language courses offered by the Japan Society in New York? My sisters and I would like to formalize our casual study of the Japanese language. We found out that the Japan Society offers classes in conjunction with the Toyota Language Center.

The price seems right, and we are going to see if we can look in on one of the classes that are currently taking place, but has anyone on Mefi taken classes there before?

So any positive or negative stories would be great or a suggestion for a better place to study?

Thanks for any help.

Need J2EE/Java Training

deeman — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:29:23 -0800

JavaTrainingFilter - Boston, MA - I would like to find an instructor/consultant to come into my work and teach/train J2EE programming to me and a colleague in approximately a two full-day course. I am currently located in Waltham, MA working for a software company doing non-programming work. Our manager has offered to pay for us to take a Java course since the majority of our product/products deal heavily with Java and the use of the Eclipse IDE. Most courses we've researched are spread out over a couple weeks. We would like an instructor/consultant to come to our company and teach/train us Java with Eclipse in two full-days. Both of us have general programming knowledge (if/else statements, variable types, classes etc). Anyone know of a company that offers this or a list of certified private instructors/consultants they could recommend?

Favorite exercises/ materials for Freshman Composition classes?

exlotuseater — Sun, 20 May 2007 09:07:09 -0800

Favorite exercises/ materials for Freshman Composition classes? Help me engage young minds in order to ~~brainwash~~ educate them! I have been hired as a Teaching Assistant for Fall '07, and I'm going to be putting a syllabus together over the summer. I am going to be teaching my own section, as opposed to working in conjunction with another professor. It's set up to be fairly open in terms of structure-- free reign for me.

The text I am going to use primarily is Perspectives on Contemporary Issues: Readings Across Disciplines, 4th Edition, one of three texts chosen by T.A. consensus (there are two others, but the texts are particular to the "strand" one chooses-- "Life Writing," "Academic Writing," and "Cultural Conversations"; I have chosen the third.)
The content of my class will incorporate aspects of all three, but I can use any resource outside of the text that you can think of-- multimedia, essays, other books, etc.

What were/ are your favorite exercises or readings for Freshman Composition?

Whether you are an educator or just remember something really cool that stood out for you as a student, any ideas you might have are welcome!

Closed lanscape, open minds

Ogre Lawless — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 20:04:51 -0800

Closed landscape? What the heck is my art instructor talking about? It doesn't help that, yes, I've got to pull one off by next week. So we're working on landscapes. We had three projects to do over break: high horizon, low horizon and a "closed landscape". She briefly described it as somewhat horizonless, "like you'd see out a window".

Now, I don't know about her, but I've seen some really steller landscapes out the window before. The term "closed landscape" appears to be made up out of whole cloth -- what is she describing...or is all hope lost?

How do I give small scholarships to at-risk kids

conch soup — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 13:22:49 -0800

How do I disburse scholarships for an after-school program to underprivileged youth, who have little or no parental support? I am involved with a youth sailing club on a tiny (13,000 people) Caribbean nation, and we have a modest scholarship fund. Here's alot of background before I flesh out the question- Sorry for all the detail:

Most of the US sailing institutions at which I've taught have had primarily wealthy cliente (surprise!) but at this club most of the kids would be considered at-risk youth and quite a few come from very poor families, with one or zero parents in their home. This has created it's own set of challenges, but it is also the reason I got involved in the first place. We try to teach sailing in a culturally relevant manner, emphasizing teamwork, confidence, and self-respect.

The club is non-profit, slightly government supported, and one of only a handful of recreational programs for kids to do on the island. Our enrollment fees are extremely low (around $40/ month), especially compared to similar US sailing programs. Even so, alot of families cannot afford to send their kids to the after school program, or the summer sailing camp. Furthermore, residents here are very unaccustomed to the idea of paying for, or even encouraging their kids to do extracurricular activities.

What really inspires me is that some kids will show up, week after week, to sailing classes with no parental encouragement or support. Sailing is the national sport here and has played a huge role in the history and culture of the nation (which was a fishing-based economy until only recently), so they are the most dedicated sailing kids I've ever taught.

So, disbursing the scholarships so far has been tricky. At first, we sent home notes, saying something like, your child has expressed interest in our Wednesday sailing class, the cost for this class is X, but we provide partial or full scholarships that you may request by calling 555-555.

That got zero responses. Forms, in all their incarnations are very foreign here, and not received well. Alternatively, there are some kids who we know could not come up with even a fraction of the money to join the program, so we comp'd them. I know with any educational program, getting the parents involved is key, and we've had some success with that. But contacting some of the parents can be quite difficult at times, as they may be "off-island" for indefinite periods of time, they may work irregular hours, or they just don't see any value in the program. Speaking with the kids about this can have it's own challenges, like explaining a scholarship to an 8-year old who has no noticeable parental role other than a 13 year old brother. It seems unfair to exclude kids because their parents aren't responsive to their interest in the sailing club, but we also can't just say if you don't pay, Ta-da! you have a scholarship. That is setting the fund up to be abused, and the program taken for granted, and we don't have a ton of funds.

Has anyone had similar scholarship programs where you had small scholarships to give out to kids in a youth recreation program? I've considered making the monthly price $5 instead of $40, and then stating to the involved parents that the suggested price is $40, which many are glad to pay. Or, we could say the scholarship will cover $30 of $40, and you can come work for a few Saturday mornings, and earn the $10. Any stories of similar programs and solutions would be very helpful. I don't assume that there will be an exact answer, but I'd like to hear if you've gone through a similar experience and what your solution is.

101 things Mr. Boss Man never bothered to teach you

Meemer — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 13:50:04 -0800

If there was ONE thing that you wish you had been taught at your current job what would that be? What I am looking for is not something like...."Don't talk to Spencer in HR, he is a perv," more on the lines of "how to get information on X when Y is not working," or "What things can program Z do to make my job easier?" I need to design some sort of educational media for workplaces (software or internet based) and I am looking for some juicy leads. General is better.Thanks

Where should I learn Spanish in Washington, DC?

crabintheocean — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 09:00:22 -0800

There are plenty of places that offer Spanish courses in DC or Northern Virginia, but I have no basis for narrowing them down beyond the color scheme of their respective web sites. What should I be looking for? My employer will pay for a certain amount of training and education each year. It's not enough for a trip abroad but it's enough for most courses I could take locally.

Spanish is not required for the work I do but it would be a strong advantage. My profession has certain ways of talking about things that I would need to be able to transfer to a new language, but not a lot of jargon. I work a job that is mostly 9-5 right now, but my hours are somewhat flexible.

I am most interested in recommendations from people who've had good experiences learning a language in the DC area, but I would also appreciate heresay and negative recommendations.

Spectrophotometer Instruction Manual

hayeled — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 19:09:36 -0800

anyone know where i can get hold of a copy of an instruction/user's manual for a Pharmacia LKB Ultrospec II Spectrophotometer?

Help me, Mr. Piano Man

Ogre Lawless — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 09:43:39 -0800

Bad pianohabitfilter Being mostly self-taught and rather haphazardly so, I find myself mostly playing sing-along classics. I took lessons years ago and found myself quickly frustrated by a process that only gave me a song and a half after several months' practice.

So yes, I am of the "cheater" school and haters -- y'all know what you can do.

Point being, I find myself making some odd hand positions. Some of this may result from the spurious references I may have used to teach myself the chords in the first place. For example, I've seen chords based on the root of the triad (C: C-G-E) as well as the middle of the triad (C: G-E-C).

I found the root-note triad easier to remember (as the first note struck in a "C" chord should not be, duh, G -- tho I learned trumpet first and am now forever single-note biased that way) but find that it makes for some difficult and cumbersome positionings. C# for example is position/note: 1/C#, 3/F, 5/G#

This makes for kind of a weird hand position where my middle finger is below the first and third. This seems strange and awkward, but so do the ofset triads.

What's a piano hack to do?

(I mean for himself and other than lessons. Its Christmas, damnit, I'm po')

Spanish and Polish/Czech language CDs

desuetude — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 08:07:31 -0800

Recommendations for learning Spanish and Polish or Czech via CD? I see from this thread that Michel Thomas's CDs have a lot of fans. Is the accent fairly neutral? I know that it doesn't matter a heck of a lot for basic grammar, but as my past and future experience is with Mexico, not Spain, I'd prefer to avoid picking up mainland accent/grammar habits if possible. (Yes, I know that "Latin America" has a very wide range of accents and dialects as well!)

Also interested in picking up some Polish or Czech and would welcome recommendations of CD courses.

Learning how to paint?

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 13:35:29 -0800

Any tips, books, exercises on learning how to paint with oils? I took an Introduction to Art (painting) class while living in Austin and really enjoyed it.
I recently moved to Portland, OR, and would like to continue learning how to paint.
Are there any tips, tricks, books, exercises, helpful websites you might recommend? I don't think the style/method matters to me, as I'm willing to try anything -- I think I just need to spend more time in front of a canvas.
I searched Google, craigslist, and AskMefi archives, but found nothing of any substance.
I might also be interested in a local course, but I'm only available in the evenings or weekends.

Hot for teacher experience

acoutu — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 15:41:18 -0800

How can I become a community college or contunuing ed instructor? I'm interested in becoming a college or continuing studies instructor. I have an MBA, BA (English), and a certificate in instructing/training. My work experience is in marketing management, communication, writing, and marketing and business consulting. I've never worked as an instructor or even as a TA. However, I've got some decent experience in developing facilitators' guides for magazines and websites -- complete with lesson plans and classroom activities. I've written lots of articles on career management, too. I have a lot of the pieces I'd need to become an instructor. My Executive MBA program didn't allow for teaching assistantships and I've never had the opportunity to teach before. (I was a Brownie leader for many years and I've always enjoyed mentoring my employees and volunteers, so the idea of teaching is not entirely foreign, though.)

How can I easily make the transition to teaching? I'm looking for some ideas on how to get teaching experience. I've checked out some recent questions on succeeding as a TA and first-time lecturer. Yet I'm interested in how to get into those positions in the first place.

I realize I could perhaps make a pitch to the continuing studies program at my local rec centre or school board, but I don't know what I would teach -- I mean, yes, I could teaching marketing or business, but I don't think creating a brand-new course is the best way to get my feet wet. Given this, I suspect I might be best suited to taking over an existing set of lesson plans or curriculum. But community colleges and technical schools will want teaching experience. Can anyone provide some practical tips for making the transition? I'd prefer not to work for free, at least not for more than a few evenings. Thanks.

How do I take/edit great photographs?

SeizeTheDay — Sat, 09 Jul 2005 06:30:37 -0800

Okay, so everyone loves DaShiv's photographs of SF Meetups, and for good reason. They are incredible. I can take decent photos, but they're obviously amateurish. Here's my question: How do I take it to the next level? How can I get the colors to look as brilliant as DaShiv's, for instance (just an example; I'm sure that there are many other styles of photography that I am not aware of)? What equipment do I need? What software do I need? What type of training is required? BTW, I run a Mac and have a little cash to burn. Thanks in advance.