How to badly teach a beekeeping class; or, things not to do:

[Mark in kansas]

How to badly teach a beekeeping class; or, things not to do:

• • Put 100+ people in a long shoebox of a room, but no stage for the presenters, so no one beyond the 4th row can see what's going on at front;
    
    Use a small screen for the Powerpoint projector so no one beyond the 4th row can see what's on the screen;
    
    Print out every Powerpoint and random handouts from the internet and bind them into a 2-inch-thick handout that is of very little use or value;
    
    Use examples (for flower bloom dates, swarm dates, general seasonal references) for locations outside of the area;
    
    Offer examples that apply to large-scale commercial beekeeping to your audience which appears to be mostly hobbyist beekeepers and first-timers.
    
    Pick your least dynamic speakers. The audience probably needs the sleep.
    
    Present none of the perspectives on Integrated Pest Management and non-chemical management of bees.
    
    
    Offer long, rambling answers to questions that really demand a short authoritative answer.

[Acebird]

Hey I went to our first beginner's course last night as a supportive member in our club.  Many of the things the presenter was saying as gospel were the opposite of what I learned on this forum.  But I can truthfully say this one was far better than the one our group conducted last year when we were trying to learn beekeeping.  Don't trash the people that are spending their time (I am assuming as a volunteer) to help people out.  One of the big improvements in this years program is they limited the course to 25 people and charged them the $5 annual dues for club membership.  So whether they wanted to join the club or not they had to.

When you become a seasoned beek you can return the favor and hopefully your students won't ditz you.

[edward]

sounds great that 100 people are interested in beecoming bee keepers. :yippiechick:

Seeing that you know how to do it better , I suppose that you will bee helping out to make things for the better , or maybee you just want to moan,

If your not part of the solution ... . . .. .. .... .... .. .. .  :rant:


mvh edward  :-P

[Rosalind]

It's tough in volunteer groups--on one hand, people who never did something for a group (teaching, fundraising, advertising etc. ) are able to try it out, but on the other, you do get volunteers who really aren't good at this stuff, and since they are volunteering you're not really able to say no, unless you want to do it your own self.

Good venues with a stage usually cost money and need to be booked far in advance; good speakers have busy schedules and often require an honorarium and travel costs; good A/V setups sufficient for a large venue are expensive and take lots of time to set up. I hope you will be helping out with the next class!

[Acebird]

We are lucky to have the Cooperative County Extension facility for our meetings and classes.  All the latest A/V equipment and rooms to use.  But the real difference is the people.  These are one heck of a lot of time commitments for someone else's benefit.

[bullship]

I went to support speaker from our club last Sat. 45t present. Everybody could hear, square room with good acustics.
Everyone could see power point, projected on whole wall.
People were very exited due to Good presentation by a good BEEKEEPER not a bee haver or educated dummy.
!2 or more were at club meeting last night ordering bees through the club and payed membership.
Everyone wins!!
Bullship:

[Countryboy]

My club did its first ever bee class a couple weeks ago.  I think we had 32 people in it.  I think there were only 2 who were not brand new beekeepers. (and the 2 only started last year.)

I think the low point was the bee inspector scaring beginners by telling them he could write them up if their hives got cross-combed, (I had students tell me afterwards they weren't going to register their hives to avoid problems with him.) and he was trying to scare them by going over every possible bee disease or pest bees could get. (even stuff that we don't have here, like SHB).

We did give all the students a one year membership into our club ($5 value). 

After the class was over, the club secretary emailed all the students asking them various questions about the class.  Ways to improve, favorite topic or speaker, etc. and if they wanted paired up with a local beekeeper for a mentor.

[edward]

If the volunteers aren't the best public speakers , a good idea may bee to have a panel of 2-3 speakers that can help and assist each other when talking about beekeeping.

To have a bee inspector laying down the law is a bit out dated , he should re think his job description to try to help beekeepers do the right things from the start.
To recruit new beekeepers its is better to accentuate the positive with bee keeping . The problems that new beekeeper might encounter can bee solved.

Also clubs can help new beekeepers too buy bees and help them find the right channels and contacts.

mvh edward  :-P

[T Beek]

Any group, club, association (even Country :)) is only as good as its members.  I've tried to form a bee club in my area for at least three years to no avail (had an 'infomal' meeting over a year ago where over 50 showed up, so the interest is there).  Been trying to convince our local UW Extension Farm/Office to get bees for some time, also to no avail, even told him I'd donate the bees, nada, nada, nada.  

The closest club for me is a two hour drive so needless to say, I've never attended one.  I've accepted that for some (me included), this forum is our bee club.  Sure am glad you're all here.

thomas

[Acebird]

(had an 'infomal' meeting over a year ago where over 50 showed up, so the interest is there).

Wow, 50 showed up and you couldn't form a club.  You could have formed a beginners club, chipped in to buy 5 hives and had 10 people to work them.  I don't think you should give up Thomas.  I think you should find out why it didn't happen.

[T Beek]

Lack of commitment Acebird, its contagious.

thomas

[Acebird]

Lack of commitment Acebird, its contagious.

I know what you are saying Thomas but I also know how intimidating beekeeping can be for someone that has not done it before.

If you could have just gotten 5 people out of the fifty to put a hive on their property you could have gotten them through the first season.  Two might have succeeded and three might have gotten hooked.

I think you should try again.  Just a thought, your mini club could be a satellite of the one 2 hours away by keeping in touch with email.

[T Beek]

Acebird, your not hearing me man.  I couldn't even get the five known beeks in my own County to show up for the second meeting, much less any newbeeks.  Even the building (town hall) was/is free so we hadn't even got to the point of asking for any dues.  People who proclaimed interest (about 29 as I remember) left their names, numbers, email and next meeting was represented by........just me.  That was that.

I like the idea of offering ONE year memberships to new joiners.  I may try that the next time "someone" tells me that "someone" should start a club in this area. 

Me?  I still got burn out and frankly I have little time for "yakin' without action."  But hey, that's just me ;)

thomas

[deknow]

one suggestion is to not make such a big deal out of it...forget "dues" and "memberships" and "committees".  Just start holding potluck bee get togethers.  if no one shows up after a few times, call it quits...if they do show up, after a few meetings, ask who else wants to host a pot luck.

deknow

[Scadsobees]

It was going fine until I had them practice the waggle dance....

...100 middle aged men, women, and a few younger and older running around in circles in that tiny room wiggling their butts...

...once all of the ambulances left, and the class resumed, they just didn't seem to have as much interest.

:-D

[T Beek]

Didn't see an appropriate icon for "laughing My A......off" so this'll have to do. :-D

deknow; you are right man, and the next time I'm gonna follow your lead.  Tahnks.

thomas