Clicker Expo 2013: Eva Bertilsson and Emelie Johnson Vegh: This Class is a Blast

behavior components for humans
what do to: knowing vs understanding, actually doing it - ability to do it/mechanical skills
when to do it: stimulus control
fluency: accuracy at speed

plan and prepare
practice w/o dog
practice w/ dog
debrief

where goals come from
from us as instructors: general goals for dogs and humans
from each student: goals for themselves and their dogs
who else might influence these goals? family, friends, social pressures, media

our goals as instructors
independence
trainer mechanics
understanding and planning
structure (in class, in each dog training session

independence
becoming their own coach: put words on actions and plans, make decisions, solve problems, ask for relevant help
where do cues/prompts and feedback (for humans) come from? from the instructor? from the situation and the student him/herself?
how can we as instructors teach and step back at the same time?
start wit ha lecture to give the big picture
miniscule exercises that can be done independently
well-defined exercises
written instructions: checklists, feedback list, flow charts
working in groups - in their classes, groups of 3 - provide help and feedback

groups
how can we help groups gel?
written instructions, checklists, feedback lists - easier to give and receive feedback
given roles
group work start-up - instructors do it first to start things going
rotating
shared resources in one set of instructions, timer

advantages of working in group
observing others
instructions, performance, feedback
supporting and getting support
extra hands (helper, timer, record keepter, attend to dogs)
responsibility for own training

trainer mechanics
we can only choose to do what we actually have the skills of doing
relevant components
general - timing, look at the dog
specific - where to hold hands, exactly what to click for
toolbox of miniscule mechanical skills - better to become fluent at a few specific skills than be a jack of all trades
fluent at important skills
avoid rehearsing garbage behaviors
practice as if the dog was there (with imaginary dog or with human as dog)



At this point I was wiped out and both Chimera and I fell asleep... I know they talked some more about practicing without the dogs first, and that when you are practicing with your dog, you are in the "training bubble", and you should be entirely focused on your dog. Set both the humans and the dogs up for success.