After the Judgment Day class yesterday, quite a few students approached me with my favorite question: “What should I work on?”
Some asked in person. Some asked by email. But each one demonstrated the most important trait of a good student. Each one showed that he wants to improve… and is willing to accept criticism on the path to accomplish that goal.
Not all students think that way, of course. I’ve seen some who treat class like entertainment away from home. I’ve even had one memorable standout who was clearly in class for no reason other than to impress his friends and himself… which may have worked, but he certainly didn’t impress me.
I consider myself very lucky, though. The vast majority of the students I see are sincerely interested in improving themselves. That’s been true from the first Aim Fast, Hit Fast class (pictured right).
Giving feedback is a balancing act. You can’t look at someone and say, “Dude, you just suck.” But neither do you want to tell someone to work on his weak hand only reload when he doesn’t know how to grip the gun properly. A good instructor needs to give appropriate feedback for a student’s level. Of course, that begins with being able to diagnose students properly. If you give a student feedback he can’t apply, it’s a waste of everyone’s time. If you give a student ten year’s worth of homework, he doesn’t know where to focus his short-term efforts.
A student asking for feedback is handing an instructor an opportunity and a compliment. Take advantage of both.
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
Todd,
Yesterday was certainly an eye opener for me in terms of identifying areas that I’m strong in, as well as areas needing improvement.
This course will humble even the most skilled pistolero, and is highly recommended.
“A good instructor needs to give appropriate feedback for a student’s level.”
“A student asking for feedback is handing an instructor an opportunity and a compliment. Take advantage of both.”
Excellent points. As a student, I don’t want to walk away from a class without a homework assignment, whether self assigned or instructor assigned.
I’ve never left PT class without a targeted assignment and greatly appreciate that.
Thanks, guys! I had a lot of fun — before the rain started falling sideways — and will definitely be doing another J-Day later in the year.
Yes, it was a great class. I know what I need to work on. Very well done on your part Todd!
I’m looking foward to learning more from you at AFHF in Oct.
It was nice meeting you and the other shooters.
I will be watching for the date of the next
J-Day and will plan to be there.
Real diagnosis is, in my experience anyway, not a terribly common phenomenon in courses. A number of people aren’t very good at diagnosing where a shooter can improve, and often in classes those who can diagnose are often busy working with other more problematic shooters leaving those with a reasonable level of competence only with a thumbs up.
It didn’t take long for me to figure out that was a sub-optimal training experience.
Being around an instructor who is not only good at diagnosis (which requires a deep understanding of what is happening behind the gun) but that actually takes the trouble to work through that process with each student doubtlessly has an attraction to those individuals who are truly interested in improving. It’s probably the key explanation for why Todd has so much repeat business.
‘You can’t look at someone and say, “Dude, you just suck.”’
It is really cool though, when you say to a sudent “Dude, what happened? You don’t suck anymore!”
Keep up the good work Todd.