Best Practice #5: Classroom Structure

 

Avoid time-wasting through well-planned structures that prompt learners to action with minimum required time or communication. These structures may be opening routines in lessons or field routines such as the conduct of operations briefs. For example: The leader may give the order: “Conference Group Leaders, take charge of your group. See you all at Stand 3 at 1300.”

[Click here to download Learning in the Wildland Fire Service.]

IGNITE: Gratitudes and Attitudes

Gratitude and attitude are not challenges; they are choices. - Robert Braathe

[Photo: Lassen IHC]

Best Practice #4: Smoothness

 

Keep your lesson presentation or execution moving smoothly and seamlessly through well-orchestrated transitions to ensure that learners are not abruptly directed from one element or activity to the next. This minimizes distracting or disturbing incidents and keeps learners engaged and focused. For example, smoothness encompasses transitions between slides in a presentation, concepts in a lecture, and movement from one stand to the next during a staff ride.

[Click here to download Learning in the Wildland Fire Service.]

IGNITE: At the Heart of a Vision

 

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. - Carl Jung

[Photo: Austin Catlin/BLM]

Challenge #34 - 2022 WFLDP Campaign

 

Challenge #34: Effective teachers/leaders master the art of smooth transitions.

• Read “Why transitions are the key to an effective classroom & how to improve them.”
• During an activity, note the amount of time transitions take away from learning/productivity. Implement ways of reducing transition time.

Best Practice #3: Time Management

Manage the time available against the time needed for various learning tasks. Mismanagement of time is critical due to the impact that this imparts onto the learners and possibly the teacher to follow. Start on time and end a few minutes early.

[Click here to download Learning in the Wildland Fire Service.]

Are You Willing to Go All-In?

(Photo credit: Chris Ayer)

When was the last time that you gave a little kid a tour of your engine? When was the last time you threw lights and sirens or blew the air horn for a kid pumping his arm emphatically?

IGNITE: Changing the World

 

“The world is changed by your example not by your opinion.” ― Paulo Coelho

[Photo: Jackson IHC]

Best Practice #2: First Impressions and Command Presence

Best Practice #2: First Impressions and Command Presence

As a leader you have one opportunity to give a first impression to the learner. This can be completed by being early, organized, prepared, focused, presentable, and engaging to the learners as they arrive. The leader’s command presence sets the tone for the class environment and demonstrates leading from the front. As a leader, it is okay to not know an answer to a learner’s question. Such questions need to be properly addressed and followed up on. For example: “That is a great question. I don’t know the answer. I will find out and get back to you.” It is imperative that this is followed up on. Demonstrate confidence without arrogance. And remember, when in charge, be in charge.

[Click here to download Learning in the Wildland Fire Service.]

Challenge #33 - 2022 WFLDP Campaign

 

Challenge #33: Effective teachers/leaders are good role models.

• Watch “How to be a good role model.”
• Read “The Seven Traits of a Role Model.”
• Select three traits from the above references to work on. Chart your progress in your journal.

IGNITE: Daily Experience and Lifetime Mission

Learning is a daily experience and a lifetime mission. - The Daily Coach blog

[Photo: Calf Fire, Inciweb]

Best Practice #1: Serve as a Good Role Model

 
A leader has considerable influence on the student’s motivation, through the example given. Show them the proper way to complete a task, wear a uniform, or treat learners in order to PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.

[Click here to download Learning in the Wildland Fire Service.]

Instilling Joy Through Leadership

INSTILLING JOY THROUGH LEADERSHIP
by Michael DeGrosky

[Wildfire Magazine, July 2022, International Association of Wildland Fire]

In the last year, I started following the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program on Twitter (@WFLeaders.) I really like what the organization is doing in the Twittersphere, including regularly posting thought-provoking questions for followers. A few months ago, @WFLeaders posed a three-part question that caught my attention and got me thinking, in part because it was so different from conventional leadership fare. The post asked “What brought you joy today? This week? This month?”

IGNITE: Live and Learn

Live as if you were to die tomorrow.

Learn as if you were to live forever.

Mahatma Gandhi, Indian lawyer

[Photo: Bryan Bell/BLM]

A Framework for Learning: Tips for Unit Leaders

 Both formal and informal learning occurs at the small-unit or team level. Leaders must first shape their thinking about how they interact with their people as learners, then consider the goals of all learning (learning outcomes, not just content or objective specific learning). Finally, leaders must consider the standards of instructional morals, ethics, and professionalism.

Challenge #32 - 2022 WFLDP Campaign

Challenge #32: Great leaders show they care.

Watch “The One Thing All Great Teachers Do.”



In your journal, reflect on your ability to:

• Celebrate mistakes
• Appreciate differences
• Relay feedback
• Evaluate yourself

IGNITE: Raising the Bar

"Average leaders raise the bar on themselves; good leaders raise the bar for others; great leaders inspire others to raise their own bar.” -Orrin Woodward

[Photo: Kyle Miller/ Wyoming IHC]

Learners Who are Not Engaged

 

Learners who are not actively engaged in learning during instruction can interfere with learning in the environment and climate. Learners must become actively involved and must not lapse into the role of passive spectators. Faculty may inadvertently support distraction or interruption by allowing a shift or loss of focus on the learning or topic. Often this happens because of a poor professional example by the teacher, lack of prevention skills, ineffective reaction to interference as it occurs during instruction, or poor time-management skills.

Suicide - A Personal Reflection

 

(Photo: Chris Ayer, Monument Fire, 2022)

Suicide.  A topic that few want to talk about, but one that needs to be addressed. 

We need to change the stigma about mental health. It’s a topic that strikes incredibly close to me personally.  Mental health and suicide are problems that have impacted the fire service, but it isn’t the only industry affected. From my previous post, you will recall I played professional basketball for 10 years. In that time, I had the opportunity to play on a lot of teams and interact with a lot of players.

IGNITE: To Be - Not To Do

 

“Leadership is a matter of how to be, not how to do.” Frances Hesselbein

[Photo: Joseph Koffel/Baker River IHC]

Distractions and Interruptions

 

These can interfere with learning. Often, such interferences result from teacher or learner behavior that either through intent or thoughtlessness interferes with instruction or learning, threatens or intimidates others, or oversteps the standards of civil conduct.

Challenge #31 - 2022 WFLDP Campaign

Challenge #31: Effective teachers have good command presence.

• Click here to listen to Monica Morrison and Travis Dotson talk about command presence.
• Click here to learn about command presence on the WFLDP blog.

IGNITE: Take Control

 

Your life is too important to leave your personal growth and professional development to chance. - David Novak & Jason Goldsmith, "Take Charge of You - How Self-Coaching Can Transform Your Life and Career

[Photo: Mike McMillan]

Preparation Time

This is crucial to creating an effective learning environment. Preparation for a scheduled class begins weeks or months prior to presenting the class. Don’t think you can just show up at 0700 for a 0700 class. Teachers must arrive early and allocate time for personal reflection and preparation. Ensure you have all the tools you need to teach: perhaps a stick to point with, some rope and objects to make a terrain model, a map large enough for all to see, a compass to verify direction, markers that work for the dry-erase board.

IGNITE: Good Leaders Must Be Good Communicators

 

Good leaders must be good communicators, and the hard work of writing is best sharpened on the whetstone of reading. - The Leader’s Bookshelf by Adm. James Stavridis, USN (Ret) and R. Manning Ancell

[Photo: LaGrande IHC]