A procedural suggestion to get around the lack of waiting lists

So until (and if) we implement some kind of waiting lists for classes, I suggest we implement and old fashioned solution to the problem.

First, encourage teachers to include some way to contact them in the class descriptions. If that isn’t possible, you can arrange to leave/give them a note right before/right after class or in their personal storage box (somebody should be able to help you find the name).

Letting a teacher know your interested in signing up for the class and what days/times your available would allow them to send you a heads up email when they are submitting a new class with the anticipated date and time it will go live on the calendar.

This serves two purposes, it provides the teacher feedback on how much demand there may be for a particular class, and helps select appropriate dates/times to meet that demand, and it gives those who want the class a better chance at registering for high demand classes before they fill up.

It is not as good a solution as a computerized waiting list, but might prove helpful anyway.

P.S. for those classes, like woodshop basics with multiple teachers, we could set up a group mailing list, say [email protected] to allow sending the notifications to the entire collection of teachers.

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and there is the rub. While it is a good solution you have to have more than one teacher for any of this to work. Speaking for myself ONLY - if I’m the only one doing the teaching EVERYONE is on a waiting list. And if I don’t feel like teaching any more well then tough s**t for the particular item they need. this is one reason I had to cancel the HAAS 1 class - there is no backup. so now they can wait (list).

Honestly it doesn’t have to be a mailing list. You could create a sticky post for each tool requiring training in the appropriate forum. People who desire training could reply to the post and list their availability. Instructors would see how many people are interested and what time is most desired. If they are available to teach during that time then great, if not then they schedule when they can make it.

Regarding not having enough instructors, we have to rely on those who are proficient with the equipment and have the time to teach. I know that I’d like to be at the space more but I also have a busy home life. So my visits are usually inconsistent. However if you aren’t part of the solution you are part of the problem or so it is said. So I would like offer to become an instructor.

I have completed basic wood shop, CNC router, HAAS, laser cutter, 3D printing and scheduled for The plasma cutter. I would definitely need more experience with the equipment as I only use them intermittently. Please advise on what steps someone should take to become an instructor.

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Thank you for stepping up, I’m sure @Team_Woodshop and @Team_Machine_Shop will want to contact you!

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Here is also another rub…Machine Shop requires specialized skill development and experience in order to effectively use the equipment. Therefore, very few people, relatively, utilize Machine Shop. So in effect, it becomes only used by the elite few who are experienced. Those few don’t want to do or don’t have the time to teach others or teach enough. Machine Shop, having such a big footprint, is just not providing the teaching it could. Thus, teaching machining is not being utilized commensurate to its foot print and the overall member rolls.

A possible solution could be two-fold. One, reduce Machine Shop footprint dramatically and sell off high skill equipment, only keeping the lower skilled needed machines. Or Two, bring in professional teachers to have 2 or 3 times a week classes on machining. Focusing on project classes that are make and take.

This could solve a lot of the Machine Shop issues around teaching and utilization.

None of this is true. Machining, like any other skill, just requires practise. I have never received any training. What I did was voraciously read old texts describing techniques and then practice. Today, with the proliferation of articles, videos, etc. you can acquire any skill you want if your willing to take the time to learn and have access to the needed tools.

DMS, can provide the latter, but only the individual can supply themselves with the former.

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All true, and it requires someone with desire and self discipline. Question to be asked is, ‘Are we only set-up for people who have these qualities’?

Not everyone will have your drive. Sometimes, offering hand holding and projects from experienced teachers is what is needed to drive demand.

How does DMS solve an under-utilized resource with a big footprint?

If nobody wants to reduce Machine Shop, then the only answer is to quit relying solely on volunteers and hire professional teachers.

Those who don’t have the desire to self-learn, must then wait and rely on someone to teach them. If they want to pay for that, @nicksilva can provide them information where they can pay for classes at some local colleges.

We don’t have under-utilized resources, certainly not the machine shop. We have members who haven’t had something spoon fed to them, but that is really their own issues and no concern of ours.

Interesting straw man. We could simply eliminate any required classes, and return to the system we had for much of my time as a member. The only rules was if you don’t know then ASK someone. The MIT videos we have had on the wiki page since I became a member are far superior to ANY training material we might prepare for our own online teaching. And much like those videos, many people are too lazy to watch them or pay attention to the classes we do offer. Find them and kick them out. That is how you solve the problem you are describing.

For the point I raised in the OP. If your one of the people who offer classes (and not just required ones), then TALK with people who are interested in your classes and can’t attend AND COMMUNICATE when you may offer another one. Giving them a heads up so they have a shot at a seat in the class. Simple.

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Maybe I am looking at something other than you are referring to, but I always seem to see classes in Machining …

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You missed the context above. Read and you’ll understand better.

Nobody ever argued no classes are offered.

If you get up to speed, I’ll debate you.

It seems that machine shop is working well, plenty of classes,
I see a lot of them are full enough foe honoraiums

As more folks learn, there will be more use of it,

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Call it what you will. If more project classes are taught that are practical, more of the 1600+ members would be interested in learning machining.

Isn’t that logical? It just makes sense to offer an easier transition into the big bad machine shop.

Once again, out of context. Read above to get point.

Why not offer members that here with our machine shop?

Nah, I’ll just follow rule #4 in the code of conduct …

Don’t merely respect each other; be excellent to each other.

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I don’t know where people get this idea that we have to ‘market’ ourselves. If you don’t have an interest in one of our areas, then fine, who cares? It isn’t the responsibility of the people who do have an interest to rope you in and train you like a child. Presumably our members are adults, and they can pursue what interests them on their own without requiring us to provide training wheels.

Our members should teach because they enjoy teaching and sharing their knowledge. They have no obligation to do so. Personally, I have taught a shit load of classes here. Most of the people who have taken them have been appreciative, but an annoying minority always seem to feel they are owed more.

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Why reproduce training that is already being offered in the area? That is a waste of time and resources. But if you think it is important, then by all means do so yourself. You can always volunteer your own time and money, what you can’t do is volunteer someone elses time or money.

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I see. You make a point completely out of context and I suggest you read in order to understand the point better and in your book that means being ‘Unexcelent’? And then you make this response and consider it ‘excellent’?

Ok, I get you now.

Once again, debate is always excellent, but it does requires context to a point.

Then perhaps you ought to READ the subject of this thread and consider how out of context your argument is.

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Never did I volunteer anybody’s time or money. I suggested that we hire professional teachers to teach more.