Hundreds of Soldiers attend the NCO Leadership Center of Excellence each year, all with the goal of advancing their leadership abilities. Beyond courses like BLC, SMC, and Battle Staff the academy does far more to promote and support the military education system by training the next generation of military educators. The course facilitators also have to go through their own training and education before the can take the helm and lead classes. Recently students attend NCOLCoE classes to prepare them to become class instructors.
The class is taught both online and in person and is attended by future NCOLCoE instructors as well as other instructors from across Fort Bliss. The 14–day course teaches future instructors various facets of leading a class; from keeping students on topic and engaging with students rather than reading off of a slide show.
"We are teaching the basic fundamentals of instruction of a class and how to facilitate a class.” Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Morgan one of the course facilitators said. “Attendees of this class are going to get different tools, learning style inventories, teaching style inventories. To start with.”
He also said the class would identify better ways to present to a class as well as better ways to work with students such as working around interruptions and troubled students and work arounds to meet challenges they will likely meet in the class room.
"Most are staff sergeants coming to teach BLC, some of the new master sergeants for MLC, and some civilians for SGM Academy." Morgan said. "Even some E4s from the hospital on Bliss. We teach all of them to facilitate a class in the new style."
The class is an adult learning environment most people are not too familiar and attempts to avoid reliance on power point slides by utilizing the experience and knowledge of the instructors and students.
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The classes lead lecturer described his role as ‘facilitator not teacher or instructor’ and explained the importance of engaging students and having them share their own knowledge to drive discussions.
Rather than focusing on text or memorizing information the class experiential learning model structured way to teach you class and maintain the focus of students you are instructing. I will be able to apply some of the techniques I learned here when briefing soldiers before they deploy overseas.
“The purpose of this class is for us to have a better understanding of how we are going to provide classes to the Soldiers,” Staff Sgt. Kathern Morales, 7414 Troop Medical Clinic said. “There is structure and science behind it. There is more than just standing in front of Soldiers and just talking.”
I want to ensure they find value in what I am teaching. she said. I want to make sure those I am training are able to apply what I am teaching.
Students spent a day towards the end of the course where they take control of the class and became the facilitator to get a feel for leading a class.
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