Today was a massive milestone for my cohort, DS54! We hosted our very own 'Learn What The Data School Learns' (LWTDSL) session, and what an incredible experience it was. This is where we, as Data Schoolers half way through training, take on the role of instructors, teaching members of the public and clients some of the core skills we've been mastering.
Since one of our teammates was away, a group of five of us led the charge today, focusing entirely on the power and versatility of Tableau.
The DS54 Tableau Curriculum
We divided the day into five comprehensive, one-hour slots, with each of us taking on a distinct area of expertise. It was a rigorous, hands-on day for all the attendees!
The topics we taught:
• Intro to Tableau Desktop • intro to Tableau Prep • Intro to Sets • Intro to Parameters - Me! • Intro to Dashboarding
I had the opportunity to dive deep into Parameters, a crucial concept for adding dynamic interactivity to dashboards. It was challenging, but also incredibly rewarding to see people's 'aha!' moments and engaging with the interactive charts that we made using all sorts of parameters.
Top Takeaways from the Instructor Seat
Stepping out of the student role and into the instructor role provided some invaluable lessons. For anyone preparing to teach a technical topic, whether in The Data School or elsewhere, here are my top pieces of advice:
1. Preparation is King (Do Your Run-Throughs!)
This one can't be overstated. Knowing your content is one thing, but knowing how you'll deliver it is another. We made sure to do run-throughs beforehand, which helped us spot tricky steps, smooth out transitions, and ensure we could fill the hour effectively.
2. Relax and Enjoy the Process!
It’s easy to feel the pressure, but the best way to keep your audience engaged is to relax and enjoy it. Your enthusiasm for the tool and the subject matter is contagious! We focused on having a positive energy and letting our passion for Tableau shine through.
3. Stay Enthusiastic and Engaging
A monotone voice and a rapid-fire lecture will lose your audience quickly. We made a conscious effort to stay enthusiastic and engage with our audience by asking questions and sharing practical, real-world use cases for the techniques we were teaching.
4. Check in, Check in, Check in! (Don't Assume Knowledge)
This was perhaps the most vital lesson. When you've been working with a tool like Tableau every day, certain steps feel effortless. You might be tempted to move quickly through a couple of steps, thinking it's easy, not remembering that some of the audience is seeing this for the very first time! We learned the importance of checking in often and making sure everyone is caught up before moving on. Slowing down to address a lagging attendee is always better than having them lose the thread entirely.
I hope these teaching tips are beneficial, empowering you to feel prepared and ready for any future training you might lead!