Teaching in general.

[Anine]

Hi!

I like intermediate models better than the simple models. So to get people interested in origami I always teach intermediate folds to beginners (I think they're easy but they'd probably be rated as intermediate in books.) Recently I was teaching a handful of people some models, and I started by saying "coloured side up" and look around, and see some people sitting with the white side up *sigh*, so I repeat myself and the people who got it wrong says yes and doesn't turn the paper till the neighbour tells them that the wrong side is up. I'm usually a patient person (now that I'm grown up) but teaching people where they do their first mistake already when placing the paper in front of them is a challenge for me, and then when I point out that it is very important to be precise, and people still don't look at landmarks or make sure that the paper lines up at the sides, which means that while teaching the model they have to give up because the model is so crumpled or out of landmarks that you can't do the next folds. This makes them think that they can't do it, and since I seem to think that everybody can (and should fold, I don't want them to give up. I'm wondering if I'm maybe missing some teaching-skills when everyone doesn't go home with a finished model..
How do you handle people who do it wrong all the time, or give up?
I myself find it easier to fold models using a diagram rather than somebody teaching it, so I'd like for people to also have a diagram in front of them so they can choose which method they wanna use, but then everyone are different places in the process which makes it difficult for me to help everyone.
What is the difference between people who learn by folding by watching the teacher and those folding by looking at a diagram?
And then I still don't understand how people can look at pictures of origami and not get hooked. I just don't get it.. I know people have different tastes, but who can look at a complex model and not get impressed? People who just look and don't comment makes me feel like shaking them and say "but don't you see how fantastic this is??".
I'd love to meet a person who I show a model to and they get as passionated about it as I am. At least you can go to conventions and share your ave and respect
All the best,
Anine

[Ondrej.Cibulka]

I started by saying "coloured side up" and look around, and see some people sitting with the white side up *sigh*, so I repeat myself and the people who got it wrong says yes and doesn't turn the paper

It is very funny, I know it very well. But people are different. If you hit such people, you imediately know that they are not future-origamist.

when I point out that it is very important to be precise, and people still don't look at landmarks or make sure that the paper lines up at the sides, which means that while teaching the model they have to give up because the model is so crumpled or out of landmarks that you can't do the next folds.

Again, people are different. You can teach just this one person, every fold explain, how to place corner to corner, where place fingers to safe the paper, how make crease... never mind. They will say "I understand" and imediately make it in wrong way. Such people never will be origamist. But they know do something else very well.

How do you handle people who do it wrong all the time, or give up?

It is impossible.

What is the difference between people who learn by folding by watching the teacher and those folding by looking at a diagram?

People, who just watching the teacher cannot learn how to read diagrams. Your method with two possibilities (teacher and diagram) is great!!!

I know people have different tastes, but who can look at a complex model and not get impressed?

You know, trilogy Lord of the ring is very huge, impressive movie. But I am not impressed, I just do not like it, for me it is "sračka" (in Czech).

[JeossMayhem]

I'm gonna get to deal with this starting next week. Three groups of elementary school kids over three weeks... KIDS! Dirty paintbrushes! Clogged toilets!

How old were your students? I've found that some people just aren't cut out for origami, even if they're artistically talented in other fields. If you want everyone to go home with a finished model, sometimes you're going to have to do it for them, haha.

I agree that the diagram/teacher combo works the best, but unless you're starting from the very basics, you're almost definitely bound to lose someone along the way. I always bring a pencil to mark corners and reference creases until they get the hang of things.

As for photos, I showed some of my friends pictures of Kamiya's ryuzin but half of them didn't believe it was actually a single sheet. I think the only people who truly appreciate and understand some arts are the ones who practice them, not just observe.

[Anine]

How old were your students?

Heh it was a group of nurses ranging from their 40s to their 60s. We were on strike and so I put up a poster saying I would be teaching origami