This year I began teaching continuing education classes for real estate agents. It has been a positive experience for the first month of classes. I got positive feedback, but saw things I could improve. One broker who attended two of my earliest classes had some teaching and speaking experience and graciously sat down with me after class and helped my identify areas I could fine tune. Some of the instructors in our area are really good and have been it for years. That puts pressure on me to be at the top of my game.
A great benefits of teaching is learning. The preparation and research to put the classes together, along with discussions and comments from students, have made teaching a great learning experience for me. Imagine standing in front a room full of licensed agents, many who have been in the business many years and discussing how we conduct business. Guaranteed someone in the class had a great experience or perspective we never considered.
One of the classes I'm teaching is "Mandatory Core B" that includes new laws and a refresher on fair housing and civil rights. The fair housing discussions have been quite educational for everyone. It is amazing how many ways a person can get in trouble by saying something they thought was helpful. I have had two different students who wanted to argue and defend comments or behaviors. I had a little fun with them by using the same response, "you are up to $20,000 in fines and loss of license. Would you like to try for $30,000?" Believe it or not that barely slowed them down. Oh well, I tried. Possibly a real loss of license and some heavy fines at some point will get their attention.
My other class is called: "Getting Purchase Contracts Accepted and to Closing." It has been fun class to teach. During group breakout sessions we identify potential red flags in a transaction and discuss ways of addressing them. Among my handout materials is a pre-approval letter from Bob's Mortgage and Hair Cutting Emporium. It sounds funny, but helps address real life problems that come from bad pre-approvals. Sample contract pages have similar over the top stuff in them, but are taken from actual issues we see and deal with on a daily basis. Our group discussions are fun and informative. Some of the ideas tossed out from the students are things I will be incorporating in my own business. The teacher is also a student.
I am having a good time teaching classes and am looking forward to adding new courses next year that I am already developing. Teaching is a great way to learn the business. If you are visiting Hawaii and would like to sit on one of the sessions, please let me know. If you are not licensed in Hawaii; you won't get CE credit, but are welcome to attend. The classes are also open to members of the public.
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Randy L. Prothero, REALTOR®, ABR, AHWD, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR
Century 21 Liberty Homes
Randy Prothero is well established as an expert in working with military / VA clients and first time home buyers. His home seller's (listing) campaign is one of the most aggressive marketing programs in the area.
Based out of Mililani, Hawaii. Randy services the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and the Leeward Regional Chairman of the Honolulu Board of Realtors. To improve overall professionalism in his area Randy also offers classes for real estate agents.
www.HawaiiRandy.com * Oahu (Honolulu County) Property Search * Hawaii Military Relocations
I am hopi
ng to be able to teach someday! I would love it!
Randy...
I write and teach CE classes on Agency in Georgia. I agree, it is amazing what some students will argue about that is black letter law!
Randy I understand how rewarding this is for you, training people was one aspect of a former job that I enjoyed. It was fun watching someone finally get a concept.
Good for you Randy, it is amazing how we have to sit and organize our thoughts when we teach. Your class on fair houseing was interesting, right?
That's a great perspective Randy. I agree 100% with your observation about teaching. Not that it relates to real estate, but I played collegiate softball and when I was a senior, I was paired up with a freshman and helped her with her hitting. I had my best year offensively! I think it's the finer points that you learn instead of big picture items. I am sure your student appreciate you too!
If I come take one of your classes, I can write off a trip to Hawaii! Hmmm... :)
Yes all of the preparation you go thru to teach helps you internalize the material that you'll then use in your sales career !!!
Randy, I totally agree. I taught CE and real estate classes up until a couple of years ago. If you want to learn a subject inside and out, teach it.
Couldn't agree more. I have been teaching in several settings for many years. It has certainly served to enrich my life.
Randy, I always learn when I teach! You never know what you may find out!
Great post Randy, I too hope to teach some day. I love to interact with others and draw from their knowledge as well!
Randy
In my previous profession, I had been doing a lot of computer training. When I switched professions, I found myself still doing the teaching thing with technology of course. I guess it never leaves you! Great Job.
So true! I have taught a few classes at our Market Center and the first few times i was very scared and nervous, now I really like it. Even if I think I know a subject, I still learn a lot more because I am preparing and want to make sure I give excellent content, I find more things I did not know on the subject. It really is great. I am teaching a class tomorrow and am really looking forward to it.
You are so right ! I teach the pre-licensing courses once a year at Penn State Schuylkill and in preparing for my classes it keeps me on my toes.
Randy - you are absolutely right. I am teaching classes for five years, both here in Cleveland and in Russia and Ukraine, and I can testify that after each class I learn something new. I think, all good teachers are very verbal, which means that ideas come and sharpen while speaking. What a rewarding activity!
Hi Randy -- You are so right. Knowing something and communicating it as a teacher are two completely different things. I'm getting ready to give a one-hour talk to home inspectors and it's made me really think about not only what I want to say, but to make it relevant, fun and engaging. Not an easy task, let alone the whole communication and interaction aspect.
Randy,
It is completely true...the teacher is always the one who learns the most!
HI Randy,
Thanks for your post, and insights.
I teach a few classes here and you are so bang on, most classes I teach in the end I learn as much as the students.
Our educational governing bodies, try to boiler plate most classes, so that they can be taught by different educators in various areas. To then meet with theses educators teaching the same materials and see them present it is also a big eye opener...
Happy teaching.
Randy...very rewarding to teach people anything as you then become a part of their lives and everything they do.....good for you and carry on.....
Best
Randy, good comments. I agree with the learning by being a teacher. Congratulations on teaching.
Randy, I started teaching in Oklahoma about 1.5 years ago. I completely agree. Not only do you do more research, you also open your mind. I find this especially helpful when I learn more about real estate from people who do not do real estate. There is so much outside out niche that can teach us, and we alsways have to remember, we are selling to people who are not REALTORS®.
I'm on the Leadership Council at Keller Williams and our council is charged with leading classes. We have a series called 4:4:3 and just about all of us marvelled over the material in the coursework.
Randy, great ed-op piece. I am looking to become a Real Estate trainer myself so it is great to get so much feedback. I took the Instruct the Trainer Institute with Tom Martin to prepare myself and I am a trainer with BNI Mass teaching Member Success Programs and this is preparing me for training Real Estate. Best of Luck.
I have to agree with you when it comes to teaching. It makes you better in your field. I taught online for many years.
Hi Randy,
You are so right, teaching something makes us better.
Just last month Florida Association came out with a new FloridaRealtors/FloridaBar Purchase contract. I was asked to go to the training of the trainer classes at Flordia headquaters. I went thinking this new 11 page contract was bad. I completed the training and took the materials home to start preparing to teach this at my local board. As I start preparing I saw some things in the contract that was good but still had some reservations. Needless to say, by the 2nd training I did I saw what our FloridaRealtor legal counsel was telling me. There are many more good points that one or two weird ones!
Teaching does make us better. It sure did for me with this new contract.
I would love to see you in Hawaii. Maybe I can make it one of my business goals :-)
This has been something you've been working towards from day 1 Randy ....and I'm so proud of you!
Nice post thanks for getting it out to us today. Yes I agree that teaching is a great way to learn.
Patricia/Seacoast NH
great post
i've heard it said often that the best way to really master something is to teach it
thanks
Rany,
I agree with you.
I published a series of posts here, about 42 of them, in a series on the Agreement of purchase and sale. It's now consolidated into a 1340 page 3 hour continuing education program.
The comments I received here, were helpful.
Brian
Teaching always forcing me to become more prepared and learn more about the subject no matter how much I already thought I knew.
Definitely agree!! I've been doing teaching presentations about automating and organizing short sales, and every time I give a talk, I wind up getting some new ideas! I wish I'd started doing this years ago...
You know any material the best if you're able to teach it! great job!
Years ago, a friend told me "learn as if to teach." It's something I do and remember every time I try to learn a new topic, whether I plan to teach it or not.
Randy,
I totally agree. I started a 1st Time Home-buyer class about 5 years ago that I still do today and it totally keeps me fresh on the process. I also am a Supervising broker at my office, and currently I am teaching a "New Agent Boot Camp" It has really made me sharpen my own skills.
Good Post
Hi Randy! What is that saying? Those that do, do. And those that can't, teach. LOL Sorry, it was too easy.
I love your post, in the past whenever I have created content or taught sales classes I definitely learn a lot myself in the process.
Thanks for sharing and I love your Hawaii Ocean border. Beautiful :)
Mario
Patty L. - I real enjoy teaching. I am glad I got certified to teach CE.
Richard W. - In the course of doing business, I see the same thing.
Jennifer F. - The folks with your attitude generally are the most successful.
Missy - The fair housing classes have been quite interesting. I think that many of the agents who took the class were surprised by how much they did not know.
Tricia H. - A trip to Hawaii is always good.
Michael P. - It does force you to take you to the next level with your knowledge.
Michael S. - That was one of the reasons I wanted to teach. I also do Mediations and Ombudsman service for the same reason.
Larry R. - It is amazing how many of us on Active Rain are teachers.
Marney K. - I think I learn something from every class.
Butch S. - Good luck, it is definitely rewarding.
Susan G. - Teaching never leaves you.
Christine P. - Good luck with your class. I am teaching again tomorrow.
Erica R - I am hoping to teach pre-licensing down the road. I think the broker's classes would be the most educational.
Svetlana - I agree completely.
Chris O - Making it fun and engaging is the secret.
William F. - It does force you to know the material cold.
Lori - Not always. There have been a few students. LOL
Peter and Linda - The Core Classes are from the same materials, but there is a difference in the presentation. I am the only one teaching the elective class. I wrote the course and got it approved by the state. My goal is to create a series of classes over time that fill the voids in what is currently being offered.
Richie N. - Thank you
Joe P. - Excellent points.
Vicky N. - Hopefully most of your agents take the class.
Tom M. - Good luck
Nona S. - There are a few areas that could be improved in the Hawaii purchase contracts, but in general I like it.
Sally - Thank you. It was always in my business plan to also teach.
Patricia A. - Thank you
Vince M. - I am finding that to be true.
Brian M. - Purchase contracts is the most important things we should know cold, yet so many agents are real weak in that area.
Christine D. - Teaching has taught me what I didn't know.
Having taught the License law class here in Wisconsin for a number of years, it just keeps me sharp and up to date.
Mindy - Short Sales are a subject the banks could use a class from you.
David L. - Thank you
Jackie - That is a good practice.
Mario - I use that saying for chess. I have been teaching it for years and my games seems to get worse every year. Hopefully that is not the case in real estate. I have been the top agent in my office the last few years. I am hoping to take everything to the next level.
Jerry M. - That is a good class to know cold. That will help keep you out of trouble.
The students are lucky to have you as their teacher, even if you are new to it. I bet you'll get better and more confident as time goes by.
Georgina - Thank you.
I have taught several classes so far. I taught my first class for the Board of Realtors today. It was a fun class.
I took your class " Getting Purchase Contracts Accepted and to Closing." It was great
thank you for all your time and sharing all these informaton
Elena Roud (Realtor)
Prudential Locations LLC , Honolulu, Diamond Head office
Aloha Elena - Thank you for the kind words.
Randy--I followed you here from Sally's post about the breakfast meeting with Candace. Sounds like fun! And it is nice to meet you here. Good luck with your teaching.
Mary - Thank you.
Randy - you are so right. If you want to learn something, teach it.
Dave - It has been working for me.
Randy, good for you! I agree completely that teaching is an avenue to growth and learning. It's also a fabulous way to network with other professionals.
Eric - I am really enjoying it. I have two classes tomorrow and am looking forward to them.
Its pretty informative stuff, it works for me. I like the post and the website as well, Thanks.
I am still missing Mandatory Core B"
when and where are you teaching your next class?
Aloha Elena - I just e-mailed you the schedule for the November classes.