Target Talk, Number 110, Spring 1997 Page: 3
24 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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"Hands-On Teaching" - by Jan Heath, Irving, Area Chief
In November of 1995, the Grand Prairie
Gun Club began this method of instruction
while teaching the Hunter Education
course. The old method used was the two
2-3 hour evening classes with an all day
Saturday session. The Saturday session
consisted of classroom instruction in rifle
and shotgun basics, general safety, archery
and survival basics, etc., but no field
activities.
Our new lesson plan still includes the two
evening classes where we cover general
safety, wildlife management, modern
firearms, ethics and responsibility and the
use of the hunting guide, etc. The Saturday
session has been changed to include
general classroom sessions and all live-
firing activities and the hunter skills trail in
a "round-robin" fashion.
The field activities sets the pace and
regulates the classroom session length. This
is where communication is most important.
If the field exercises run smoothly, then the
rest runs well. We invested in F.M. headset
radios for each station to coordinate timing
between areas. There a couple of drawbacksto this method. One is the number of
instructors needed to operate the loop and
the limited number of students signed off by
each instructor per class. The method used
requires two instructors at each station.
Team teaching is a must! These teams need
to be flexible and cross-trained so an
instructor can fill in where needed. Our
instructor group is fortunate in that all
instructors work well together, and we have
a large group to draw from.
In the last year, six classes were conducted
in this manner. There also seems to have
been an increase in final exam scores. We
have been able to allow students to do more
live-firing with shotguns thanks to the
ammunition donated by The Dallas Arms
Collector's Association and Jim Thixton.
The change to the "Hands-On" method was
smoother than any of our group ever
expected. Things have really turned around
and the students are much happier and
excited when they leave the class. This
method, where everyone teaches the same
curricula, also permits the instructors to do
evening classes remotely from the gun cluband then bring the students in for the day
of "field activities." Everyone is on the
same level or lesson. Evening classes have
been taught in Keller, Plano, Garland and
Dallas, and then final certification
completed at the Grand Prairie Gun Club.
Our instructors group consists of Ron
Bobo, Steve Jung, Ronnie Wisdom, Pitman
Haymore, Will Stilley, James Lewis, Jim
Markle, Richard Beaumer, Joe Cawthon,
Ray Citrone, George Gosney, John Bushko,
Bob Chandler, David Payne, Joe Piseco,
Jim Shultz, Harry Lee, Mike Blew, Jim
Thixton, Richard Whallen, George Duffey,
Bob Odell, Mike Vestal, Frank Ilorak, Ed
Kilgore, Don Stone and Darla Barr, local
game warden. As you can see, our
instructor group is large. Some of these
"team members" are not all members of
the Grand Prairie Gun Club and some are
not all certified Hunter Education
instructors, but they will take the
instructor certification in a short time.
Without this group of dedicated
individuals, our transition to "hands-on"
Hunter Education classes could not have
happened."Patting a fellow on the back is the best
way to get a chip off his shoulder."YEW IYA9 sEeAM IUS'NY"
NEWS FLASH!! Plans are under way for
a new concept. What do you think about
this? You have all heard of the national
I.H.E.A. "DREAM HUNT," where students
from all across North America and Canada
are drawn for an all-expense paid upland
bird hunt in or around Georgia. Well, we
want to have a Texas version. Contacts
have been made to have a hunt, possibly
during the 1997-1998 hunting season, for
two students, two parents/guardians and
two instructors. No decision has been
made about the type of hunt, but it will be
exciting no matter what. We want to have
it filmed and aired on one of the sports
networks.Selection Criteria:
1) Student must be between 12 and 17 years
of age.
2) Student cannot be related to the
instructor.
3) Student must have successfully
completed the Hunter Education course
during the current calendar year.
4) Entries must arrive by September 1, 1997
for consideration.
5) Instructors will be selected by random
drawing from those who are active and
have taught courses during the current
calendar year.Here is what instructors must do:
Pick the most outstanding and deserving
student from one of the classes taught
and write a letter on why this student
should be selected for this hunt. Consider
the student's overall level of knowledge,
skill and attitude he/she displayed during
class.
Mail this letter to:
Ilunter Education Staff
4200 Smith School Rd.
Austin, Texas 78744
ATTN: TEXAS "DREAM HUNT"Good Luck!
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Texas. Parks and Wildlife Department. Target Talk, Number 110, Spring 1997, periodical, April 1997; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1587950/m1/3/: accessed July 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.