My experience of leading a lab session

Hey everyone! So this is my first blog post on the IIITD : System Management blog. I will be sharing with you my experience of leading a lab session! I hope you do like it.


I along with my partner Manik turned up for the training on 14th Aug 2010. I was actually late for it because the previous day we had our Freshers Party and that had left me completely tired. Samy sir took our training that day. And I must say he was pretty well prepared for it. He knew almost all the questions that I asked him. We were actually present in the lab for 4 hours barring a 5 mins break in between. And our training wasn't even complete then. We only managed to cover the Windows part. The Linux part was yet to be covered. At the end of the training there was one thing of which I was sure of, 'A huge task lay ahead of me!'.


I sat down with Manik on monday and divided the sub-topics between us. We took alternative topics so that none of us would be speaking for a longer time. We researched a bit 'Wikipedia' and noted down the things that we felt important and should be told to the class. We decided that while one of us would be explaining the topic to the class, the other would be going personally to everyone, asking them their doubts and clarifying if any. So that no one feels left out and everyone is happy with our performance. :P
The main problem that we faced was how to finish a lab session in 1.5 hrs when the training itself took 4 hours. Samy sir had told us that he would be teaching Linux to the class in the last 0.5 hr. 


The day eventually came. And I can't even tell you how nervous I was before it. I had butterflies in my stomach and my face completely reflected the state of my mind at that time. The group 2 people can actually vouch for this! But somehow I suppose, I did manage it. ;)


I started off with proceedings and Manik took on from me really well. It didn't go as planned. Well now I have actually started to believe that nothing in life goes according to plan! But it still went pretty well, I suppose. :P 
We started off as we had decided. The process was quite smooth except for a few hiccups! We did face a few problems, but we dealt with them with ease. The group 2 people were really helpful. They weren't asking much tricky questions. Well, I guess that was due to the fact that their turn was yet to come. But on the whole, they were quite understanding and sympathetic with me! :P 
And before we knew it, we were over with it! :D

They basically had 2 complaints from us. Firstly that we weren't able to finish the lab before 4 p.m.! And secondly that this was the most boring lab session! The first one I accept was in our hands. But the second wasn't! :P 


At the end of the session, I actually felt that I was a bit less prepared. I couldn't answer a few questions that my friends asked. I had to eventually say that I didn't know that and I would have to look that up. And I didn't at all like saying that. :|


To conclude, I would like to say that leading the lab session was good experience. You don't really get to step into your teacher's shoes everyday. I thoroughly enjoyed the leading part, although not the training and the part before it! :P 
But it was nevertheless a good experience. Something which I would surely like to experience again! :)