They explore why skillful practitioners struggle to teach beginners and how an expert blind spot forms. Playful metaphors like the Squirrelmobile are used to make abstract ideas tangible. Karate Kid and Shu‑Ha‑Ri parallels show the value of concrete beginner drills. Listeners are invited to share teaching wins and fails to build a practical toolkit.
12:48
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Instructor Failed To Teach Technique
Jeffrey describes his friend’s formal cross-country instructor certification where technique was strong but teaching skills were weak.
The certifier spent hours giving written feedback and coaching because the instructor couldn’t convey biomechanics effectively.
insights INSIGHT
Doing Is Different From Teaching
Jeffrey and Douglas note that being excellent at a skill doesn’t mean you can teach it well because teaching requires different skills.
They emphasise that expert-level explanations often skip the frameworks novices need to learn.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Squirrelmobile Makes Calculus Tangible
Douglas recounts teaching calculus at Berkeley and inventing memorable classroom techniques to help confused students.
He used the 'squirrel mobile' and physical demonstrations to make abstract concepts concrete for non-expert learners.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Being good at something doesn’t make you good at teaching it! Following on from last week’s episode about forgetting the fundamentals of skiing, Jeffrey and Squirrel discuss the importance of using a beginner’s mindset when teaching new skills and how you can use creative techniques, like Squirrel’s Squirrelmobile, to explain ideas more effectively.
Links:
- Beginner's Mind: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoshin
- The Squirrelmobile: https://squirrelsquadron.substack.com/p/the-squirrelmobile-the-insanely-profitabe
- Wax On Wax Off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P11Bcpyw4g
--------------------------------------------------
You'll find free videos and practice material, plus our book Agile Conversations, at agileconversations.com
And we'd love to hear any thoughts, ideas, or feedback you have about the show: email us at info@agileconversations.com
--------------------------------------------------
About Your Hosts
Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick joined forces at TIM Group in 2013, where they studied and practised the art of management through difficult conversations. Over a decade later, they remain united in their passion for growing profitable organisations through better communication.
Squirrel is an advisor, author, keynote speaker, coach, and consultant, and he's helped over 300 companies of all sizes make huge, profitable improvements in their culture, skills, and processes. You can find out more about his work here: douglassquirrel.com/index.html
Jeffrey is Vice President of Engineering at ION Analytics, Organiser at CITCON, the Continuous Integration and Testing Conference, and is an accomplished author and speaker. You can connect with him here: www.linkedin.com/in/jfredrick/
Troubleshooting Agile 
