On June 5-6, 1980, the North Carolina Real Estate Licensing Board sponsored a Real Estate Instructor workshop as a part of its continuing effort to improve the quality of real estate education in North Carolina.
The workshop proved to be a resounding success, with representatives of 65 schools approved to conduct pre-licensing courses and the North Carolina REALTORS® Institute in attendance. Altogether, there were 152 participants at the workshop, including 119 instructors who have been certified by the Real Estate Licensing Board, 29 REALTORS® Institute instructors (several of whom are also Board-certified instructors) and 9 guest participants. Among the schools represented were 42 community colleges/technical institutes, 8 colleges/universities, 14 private real estate schools and one private business college.
The objectives of the workshop were as follows:
To provide participants with a working knowledge of the principles of good instruction which should be employed in preparing for and conducting real estate courses of instruction.
To provide a forum for the dissemination of practical information to pre-licensing course instructors and for the exchange of ideas and information among real estate instructors from all types of schools.
To provide real estate instructors an opportunity to personally present to the North Carolina Real Estate Licensing Board their views and suggestions regarding real estate education.
The greater portion of the workshop was conducted by Paul T. O'Donnell, nationally known real estate author, lecturer and consultant, who is now associated with Homeward Bound Limited, a real estate management and education consulting firm. Among the topics addressed by Mr. O'Donnell were the following:
1. The Role of the Real Estate Instructor
2 Principles of Good Instruction
3. Preparation for Class
4. Instructional Methods and Techniques
5. Cornmunicating--The Instructor's Greatest Challenge
6. Evaluation of Student Performance
7. Evaluation of Instructor Performance
Utilizing a dynamic style and displaying a vast knowledge of real estate practice, real estate education and instructional principles/methods, Mr. O'Donnell captivated the audience and conducted an outstanding program which was very interesting and beneficial to all workshop participants.
The workshop also included an informative session conducted by Larry Outlaw, Education Director for the North Carolina Real Estate Licensing Board, on the following topics:
1. Overview of Real Estate Pre-Licensing Education in North Carolina.
2. Proposed Changes in Rules/ Regulations concerning Schools, Courses and Instructors.
3. Planned Changes in the Board-Approved Pre-Licensing Course Syllabus.
4. Impending Changes in the Licensing Examinations.
In addition to the program described above, workshop participants were provided the opportunity to review scores of text/ reference books displayed by representatives of several leading publishers of real estate books.
The Board sincerely appreciates the interest and support of the real estate instructors whose participation made the workshop such a tremendous success. Based on the interest in this workshop, the Board definitely plans to conduct a similar workshop sometime in 1981.