"The biggest challenge is communicating exactly what's in my head - to get students to understand it the way I understand it," he said. "The instructor has to take on the mind of a student and see things as a student would." Maynard strives to tailor his message to students from three different generations.
He finds that older students often grasp a concept by concentrating on theory, while younger students typically thrive on visual aids and computer demonstrations. Others might need a hands-on lab experience to comprehend a lesson. "I often find myself doing a demonstration three different ways to ensure that everyone gets it," Maynard said.