Spreading the Rubiks Way

[Arendil]

Im so happy because for the past month or so, I've brought my Rubiks Cube to school a lot and now seriously, like Everybody has one. No joke, I think I've completely eliminated the "Rubiks nerd" stereotype from my school. Its awesome. And with all these people getting new cubes, I get to teach a bunch of people Im teaching one person Fridrich and about to teach another one. Its a pretty epic fad if you ask me. (I'm pretty sure I had a question somewhere in all this.... .....) (Whatever)

 

[Ethan]

Same here.
I started bringing mine a few weeks ago and a whole bunch of people have them now.
A lot of people thought it was nerdy the first time but nonetheless everyone was amazed that I could do it sub 30, probably would have been amazed if I could do it in a minute

I average about 15 or 16 seconds now.
I need to enter a WCA competition soon. haha.

anyway at least 20 people bought Rubik's cubes, one kid I think can solve one or at least get to OLL or PLL or something.

And I'm teaching another kid beginner Fridrich (he doesn't want fast times, just to be able to solve it in like 5 minutes or less.)

And I know someone else in my school who started months before me and her PB is 1:14 or something

How long have you been cubing?
I have for a little less than 2 months.

 

[Muesli]

Hmm...

I've taught one or two people.

 

[lilkdub503]

I average about 15 or 16 seconds now.
I need to enter a WCA competition soon. haha.

And I'm teaching another kid beginner Fridrich (he doesn't want fast times, just to be able to solve it in like 5 minutes or less.)

How long have you been cubing?
I have for a little less than 2 months.

Wow, so many interesting things in this post. First off, with beginner method and about 2 weeks of non intensive practice, you can get sub-2:00 easily. I mean Dan Brown beginner; cubing at its rawest form. Second, you have been cubing for a little less than 2 months and you average 15-16 seconds? Are you sure about that? The great Yu Nakajima took 2 months to learn full Fridrich, then another few months to sub-20. Many other great cubers couldn't hit that even after a year and a few competitions. On the note of this thread, I tried to teach someone how to cube, but it didn't turn out too well. I think I just needed to be a better teacher.

 

[iSpinz]

Some people can learn, some people cant. Period.

 

[PEZenfuego]

I agree with iSpinz. Some people can and some can't. I once taught a kid in a class period. There was another kid I have already spent 3 days teaching and he can only get layer one of the beginner method.

With that said, I too started a bit of a trend in my school. I've taught 3 or 4 people who went on to teach several other people.

I'm a little concerned now and have some motivation to learn the rest of those PLL algorithms and improve my F2L.

 

[V-te]

I don't teach anymore because then the little freshmen who average 3:00 think they are fast and tell everyone they taught me.
So no more teaching. Do it the old fashioned way: Youtube, or manual.

 

[miniGOINGS]

I think I'm done teaching people too.

 

[cmhardw]

Some people can learn, some people cant. Period.

I agree with iSpinz. Some people can and some can't. I once taught a kid in a class period. There was another kid I have already spent 3 days teaching and he can only get layer one of the beginner method.

If the person you are teaching legitimately wants to learn, and they don't "get it" or they don't seem "able" to learn, then I'm sorry to say but this is 100% your fault as the teacher. If they are not interested to learn then it is only partially your fault as the teacher

Having had now 3 years of experience teaching elementary and middle school kids how to cube, I can tell you people think and understand a puzzle like the cube in so many different ways. You have to find a way to relate cubing to them in a way that makes sense to them.

For the people who simply "did not get it" did you try disassembling the cube to show them how it works? Did you try giving them simple patterns that are only a couple moves away from solved before teaching them the method? Did you try giving them simple patterns, only a couple moves away from solved, on a 4x4 or 5x5 (I've actually found this to help with some kids)? Did you try using different terminology than "standard" terminology? For example I sometimes call the cross "the claw", or I will call corners "baseballs" that you are trying to catch, or I will call a face a "fan" or "wheel" or "pinwheel" rather than a "side" or "face".

Not to be mean, but you'd be surprised how capable other people are at cubing if you just try approaching what you are teaching from a different point of view. I'm sorry to say, but you are not so special just because you can solve a toy puzzle.

Chris

 

[Tim Major]

I taught a person yesterday (3rd person I've taught 3x3) and he was so good. I took about 20 minutes. He memorises the algs the first time I show them to him. He could go far with ZB.

 

[Arendil]

Same here.
I started bringing mine a few weeks ago and a whole bunch of people have them now.
A lot of people thought it was nerdy the first time but nonetheless everyone was amazed that I could do it sub 30, probably would have been amazed if I could do it in a minute

I average about 15 or 16 seconds now.
I need to enter a WCA competition soon. haha.

anyway at least 20 people bought Rubik's cubes, one kid I think can solve one or at least get to OLL or PLL or something.

And I'm teaching another kid beginner Fridrich (he doesn't want fast times, just to be able to solve it in like 5 minutes or less.)

And I know someone else in my school who started months before me and her PB is 1:14 or something

How long have you been cubing?
I have for a little less than 2 months.

Nice Nice

Well I started bringing my Rubiks Cube to school went I started learning Fridrich ... so I've seriously been cubing for about a month now. My lookahead is slowly improving and all I have left for PLL are those stupid G Perms >.>

And yeah thats definitely true. Some people learn how to solve Rubiks Cubes like nothing and some people just flat out cant no matter how hard they try. For instance I have this genius friend (Hes like 12 and is in Algebra 2 right now and goes to a whole bunch of highschool classes ... anywwaaay) And when I showed him the basic idea he solved the first two layers no problem. Man I hope he he starts seriously cubing so I'll have some competition.....

 

[Arendil]

Some people can learn, some people cant. Period.

I agree with iSpinz. Some people can and some can't. I once taught a kid in a class period. There was another kid I have already spent 3 days teaching and he can only get layer one of the beginner method.

If the person you are teaching legitimately wants to learn, and they don't "get it" or they don't seem "able" to learn, then I'm sorry to say but this is 100% your fault as the teacher. If they are not interested to learn then it is only partially your fault as the teacher

Having had now 3 years of experience teaching elementary and middle school kids how to cube, I can tell you people think and understand a puzzle like the cube in so many different ways. You have to find a way to relate cubing to them in a way that makes sense to them.

For the people who simply "did not get it" did you try disassembling the cube to show them how it works? Did you try giving them simple patterns that are only a couple moves away from solved before teaching them the method? Did you try giving them simple patterns, only a couple moves away from solved, on a 4x4 or 5x5 (I've actually found this to help with some kids)? Did you try using different terminology than "standard" terminology? For example I sometimes call the cross "the claw", or I will call corners "baseballs" that you are trying to catch, or I will call a face a "fan" or "wheel" or "pinwheel" rather than a "side" or "face".

Not to be mean, but you'd be surprised how capable other people are at cubing if you just try approaching what you are teaching from a different point of view. I'm sorry to say, but you are not so special just because you can solve a toy puzzle.

Chris

Sorry for double-post if someone doesnt post before me but, Though this is true, I find it basicly all relies on the persons motivation and mind set. The person saying "Im too dumb for that because its way too complicated" will definitely have a considerably harder time learning than someone who comes at with a "I definitely got to learn that! Show me now!" attitude.

 

[iSpinz]

I guess I'll try an easier approach then....

 

[Cyrus C.]

So far I've taught:

4 beginners method
3 fridrich
3 petrus
1 2x2 beginners
1 Ortega
1 4x4
1 5x5

It's a huge fad in my friend circle... although we've gotten them banned...

 

[PEZenfuego]

Some people can learn, some people cant. Period.

I agree with iSpinz. Some people can and some can't. I once taught a kid in a class period. There was another kid I have already spent 3 days teaching and he can only get layer one of the beginner method.

If the person you are teaching legitimately wants to learn, and they don't "get it" or they don't seem "able" to learn, then I'm sorry to say but this is 100% your fault as the teacher. If they are not interested to learn then it is only partially your fault as the teacher

Having had now 3 years of experience teaching elementary and middle school kids how to cube, I can tell you people think and understand a puzzle like the cube in so many different ways. You have to find a way to relate cubing to them in a way that makes sense to them.

For the people who simply "did not get it" did you try disassembling the cube to show them how it works? Did you try giving them simple patterns that are only a couple moves away from solved before teaching them the method? Did you try giving them simple patterns, only a couple moves away from solved, on a 4x4 or 5x5 (I've actually found this to help with some kids)? Did you try using different terminology than "standard" terminology? For example I sometimes call the cross "the claw", or I will call corners "baseballs" that you are trying to catch, or I will call a face a "fan" or "wheel" or "pinwheel" rather than a "side" or "face".

Not to be mean, but you'd be surprised how capable other people are at cubing if you just try approaching what you are teaching from a different point of view. I'm sorry to say, but you are not so special just because you can solve a toy puzzle.

Chris

I haven't given up teaching this person yet, but I am struggling. Thanks for the advice, It'll help with the intuitive part. I teach knot tying to 9 year old boys in the summer (in addition to rock climbing). I'm a boy scout and I've taught a few people who were mentally disabled how to tie a knot. In addition to that I taught a kid who was undergoing occupational therapy for using his hands. These individuals were a million times easier to teach than the kids who didn't have a desire to learn.

Some people don't understand it immediately but I was wrong in agreeing that they COULDN'T understand it.

When I was learning BLD people raved about how good a tutorial was and I couldn't make heads or tails of it simply because it didn't fit my learning style. When I found a less popular one, I picked it up immediately.

I'm definitely going to try out your pinwheel analogy, I think he'll pick up on that.

 

[Arendil]

So far I've taught:

4 beginners method
3 fridrich
3 petrus
1 2x2 beginners
1 Ortega
1 4x4
1 5x5

It's a huge fad in my friend circle... although we've gotten them banned...

We're very close to getting them banned at my school.... :X

 

[Owen]

Yup, I influenced 3 people.

 

[DemotioN]

Lol, ive always been interested in it, but couldnt be bothered buying a cube that isnt one of those 2 dollar cheap ones. Then this guy brought one to school and could do it in around 2 mins so i bought one and started. I see a few at school now.

 

[jms_gears1]

ive taught 3 or four people to solve the cube. no matter who they are they can solve it it just takes a while longer for some people.
ive taught my girlfridn basic, and fridrich basic, two friends diffrent variations of the beginners method. so far no real competition, but its awsome that people want to learn.

 

[(R)]

So far I've taught:

4 beginners method
3 fridrich
3 petrus
1 2x2 beginners
1 Ortega
1 4x4
1 5x5

It's a huge fad in my friend circle... although we've gotten them banned...

We're very close to getting them banned at my school.... :X

They're banned at my school, but I and my friends take them anyway and use thm in the classes of teachers that don't care if we cube.