September 2024 - 21

" We stress that repetition is the key
to learning, and that each presentation
will contain material ranging
from 'that's new to me' through 'I've
heard that before' to 'we usually do
that' until it finally sinks into the
reptilian brain, becoming a reflex,
which clears space in the forebrain to
incorporate new ideas. "
When teaching cardplay, he uses
Zoom's annotation tool to cross out
cards in a hand diagram as they are
played, which he finds stunningly effective
at helping his students understand.
After his lessons, students and
their coaches go into breakout rooms
and play on Shark Bridge. He's a believer
in online teaching.
" Surprisingly, in some ways it's easier
to engage with them as individuals
online rather than in person; they
seem more likely to 'raise a hand'
online than in person. "
Before teaching bridge,
Abrahamson's only formal teaching
experience was a few years on a
university faculty in the early 1980s.
" I loved teaching but didn't like research
and didn't get any grants. "
It didn't work out, so he worked for
consulting firms doing mathematical
modeling and then in market
research, where for many years he
managed junior staff and trained
new employees out of college.
When he started mentoring, he was
shocked by how little his mentees
knew. " I realized I had to be really
open - never criticize, always talk
about my own mistakes, " he said. " I
try to get them to laugh. There's no
broken bones in bridge. "
He takes the same approach with
his beginning bridge students.
" It's all about relationships with the
people, getting them to laugh, to help
make the fear go away. They're all
afraid of making mistakes. You got to
remind them it's a game. "
Humor was often mentioned in the
nomination letters. Another topic
that came up in some of them is his
ability to target his answers to student
questions at their level.
" He knows when to disengage from
complicated issues or concepts and
direct the learning toward more
meaningful and related discussion, "
said Vicki King of Phoenix AZ, a
school teacher who took classes on
Planet Bridge. " He understands
learner needs, goals and obstacles
and applies that knowledge to his
program curriculum. "
Griff Weber of Emerald Hills CA:
" He has an uncanny way to give
bridge explanations or lessons at the
level most appropriate for the individuals
or the audience. "
The award selection committee
consisted of Tucker, Barbara Seagram,
Enid Roitman, Mary Jane Orock,
Richard Braunstein and Betty Starzec,
with coordinator Kristen Onsgard.
When he heard he was being nominated,
Abrahamson considered himself
a long shot.
" I do this for fun, " he said. " There
are people who do this for a living.
There must be a lot of good bridge
teachers out there. I'm just winging it.
I'm trying to put forth the maxims my
mom taught me 50 or 60 years ago. "
For all the praise his students heap,
Abrahamson feels he gets more from
them.
" Every time I do a presentation, I
feel like I'm the luckiest person in the
room, " he said. " I'm having so much
fun. " 2
September 2024 | Bridge Bulletin |
21
September 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2024
