The Learning process:
Learning is a change in behavior as a result of experience
Principles of learning:
Readiness - (huge part of CFI’s job) eager, purposeful, have clear objective
Exercise - Activities most repeated are best remembered
Effect - pleasant or unpleasant feelings (emotional reaction)
Primacy - The first impression (this is why students must be taught right the first time)
Intensity - (exciting) teaches more than just the usual experience
Recency - The most recent activities are best remembered
Perception: Visual, Audio, Kinesthetic
Motivation: promise of obtaining goals, a positive experience
Levels of learning:
Rote: Lowest level, the ability to repeat something that has just been said without understanding
Understanding: Understanding what has been taught
Application: the ability to apply what has been learned
Correlation: putting something previously learned together with something you just learned
The pattern of progress: rapid improvement in early stages followed by a plateau when approaching critical sections of a rating.
Organization of a lesson:
Things to consider
Duration: At the start students reach a point where additional practice is unproductive. Another consideration is the financial situation
Evaluation/Critique
In the early stages practical suggestions are best and more valuable to a student which falls under the critique category.
Evaluation’s are best used later on in a students training, evaluations show strengths and weaknesses and are a prerequisite for constructive criticism.
The Teaching process:
Preparation: Creation of a lesson plan with objectives, goals in line with the PTS or syllabus.
Description: explain the desired outcome of the instruction
Criteria: List of standards which measure the accomplishment of the objective
Presentation: There are several methods examples are: lecture method, demonstration method, guided discussion.
Application: when the student first uses what is presented
Review and Evaluation: Before the end of each lesson plan the instructor should review what has been covered in the lesson and have the student demonstrate how each objective has been met.
Teaching Methods:
Regardless of material or teaching method used the instructor MUST be organized
Introduction stage
- Sets the stage for everything to come
- Made up of three elements
1. Attention, grasping the attention of the student, through telling a story, a joke etc…
2. Motivation, offer specific reasons why the lesson content is important to know, understand, and apply
3. Overview, gives a brief idea of what is to come in the lesson
Development stage
- Main part of the lesson
- Subject matter is developed in a manner to help students best understand and achieve the desired learning outcomes
1. Past to present, the subject matter is arranged chronologically
2. Simple to complex, helps instructor lead student from simple facts or ideas to understanding of involved ideas and concepts.
3. Known to unknown, using something a student already knows and leading it to new ideas and concepts.
4. Most frequently used to least frequently used, In some subjects certain information or concepts are commonly used, this pattern starts with common ideas and moves to less common ideas.
5. Conclusion, an effective conclusion retraces the important information and relates them to the objective.
Teaching Methods in Detail:
Lecture Method:
- The most widely used
- Great if students do not have reference material, or time to research
- Drawbacks include that it is usually dry and learning is an active process
Guided Discussion:
- The goal is to draw out of students what they know
- The more intense the discussion, and the greater participation, the more effective learning
- It’s important to encourage questions and comment on all responses
Demonstration performance:
- Learning by doing
The 4 phases are explanation, demonstration, student performance, evaluation
Instructor Responsibilities and Professionalism:
-HELPING STUDENTS LEARN
-Maintain pleasurable experience for the student
-Learning should be interesting
To accomplish this instructors must
-Devise a plan of action
-Create a positive student-instructor relationship
-Present information and guidance effectively
-Transfer responsibility to the student as learning occurs
-Evaluate student learning and thereby measure teaching effectiveness
Professionalism:
Professionalism is only achieved only after extended training and preparation
True performance as a Professional is based on study and research
Key points:
Sincerity - should be straightforward and honest
Acceptance of the student - Must accept students regardless of faults
Personal appearance and habits - Personal appearance has a huge effect on the Professional image of the instructor.
Demeanor - The attitude and behavior of the instructor can contribute greatly to the instructors image.
Safety practices and accident prevention - To maintain a Professional image a flight instructor must carefully observe all regulations and recognized safety practices during all flight operations.
Proper Language - The use of profanity and obscene language leads to distrust
Self improvement - Professional flight instructors will never become complacent or satisfied with there own abilities.
In Conclusion:
-Motivation
-Give credit where credit is due
-Use constructive criticism
-Admit errors
-Be consistent
