Thursday, September 21, 2006

The Aviation Instructor's Handbook Thanks to Cool Tools for this valuable resource about teaching and learning. The Aviation Instructors Handbook is available as a free pdf download from the FAA. It's not necessary to be interested in learning to fly or aviation to find this book of value. The book's review of teaching and learning theory and the practical application of that theory to teaching a complicated skill is of utmost value to instructors in all fields. There is probably nothing like sitting next to a student at 2000 feet in a piloting test to sharpen an instructor's committment to good instruction. I especially value the detailed techniques discussed in Ch. 9 "Techniques of Flight Instruction"--the Telling and Doing Technique: Instructor Tells/Instructor Does Student Tells/Instructor Does Student Tells/Student Does Student Does/Instructor Evaluates This sequencing of steps for learning a complex skill provides an elaborate cross check of what is understood and what is clear and unclear--for both the student and the instructor, and it accomplishes that vital step of putting the student in charge of his/her learning. ______JH   3:55:37 PM    COMMENT []