Teaching the National Keelboat Scheme Instructor Course

Overview Objectives To Assess your sailing To instruct you how to teach sailing To instruct you how to teach this Scheme Emphasis on instruction, ‘soft’ skills and enjoyment over advanced sailing skills

Learning a New Sport When did you last do this? What was important to you in terms of : A) your enjoyment? B) your progress? What, in your experience makes a ‘bad’ instructor and a ‘good’ instructor?

How do people learn? The difference between: Learning ‘theory’ knowledge Learning practical skills

Learning Practical Skills All senses: 1.Hearing 2.Sight 3.Touch/feel Wide variance with : 1. Age (Adults – Kids) 2. Attitude 3. Confidence. Understanding? Doing Reinforcing

Types of Instruction 1. Experiential Instructor teaches principles then ‘lets student get on with it’ Student is responsible for the route taken Time consuming Difficult to apply constraints Can be difficult for the instructor to ‘pull it all together’

Types of Instruction 2. Dictatorial ‘Sailing by numbers’ -Do this, then do that and this will happen Does not teach principles Does not let the student understand what they are doing Removes any ‘exploration’ in the task Inflexible - parrot learning Doesn’t teach student to make their own decisions based on assessment of situation

EDICT- the combined Approach E xplanation- the Principles D emonstration I mitation C orrection T raining (practice) EDICT

Explanation Clear Concise (short)- ‘Bullet points’- Don’t be verbose Be Relevant- avoid going off on tangents Pictures tell a thousand words Use the boat! Audible / visible- have you got everyone’s attention? Understood- test by asking questions Remember- You can never make it too simple!

Demonstration Clear Concise Matches explanation Can be seen

Imitation Students attempt to ‘copy’ instructors demo Instructor observes students, making notes if necessary Instructor only intervenes if safety is compromised

Correction Feedback model Praise/corrective feedback/praise Identify fault(s)-no more than 3 Try to get students to do that If they can’t, instructor must do it Once identified, suggest solution Try to give opportunity to apply solution

Debrief Sunglasses – remove Wind direction Sun Eye contact / level Physical position Pitfalls…..

Training (practice) Allow practice of ‘good’ things, too This will reinforce good practice. More feedback can be given as necessary

‘Layering’ Dissemble a manoeuvre into individual tasks Teach one principle (task) at a time Practice Add components together Do not attempt to ‘bake the cake’ until you have assembled all the ingredients

Lesson Plan The plan should include………. Wind Tide Briefing of the crew The manoeuvre itself Obstructions Other water users

Sign or Defer? Logbook Instructor not Examiner Do they understand the principles? i.e. Does the Student need: 1. more Practice or 2. more tuition Don’t sign if they haven’t got it…

Pitfalls Don’t let the awkward / needy student dominate Rotate students Give your time equally

Time and Location Management Planning Syllabus Student Mix Exercise…

Working with Children Blue Card Centre must have child protection policy in place

The National Keelboat Scheme

Try Sailing Non Certificate Course Must be run by a qualified Instructor at a recognised Centre Aim is to enthuse and get them back on Keelboat Crew

Keelboat Crew For Complete Beginners Emphasis on Safety and Enjoyment Should ‘Understand’ how to do a manoeuvre as helm rather than being fully competent Forms a solid basis for Keelboat Helm

Keelboat Helm Building on Keelboat Crew Allow for lots of practice time Students should be competent in helming and have good wind awareness

Keelboat Spinnaker Dedicated course to teach skills and techniques for Asymmetric and Symmetrical spinnakers I day for each type of Spinnaker Essential pre-requisite for Racing Crew course

Keelboat Racing Crew To give the necessary skills and knowledge to turn out competent CREW for racing yachts

Keelboat Seamanship Most Advanced level Basic navigation More complex manoeuvres Good prep for Yacht Training Scheme

This Course Mixture of Instruction and Assessment 2 days learning the Scheme and how to teach it 1 day teaching ‘live’ students Debrief after each session

Programme See Joining instructions

Any Questions?