CFI Blog #2 Selecting Methods

Selecting Methods
     There are four categories of instruction. Instructor centered - usually lecture or demonstration where the instructor does most of the educating while the student listens. this is good to lat a foundation of knowledge.  Interactive Methods - include discussions, group projects and peer teaching where the student takes a more active part in the learning than just listening.  Individualized Learning -  is where the student studies on their own or takes a self paced course. Experimental learning is when the student learns through role playing, drills, games, or experiments. learning in this area is very uncontrolled because the outcomes can be different depending on what they experiment with or who they play a game with.
     Roll playing is part of the Experimental Learning method.  A good place where role playing could be used is when trying to teach a student about Crew Resource Management. The student could be the captain and the instructor could be the co pilot, together they could divide the tasks to show how a real flight crew works together.  A discussion group is part of the Interactive method, a good place to do this is when you are instructing two or more students at a time. this allows the students to combine their knowledge to come up with the correct answer. I enjoyed doing this when talking about aerodynamics and how different forces affect the airplane.
     The context of what is being learned is always a major consideration when selecting the method of instruction.  You can talk about lazy eights all day, but until you demonstrate it to the student, and allow them to practice the maneuver they will never learn to do it.

Characteristics of Adult Learners
     Many adults who wish to continue their education do so with an end goal in mind.  they know what they want and they work toward it. an adults goals should be discussed early in the class so the instructor can know what they want.  Adults also develop ideas and beliefs that must be respected. adults are often more self disciplined and can direct their studies on their own.  Adults often have experience from their lives that can help or hinder their education or bring a new perspective to the class.  This would affect my teaching because I would have to be aware of these things and acknowledge that their mind is not quite the fresh slate that a younger student may be.