Divemaster training - skills circuit

[ronellevan]

I've been searching the internet for this and couldn't find anything, which really surprised me.
I'm looking for the critical attributes of each of the 20 skills we have to demonstrate, is there a general list anywhere or, better yet, a downloadable video?
I know some of them quite well, having demonstrated them in classes often enough, but am still a little wary of others.

 

[String]

There aren't really documents of critical attributes that im aware of. As for videos, the best suggestion is the open water video where the skills are shown being demonstrated. Thats about as near as i can think of.

Scoring is

Score Characteristics
1 Candidate unable to perform exercise.
2 Exercise performed with significant difficulty or error.
3 Exercise performed correctly, though too quickly to adequately exhibit or illustrate details of skill.
4 Exercise performed correctly and slowly enough to adequately exhibit or illustrate details of skill.
5 Exercise performed correctly, slowly and with exaggerated movement – appeared easy.

So basically 1 or 2 means you cant even do the skill properly yourself
3 means you can do it yourself but not teach it
4 is ok
5 means its correct, slow, each key step is exaggerated and so on.

 

[Tollie]

I would ask my Instructor.

When I did my IDC the CD was able to give the class a list of pool skills and critical attributes. As String noted the best visual source is the PADI o/w video.

Good luck...

 

[Don Wray]

Do the skills slowly and deliberately. The critical attributes that need emphasizing are as an example, regulator recovery, after you've tossed your regulator off to the back, point at your mouth showing the student that you're blowing bubbles and not holding your breath, then reach back down to your knee and sweep. Emphasize any small thing that might get missed. If you can do all the skills as second nature, just slow them down and you'll nail the 5's. I had my instructor go over each skill and had them tell me what they considered a critical attribute.

 

[String]

Just to add, do the skills what seems to use as "too slowly" then slow down some more.

Think nothing of taking 20 seconds or longer to demonstrate a mask clear and so on. The slower the better. Initially it'll seem far too slow, almost robotic and comical but that's the easiest way for anyone trying to learn to pick it up.

 

[ivyleaguediver]

The PADI prescriptive lession guides that you can show the students in the classroom also has a section where you can look at videos of the various pools skills intended as a preview of what they will be doing in the pool.

Remember, there is no one right way or "PADI" way to do the skills. Each instructor may do them a little bit different depending on the particular dive conditions of the area where they are teaching.

Your goal is to do the demonstration slow and detailed enough such that someone who doesn't know how to do the skill will be able to do so after watching you.

 

[ronellevan]

Thanks guys.

 

[Karibelle]

There aren't really documents of critical attributes that im aware of. As for videos, the best suggestion is the open water video where the skills are shown being demonstrated. Thats about as near as i can think of.

In many cases, I agree with this - but not all. In the PADI OW video, take the mask clearing skill. The demo person on the DVD pulls his mask all the way off of the bottom of his face with his thumbs. When a student watches this, then tries it in the pool, it simply doesn't work. I get that perhaps a DM trying to identify critical attributes of skills may be able to make sense of it - which is why I'm not disagreeing with you outright.

I also agree with what you say (I think it was you) about slow, then slower... Then the challenge becomes explaining to students that "I'm going to do it slowly. You can do it faster than that, and I do not require that you point at the little bubbles you are blowing..."

The dive shop where I did my IDC offered for sale an excellent DVD they had created of the skill circuit highlighting the critical attributes of each.

 

[DBailey]

Imitation is the best form of flattery. If you know who will be grading your skill circuit, try to assist in a class with them. Take some mental notes on how they do a skill. Imitate how they do it.

 

[rawls]

If you have been in classes and have demonstrated skills over and over, there is no need to worry about the critical attributes. It is just a nifty term, nothing more...You simply need to do a demonstration quality skill. That's another nifty term What's demonstration quality...in your demonstration you include all of the critical attributes

Scoring is

Quote:
Score Characteristics
1 Candidate unable to perform exercise.
2 Exercise performed with significant difficulty or error.
3 Exercise performed correctly, though too quickly to adequately exhibit or illustrate details of skill.
4 Exercise performed correctly and slowly enough to adequately exhibit or illustrate details of skill.
5 Exercise performed correctly, slowly and with exaggerated movement – appeared easy.

Isn't that an eval. list String?