Instructor's perceptions?

[northernone]

I treasure honest feedback. It's challenging to collect. How do you decide what to internalize when interacting with well informed divers?

Backstory:

This is a spin off the 'when am I not a beginner thread' and the other about yelling instructors.


So far I've been certified under 14 instructors and been mentored by a half dozen more experienced divers.

Each instructor seems to have their own interaction style with me. This results in subtlety or overtly presenting their assessment of my aptitude, approach and abilities. Overstate this translates into a 'I can do no wrong' or 'I can do no right' perspective and flavors the training. I've been fortunate enough not to train under anyone so apathetic their methods were robotic and impersonal and don't often train in a large group as to be lost in the crowd .

I've had some treat me like a prodigy or in contrast a dead man walking (I'm neither I hope). It's puzzling, seems independent from the training 'level' nor my demonstrable abilities.

All in all, I soak up as much learning as possible but the spectrum of assessment and presentation styles makes it challenging to know how much to believe. In typing this I too think of the demise of Dr. Deep.

Regards,
Cameron

 

[RainPilot]

As an instructor it is one of my biggest challenges. Debrief every minor mistake and they feel like they are useless.

Only the major issues? They think they are dive gods.

I find that getting the students to give me feedback on their progress gives me a handle on where they think they are vs where I think they are. Closing that gap becomes the main task.

 

[Chilly_Diver]

Yup. I’ve seen instructors fist bump and praise even the most incompetent divers. I guess it’s to keep them coming back and spending money, though all it does is provide a false sense of accompliment and competency.

 

[sigxbill]

How do you decide what to internalize when interacting with well informed divers?

To me, it all depends on their background. I try to know the background of the "well informed" instructor or diver I am talking to. If I respect their background, then I am interested and take their compliments humbly and their criticisms graciously. If I don't respect their background, then I just smile and say thank-you and move on ...

 

[tomfcrist]

When I’m teaching, I tend to always find something to be critical about after the dive. I think this comes from my military background...where nobody is ever perfect, and there are no feelings allowed during debrief.

I had a tech instructor tell me during a debrief, you are doing great...I’ve got nothing for you. I on the other hand felt like I was diving like a total newb.

I will always be my own worst critic, because if you can’t identify something you could have done better, you are probably kidding yourself.

If as an instructor, my students think I’m being too nit picky....they can find someone else who will tell them they are dive gods...I don’t need their money, I do this to have fun and mentor future dive buddies

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Yup. I’ve seen instructors fist bump and praise even the most incompetent divers. I guess it’s to keep them coming back and spending money, though all it does is provide a false sense of accompliment and competency.

I am all for encouraging progress, as long as they are not given a pass until they demonstrate proficiency at the skills involved. Some people just take longer and some people need a lot of encouragement. It often just takes time and patience.

 

[MargaritaMike]

When I was going through my certifications, I had primarily two different instructors, with a third instructor helping at times. Since I was a prodigy the feedback I received seemed to be very positive. One instructor was somewhat lax IMO and certified some students that I would not have - mainly because I may have to dive with them and save their life. He was the student's best friend. However, I learned a lot from him because the more you absorbed, the more he would challenge you. This also applied to those who didn't absorb that much. He didn't draw the line that said "your demonstration of knowledge and skills is less than certification level".

The other instructor was more no nonsense, and much more stringent about knowledge and skills. This information was "common knowledge" among many of the divers in a small community of divers, so some avoid taking courses from this instructor. I was undaunted and have several certifications from this instructor. I feel that, at the end of the day, I earned my certs.

After I certified as a DM, I "rolled back" and worked with both of these instructors. After working closely with both of them, I saw this difference at a even greater divide. On one occasion, I even questioned why the more lax instructor certified a particular diver. I basically got the answer that it's not my problem. I just made the decision that I wouldn't dive with that particular diver. I have no idea if that diver is still diving, but if I happen to run across him while diving, I'm going the other way. I also don't know if the two instructors are still instructing. It was a long time ago and a lot of water has flowed under the boat....

When I first got my feet wet on SB, I suggested that instructors undergo a periodic anonymous review, not to strip them of their "instrustorship", but rather give feedback that would help them grow and improve. It was not taken well and I almost left SB because of the response. I have been "hated" before, so I am still here. Based on my personal experience and observation, holler or fist bump isn't important. Keeping people alive is. They individuals in this recounting of my experience must have been ok for many obvious reasons. One of which is I've stayed alive (and have actually been instrumental in others being alive), and I keep proving that it's better to let people think you are stupid than to open your mouth (or type) and dispel all doubt.
Cheers - M²

 

[Neilwood]

I try to go for a realistic self analysis with feedback from my buddy if at all possible. I try to learning the reasons why we do things as well as the action itself (fortunately my OW & AOW instructor was that kind of guy - he was not afraid to go in to the why) - that gives me something to chart my performance against.

Feedback from others can be good but I am never sure if they are blowing smoke up my ass or being overly picky. Without knowing their standards I find it hard to accept the feedback at face value. I know if I was out of trim or my buoyancy was all over the place (I can read my profile from my DC), I can check my SAC etc.

 

[TMHeimer]

Posting this in the I to I forum may be a good idea as well.

 

[Steve_C]

First off is the information relevant to me?

Is the instructor just trying to impress me (or himself).

I will think about what they said and decide if I want to use it.

Example: After going from split to stiffer fins I am back to spits. Got old knees and I find the diving more relaxing with the splits. I am not an equipment junkie. I just want to see the little (and big) fishies.