Lack of commitment from students?

[markfm]

So what would you expect from someone who is willing to do their OW dives in 40 degree water

Terry

Does he or she need a dive buddy? They sound like me (Tough on the instructor, though, having to sit and watch in cold water while I got to have fun.)

I can't see not taking the course seriously; I laugh a lot, but the skills are basic do-you-want-to-keep-living things, have fun but make sure you know what you're doing.

 

[freediver]

What? Non-motivated students? It's gotta be that damn rap music!
No really, all seriousness aside; I think I have an obligation, as an instructor, to motivate the student. If I devote some effort into making them want to learn and apply themselves, then I can only expect a successful class. I mention before the course begins that they are paying for training, not certification. The certification is merely a document of their accomplished training and the cert allows them to seek....well....further training.

 

[Dragon2115]

Welcome to the culture of instant gratification. All you have to do to see it is look around. A lot of people today feel that when they want something they are entitled to it. Look at the public education system, that's where it starts. Look at the NEA fighting teacher certification testing and student performance testing. Heaven forbid anybody actually have to prove that they are qualified to teach the subject they are teaching or that the students prove they actually learned anything before they are handed a diploma and turned loose on the world. Why would anyone expect them to be any different in any other aspect of their lives?

What I think might happen is that if the requirements are allowed to slip too far the statistical number of accidents will increase. Eventually it will reach the point where the training standards will be cracked down on again. Unfortunately it will take many people getting hurt or killed before that kind of change will come around most likely.

 

[CUunderH2O]

I'm not surprised at the lack of preparation. For my first classroom session, when I picked up my study package I was told to bring my completed knowledge reviews to class, as they were to be handed in for evaluation. I and one other person in class were the only ones who appeared to have listened. Three others had done them but wrote the answers in their books, and two others didn't even have them done. Those two were also the ones who looked bored in class and didn't have a clue on how to use dive tables, as they obviously hadn't looked at the material. Oddly enough, their parents had encouraged them to take the course for an upcoming 'family dive vacation'. Their families were divers, but they didn't seem too interested in it.

These are the same people who complain about having to learn how to use tables when they have a shiny new dive computer!

 

[jbd]

No, I haven't seen his materials, but I would LOVE to!

As far as getting certified, I didn't think that was a requirement for posting like I know it all. Also, if you look at my profile, you'll see I have 2 BOW C-cards, an AOW C-Card, a nitrox C-Card and a Rescue C-card. I just collect cards, I don't really like to dive.
Seriously, I don't log my dives, and the choices require "logged" dives.

LOL! I saw that in your profile after I had noticed the logged dives none-not certified. After all the time we have been on scubaboard I have no idea why that happened to catch my eye the other day.

As to NWGD materials, all I can say is, he is a good writer, well organized and thorough in presentation. He should write the textbooks that are used by all scuba diving agencies. I have some of his AOW material and as I have noted in the past, if he didn't live so far away I would take his AOW course.

 

[miketsp]

My dad was an instructor, and instead of passing students with just the minimum score required, he would have the students score at least a 90% on the final test to make sure the students reviewed their material, and didn't show up expecting a certification. He did this because he wanted his students to take is seriously, and he didn't want his name on a dead diver's C-Card.

Funny, I always thought the idea of getting students to pass with a much higher mark than needed was to avoid future complaints/processes that could be brought against the LDS in the case of a marginal pass. I've witnessed several cases of final tests (various LDSs) where the instructor stepped out of the room and left the students alone with the manuals and to confer among themselves.
If the student goes out and kills himself on his first unaccompanied dive, the LDS is in a much better position if they have on their file a 100% test score.
Probably just me being over-cynical.

 

[miskatonic]

I work in the computer tech support field. Do not get me started on the people that call me for help.

 

[ranger]

I am an independent instructor that teaches at a local military school, and I take on private classes. The military cadets are a dream, in great physical shape, motivated, and know how to study....not problems with these guys and gals. The private classes on the other hand can be very frustrating. I've noticed more lazy students that really think that a paid fee guarantees certification and because I see more and more of this I've adopted a new policy, which I strictly enforce.

When I am approached by potential students I spend ample time with them to show them the OW manual, dive table, as verbally express my expectations of them and my requirements of their giving 100%. If this doesn't scare them off and they still want to continue, I give them a written document I authored, which again drives home what I just verbally expressed to them, they sign it and keep a copy. This is not contract, but when a student is not living up to their part of the bargain, I remind them of the document, and when the student says "I don't remember being told that"
I pull the document and show it to them.........I've found it a good motivator for some....and then some you don't have to motivate. The document is not sugar coated
and sometimes this actually scares off the ones which are not motivated.....which is good...if they aren't motivated they need to be on the couch watching CSI. This works for me and I simply adopted it as a way of eliminating coral crushers. I make my classes fun, and based upon the time I spend with students I probably make 50 cents an hour, but they are well trained....bottom line.

 

[Scot M]

Or maybe the instructor didn't announce the class time to the students. An entire class of No-Shows seems to point to a lack of communication, rather than an entire class of bad students.

Good thought, but the dates and times were printed correctly on the info sheet in the shop. That's what the students would have been looking at when they signed up. Most likely, some of them hadn't paid yet and decided to blow it off. The others probably got refunds or rescheduled. I've been in classes that had over half of the registered students fail to show.

 

[carini]

I am sorry to say but it is not just the diving comunity that is seeing more and more unmotivated people and think that if they just show up the will get the cert's. I have been in nursing for 21 years and it is very scarry to me to see (some not all ) student nurses that feel they should graduate just because they show up. But there is a LARGE test you have to take. State Boards. to get your nursing licence. I take my responsiblity as a buddy just as serious as i take my responsibitys at work.