Trying Tec

[elan]

Why? Who says? Was there a census I missed? Can you show me the page in any instructor manual saying it's not allowed?

And as a PADI instructor you are supposed to be student centred not instructor centred. Try asking them what they want?

I bet no one will answer that they want to get a Darwin award. But the podium will likely be the result if it's student centered.

 

[boulderjohn]

Sounds like a pretty sh!tty instructor that won't explain the "how".

His attitude was that those sorts of things were part of the PADI "holding their hands" methodology that is not a part of tech instruction. I obviously disagree. I think that dealing with more complex and more challenging skills is all the more reason to use good instructional practice, not a reason to proudly do away with it.

 

[TSandM]

I agree with you completely, John. I have taken a bunch of technical level instruction from a variety of instructors. The NAUI tech instructor with whom I worked for a while, spent a lot of time preparing us to perform drills, and breaking things up into smaller pieces so that we were set up for success. Getting things right built confidence as well, which helped all of us do better.

In contrast, my Cave 2 instructor gave us no tips on bottle handling and did no preparatory work or drills -- he just gave us bottles and told us to wear and use them. If I hadn't had the previous training, I would have done even worse than I did.

I'd love to see technical training have more of a stepped pedagogical approach, but keep the high standards for passing -- it's the lowering of standards, and not the adoption of a different educational approach, that worries me about PADI and tech.

 

[Jax]

Wow - I find this amazing!

In the most intricate, precision-sensitive maneuvers, such as an Explosive Ordinance Team or a SWAT team or an aircraft deposit and pick-up of a Long-Range Surveillance Team, each part is practiced until flawless, then some parts are put together and practiced until flawless, then it is all put together and practiced until flawless.

It seems to this newb that in technical / cave / wreck diving, the training ought to be a stepped pedagogical approach. That's why they call it "building a skill" and "building a team".

Bet those instructors of whom you speak enjoyed throwing kids into the deep end to teach them how to swim!

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I believe the best instructors demand excellence and are able to achieve it without humiliating the students.

In the tech classes I've taken, the best instructors were those who'd achieved a balance between kicking my ass and sitting back and letting me kick my own ass. The two I considered the most effective teachers both at one point told me to stop kicking myself in the ass, relax, and just concentrate on what I knew I had to do ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[FWADIVER]

Interesting discussion, my mentor/instructor believes at the tech level you should be doing your own self study and practice, a diver that needs to be spoon fed has no business trying technical dives. I tend to agree with him.

 

[Jax]

Interesting discussion, my mentor/instructor believes at the tech level you should be doing your own self study and practice, a diver that needs to be spoon fed has no business trying technical dives. I tend to agree with him.

Do you know the difference between demo - practice - evaluate and spoon-feeding?

 

[DevonDiver]

Interesting discussion, my mentor/instructor believes at the tech level you should be doing your own self study and practice, a diver that needs to be spoon fed has no business trying technical dives. I tend to agree with him.

Sure, you pay $1000 for a tech course. I'll go get coffee.... you take yourself off to the quarry and start your practice.

 

[FWADIVER]

Sure, you pay $1000 for a tech course. I'll go get coffee.... you take yourself off to the quarry and start your practice.

already did everything there except the paying $1000 part, unless you count the bill for the new batch of toys I just got.

 

[Jax]

already did everything there except the paying $1000 part, unless you count the bill for the new batch of toys I just got.

It sounds like you think the toys make the diver . . . do you honestly think the "everything" you already did qualifies you to dive tech?