What is the classroom training like these days ?

[Diver0001]

I was certified a few decades ago when things were much different. There was no option for online learning from which I understand is quite popular these days.

My child is going to be getting their OW this winter while on a tropical vacation. I opted for the live classroom training vs the online learning. I realize that PADI structures their classes for uniformity and consistency in the results. My question is how much of the classroom these days is actually taught and how much are videos that are going to be watched ? Is my kid going to be put in a classroom and set infront of a monitor or is there going to be actually teaching going on ? How much classroom time is there and how much reading outside of the class is going to be required ? They do still have books these days don't they

I'm an instructor and I LOVE it when people do the e-learning. At the shop where I work all students are asked to do e-learning.

The reason is simple. There was always a need to tell divers more than is in the book. As an instructor you need to prepare students for the local environment and you can't do that based on general knowledge. Much of the general stuff is relevant and the PADI method is excellent as far as I'm concerned but it needs deeping-out in class.

When people come to class unprepared, which is often, then (a) you can't deep stuff out and (b) you end up standing there basically reading the book to them which is a MASSIVE waste of the instructor's time and the time of students who did actually prepare.

With the e-learning I tell the students that they need to send me their results for the module in email the day before class so I can prepare. I actually don't prepare anything but it motivates the student to prepare for class and I have a chance to call them the day before class if they don't mail me so I can encourage them to be ready.

We still do theory lessons but instead of reading the book to them I'm now in a position to TEACH stuff.... deeping out deco theory, practical dive planning, best practices, local practices, the differences between what the book says and what people actually do..... lots and lots of time for questions and stuff... All stuff that I always wanted to tell them but never had time for because I somehow always ended up walking through the book with them. E-learning is simply the best thing that has happened to the quality of diver training since PADI first developed its didactic approach and modularized the system.

That said, I'm sure there are lots of shops that use e-learning to enhance quality but not all shops do so. E-learning can also be used by some shops, and I've seen this, to strip down training and go full lazy-mode. You really need to talk to the shop and if they're telling you that you just do the e-learning and they don't spend time on you after then then run away. At the last shop I worked for I actually quit when they started using e-learning because they saw it as a way to cut costs (and quality) and still meet standards. Beware of that.

R..

 

[boulderjohn]

That must be something that is PADI specific. In my NAUI class, we bought a book (and other materials like tables) and the instructor taught classes, then assigned book homework. Later we took a written test. Very much like a college or other adult education class. Actually my son's high school classes work that way as well.

The lecture first method instruction has been thoroughly shown to be the least effective way to transmit information. The theory most agencies I know now use is to have the students learn at their own pace first, either through written manuals designed for independent learning or through eLearning. Then the instructor works with those students to clarify understanding, add additional information, and assess the learning through exam. This methodology has dominated OW instruction for decades, and I did not know any agencies still used a lecture first approach.

 

[kelemvor]

The lecture first method instruction has been thoroughly shown to be the least effective way to transmit information. The theory most agencies I know now use is to have the students learn at their own pace first, either through written manuals designed for independent learning or through eLearning. Then the instructor works with those students to clarify understanding, add additional information, and assess the learning through exam. This methodology has dominated OW instruction for decades, and I did not know any agencies still used a lecture first approach.

I'll have to ask my wife (a teacher) when she gets home. I don't know what the best way is, but the teacher teaches, then augments "method" is what I've experienced anytime I've taken a formal class in any formal educational setting. The only exception has been free online "classes" such as youtube videos on some subject or another. Maybe you guys really are way ahead of the curve. Either way, there are definitely options.

 

[Diver0001]

I did not know any agencies still used a lecture first approach.

I haven't been to school for a while but I distinctly remember doing 6 years of university based upon that model and I'm not surprised to hear that people sort of expect it.

In diving instruction they also have been conditioned (partly by online bravado) to expect "harder is better".

It doesn't surprise me to the very least to hear that some instructors are doing this because the "audience" is expecting it. In fact, I hear things all the time online that make me think that some instructors (and their prey) have fallen victim to this kind of thinking.

R..

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

That's a great idea. I plan on pulling out the gear to do some practice setting up and breaking down. Also some pointers regarding the dust cap that I wish I had caught during my ow class. Would've saved me from having my first stage rebuilt after my first trip

I am going to use zip ties to connect their first stages to their BCD's, just as was done in my GUE fundies. Nice to not have to lug a tank.

 

[kelemvor]

I'll have to ask my wife (a teacher) when she gets home.

She says watching a video is legit, so there ya go. Still, it's not the method I'd prefer as a student.

 

[FinnMom]

I went to university too, and yes we can learn from the lecture-first method, but the vastly better way to learn was to always have the recommended reading and possible exercises done before the lecture. This way you understand all the material in the lecture and you can ask questions that would never have occurred to you if you hadn't done the background reading. The prepared students might ask the good questions for you, but then you won't understand the answers if you haven't done the background reading. The toughest classes would never have gone forward otherwise. Nevermind that the more diligent students would NOT have appreciated a lazy bugger trying to play catchup in class on everyone else's time.

Scuba class may not have the same cutthroat motivation, but with luck the level of genuine interest and even passion might be similar. It's a lot more fun when everyone is already familiar with the material. Lecture time is much more fun and productive when you can use it for filling in details, explaining as needed (and not as not needed to avoid boredom , indulging particular interests or actual show-and-tell (computer in hand and show them how to access the log, set Nx values, etc).

 

[mdb]

The quick learning mode has produced many divers who do not have the proper background for open ocean diving,

They drop out of diving, they are not properly prepared.

The new diver rate has been dropping for over a decade.

5-6 classroom sessions, multi pool workups, 4-5 open ocean dives
produces confident divers.

Time to return to that model.