Instructor Development Course
The aim of the course is to prepare an Open Water Instructor to develop their own instructional skills, more effectively support and develop other instructors (post IFC and pre OWI) and to organise and manage training within a branch. The course is a one day event and takes place at Open Water venues that have suitable underwater features and facilities available. The course will involve 3 dives to maximum depths of 20m, 6m and 6m.The Instructor Development Course (IDC) is a new course for existing BSAC Open Water Instructors.
Entry requirement is BSAC Open Water Instructor.
BSAC Club Instructors are also elligible to attend the course and following attendance will qualify to be upgraded to Open Water Instructor.
To find dates and to Book go to Book an Instructor Development Course
A Model Timetable can be downloaded from the documents to the right.
The main teaching components involve:
Course Presentation
The course begins with a formal presentation to provide a foundation of knowledge of the course content and to set the scene for the days actitities.
Teaching Dive Planning Session
A Planning Session is run by the group Tutor to plan a number of mini lessons to be practiced on the following Teaching Dive. Lessons are drawn from one or more of the SDC Instructor Notes downloadable from the Instructor Resource Centre, (examples include Wreck Appreciation, Dive UK, Underwater Photography). Students are advised on the appropriate materials to download in their Joining Instructions for the Course.
Teaching Dive
This involves a dive to a maximum depth of 20m. The Tutor will lead by demonstration and each student will in turn get the opportunity to practice their own mini lesson and receive and give feedback.
Instructor Development Demonstration Dive
Tutor Groups will join together for this session. It will serve as a simulation of an Instructor Supervising an Assistant Instructor teaching an Open Water practical skill as if practicing for a Practical Instructor Exam. The Supervising Instructor will demonstrate key skills including Positioning and Observation, Intervention and giving Constructive Feedback. Two lessons will be taught allowing each group of students to see a demonstration.
Instructor Development Dive
Following a similar format to the demonstration Dive students will each get an opportunity to play the role of a Supervising Instructor and practice the skills of Positioning and Observation, Intervention and giving Constructive Feedback under the guidance of their Tutor. Lessons will be notified in the Joining Instructions for the Course.
Dive Management Teaching
Throughout the day you will see demonstrations of mini lessons appropriate to the teaching of Dive Management making use of Complimentary Teaching Techniques (a term that will be developed further on the course).
In the summer of 2007 a formal review of the BSAC Instructor Training Programme identified potential areas of improvements in instructional methods and techniques. The first task was to scope the content and delivery of a revised and updated Advanced Instructor Course. As a consequence of this exercise, it was realised that there was a huge potential to have a standalone course that supplemented the BSAC Open Water Instructor Award. The outcome is the 'Instructor Development Course' consisting of a foundation of new skills that are developed further in the 'new' Advanced Instructor Course. These additional skills can be naturally applied to support the supervision and development of branch instructors and enhance awareness of the teaching of informal and progressive diving skills.
The course is devised to be educational, challenging and most importantly fun. At the end of the course I believe all involved, students and instructor trainers alike, can tick these three boxes and that the course encourages you to progress as instructors.
Jeff Reed
National Diving Officer
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