Day 6 Pool training

Day 6 started just like the other pool sessions=== Scuba bailout!

This was followed by each student performing a demo of all open water basic skills (except alternate air sharing). One student got lucky and did the demo in front of all of the other students. This diver received a critical review from the others immediately after removing the scuba unit, turning the air off and doing a swimming ascent.

The students breath hold surfaced dived to scuba unit and donned. A buoyancy demonstration was made. Each student then was required to achieve neutral buoyancy and hold without moving for 30 seconds.

The scuba unit was ditched and air turned off again. After swimming ascent a variation of one hand on the brick was performed. Each student did a surface dive to 12 to 13 feet and placed hands on the brick. This time, they were only required to stay down until they wanted to come up. After surfacing the next student went down and did the same thing.

This worked out well, the stress level was significantly lower with the time on the brick showing that.

Next the brick was transported, while breath holding, around the pool. Each student taking a turn. Again, low stress.

The students then did a surface dive to don their scuba unit. After donning, one student simulated being out of air and removed their mask. Another student then buddy breathed with them while swimming to the shallow end and returning. The students switched with the other simulating out of air and removing mask.

After this task was complete, each student buddied up and simulated out of air, alternate air sharing and swimming ascent.

Debrief of session was done in the water.

Once on the surface everyone exited the pool and began endurance swimming, all completed between 150 to 400 yards.

Day 5 Academics

The day started with an instructor presenting with student critique. Everyone followed with a new presentation. Immediate feedback was not given to the student as it was video recorded. The student will do a critical evaluation of the presentation and report back next session. The instructors will also critique the presentations at the next meeting.

This was followed by covering Teaching Theory and Instructional Techniques. This could be the driest reading, but the class discussion was better.

Empathy, Eye Contact; Pitch, Pace and Pause

Humor and the Hammer were all discussed.

Next session will finish teaching theory and instructional techniques.

The students are all "Crazy Cats"!

Video link to Presentations

If this video insert does not work see below.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5908069753531433384&hl=en


This is the link to the presentation video. It is all one continuous video with M first, G second and T last. Sorry the quality is not great. It will be better on the next attempt.

Day 4

Confined water training.

Todays training began with proper weighting for minimal thermal protection to be used in skin diving ditch and recover skill. Each diver wearing a shorty wet suit or similar equivalent, weighted themselves for neutral buoyancy.

Once this was accomplished all divers performed a scuba bailout.

Divers assembled and went over the basic open water skill sets with a buddy. Alternating and working on Demonstration Quality skill performance.

At the end of the demonstration task, the divers were asked to remove their mask and put on their stored extra mask kept in the BC pocket. Only one diver had the stored mask available to them.

Divers next ditched their scuba unit and swam to the surface with mask, fins and snorkel.

Verbal review of skills performed was done in the shallow water. This was a critical review.

Next task was demonstration of surface skin dives, pike and feet first.

Scuba bailout was demonstrated to the instructor candidates. The candidates watched and did a critical review of the skill.

Divers next ditched their scuba unit, turning air off each time, and surfaced on mask, fins and snorkel.

A breath holding skill was next introduced. The divers would one at a time dive down to the bottom of the pool and place a hand on a rubber brick. That diver could not leave until the next diver relieved him at the brick. The idea was to complete 5 minutes of continuous breath hold diving, divided between 5 divers. This skill requires precise timing and a cool head.

Lets just say, a lot was learned in the next 5 minutes.

As fatigue set in from the constant surface diving, the actions became more erratic. Leaving some down to long on the brick.

One hand on the brick will be done again, with variations as the divers become more competent and confident.

Last task was a surface skin dive to recover and replace scuba unit. All attempted to do at demonstration quality. There was room for improvement!

Divers did a critical review of each others performance. After exiting the pool with gear, all divers returned for endurance building swim. Most completed 200m, some 400m.

It was noted this session had divers with stressors, including self-imposed stress. More will be discussed on that topic later.

Classroom Teaching Presentation

Teaching Presentation

Presenter: Instructor Trainer

Title: Teaching Presentations

Introduction

 

I hate presenting to an audience. I hate public speaking. Therefore I hate talking to y_ _.

Wait I can't say that!

Since teaching presentations are required for completion of instructor training, you will find the following information helpful for successful completion of that training and a good example of the presentation format.

At the end of this presentation you will have three points,

that you will be able to list,

that will aid you in your next presentation.

The main points are:

1.  Command of Knowledge

2.  Organization

3.  Innovation

Body

Command of Knowledge-

This one thing will make it significantly easier to present on any topic. If you know a subject, it will be much easier to talk about.

You get there with the three R's;

   research,

   reading and

   repetition.

Organization-

Gather your research material.

Write notes.

Make an outline.

Practice your presentation with training aids while timing.

Do a final edit.

Then more practice.

(At this time pull out training aid-- research material [book], presentation outline, mirror [to represent practicing in front of mirror] and clock prop to represent timing yourself. Put training aid away.)

Innovation-

This is the hardest but most rewarding part of the presentation. It requires the student to dig deep and find out what will make this presentation stand out. Think (pull out light bulb training aid, then put away) of what gets you excited. Poll others and don't forget to rely on mentors for insight. Getting input from a variety of sources will help you decide on something with snap and appeal.

These three points will not only help you be polished and professional here but will provide a valuable base as you continue your training and teaching of --- Advanced Diver, Rescue Diver, Master Diver, Divemaster, Scuba Instructor, Instructor Trainer, Course Director etc...

(promotion of continuing education).

Summary

In review,

you have learned that

1.  command of knowledge will ease presenting information

2.  organization will aid in turning your knowledge into a teaching presentation 

3.  innovation, will appeal to the student and make it memorable

If you remember nothing else, remember these three key points when preparing for and preforming a classroom presentation:

Command of Knowledge

Organization

Innovation

Learning objective questions:

What tool do you get with the three R's, research, reading and reptition, that also makes it easier to present on a topic? 

  Command of knowledge

What is it called when you gather research matierial, write notes and then make an outline?

  Organization

What is the hardest and most rewarding part of a presentation?

  Innovation

Instructor Canidates

M

From Comal Divemaster and Instructor Training

G

From Comal Divemaster and Instructor Training

T

From Comal Divemaster and Instructor Training

Day 3 Academics

Today's academic session included:

Getting instructor pre-qual test back for review.  This will be corrected open book then gone over in class.

Each student re-presented their first presentation with critical review, then presented their second presentation with critical review.

Students were asked to re-work first two presentations and complete a new assigned presentation next week.

Assigned chapter reading review did not happen.  Students will have additional week to review chapter reading.  This will be gone over at next academic meeting.

M in the middle of things

But where is the third guy? Always behind the spot light.

2 of 3 future instructors

T and G with a divemaster.

Day 2

Classroom

Reviewed requirements for Scuba Instructor Training.  Reviewed tasks to be accomplished prior to evaluation and evaluation standards.

Each student did a Teaching Presentation.

One at a time, the presentation was critically evaluated with suggestions for improvement.

Reading assignment made, new presentation topic selected.  Students will also re work first teaching presentation and present it again.

Day 1 

Confined water

Scuba Bailout

Scuba unit removal and turn air off, swim away on snorkel

Skin dive ditch, mask and fins

Swim 100 yds

Breath hold swim under water, attempt 25 yards

Breath hold recover of mask and fins, clear mask and snorkel

Breath hold recover scuba unit

Circle of 5, exchange masks

Circle of 5, exchange scuba unit

Buddy breath on bottom

Buddy breath while swimming

Student comfort

You got to make the students comfortable in the water!

Where you want to be!

It ain't easy being Cheesy!

G

M and G

Scuba Instructor Training

This blog is to document the training of three Divemasters who have begun training to become scuba instructors.