FITS Learner Centered Grading

Professor Frank AyersChairman, Flight Department

Embry Riddle Aeronautical UniversityDaytona Beach, Flayersf@erau.edu

Grading!

What is the purpose of grading?What is the purpose of grading? Identify student performanceIdentify student performance Reward the studentReward the student Warn the next instructor!!!!!Warn the next instructor!!!!! Delay the check ride until the Delay the check ride until the

student gets a clue!!!!student gets a clue!!!!

Adult Learning(Androgogy, Malcolm Knowles, )

“ “Andragogy assumes that the point at which an individual achieves a self-Andragogy assumes that the point at which an individual achieves a self-concept of essential self-direction is the point at which he concept of essential self-direction is the point at which he psychologically becomes adult.psychologically becomes adult.

A very critical thing happens when this occurs:A very critical thing happens when this occurs: the individual develops a the individual develops a deep psychological need to be perceived by others as being self-deep psychological need to be perceived by others as being self-directing. directing.

Thus, when they find themselves in a situation in which they are not Thus, when they find themselves in a situation in which they are not allowed to be self-directing, they experience a tension between that allowed to be self-directing, they experience a tension between that situation and their self-concept. situation and their self-concept. Their reaction is bound to be tainted Their reaction is bound to be tainted with resentment and resistance.with resentment and resistance.

It is my own observationIt is my own observation that those students who have entered a that those students who have entered a professional school or a job have made a big step toward seeing professional school or a job have made a big step toward seeing themselves as essentially self-directing. themselves as essentially self-directing.

Any experience that they perceive as putting them in the position of being Any experience that they perceive as putting them in the position of being treated as children is bound to treated as children is bound to interfere (sic) with their learning”interfere (sic) with their learning”

Adult Learning(Androgogy, Malcolm Knowles)

The need to knowThe need to know — adult learners need to know why they — adult learners need to know why they need to learn something before undertaking to learn it. need to learn something before undertaking to learn it.

Learner self-conceptLearner self-concept — adults need to be responsible for their — adults need to be responsible for their own decisions and to be treated as capable of self-directionown decisions and to be treated as capable of self-direction

Role of learners' experienceRole of learners' experience — adult learners have a variety — adult learners have a variety of experiences of life which represent the richest resource for of experiences of life which represent the richest resource for learning. These experiences are however imbued with bias and learning. These experiences are however imbued with bias and presupposition. presupposition.

Readiness to learnReadiness to learn — adults are ready to learn those things — adults are ready to learn those things they need to know in order to cope effectively with life situations.they need to know in order to cope effectively with life situations.

Orientation to learningOrientation to learning — adults are motivated to learn to the — adults are motivated to learn to the extent that they perceive that it will help them perform tasks they extent that they perceive that it will help them perform tasks they confront in their life situations.confront in their life situations.

Grading!

How does the student react to grading?How does the student react to grading? Does student reaction affect the grading Does student reaction affect the grading

scale?scale? Is grading a control issue?Is grading a control issue? Could grading be more objective?Could grading be more objective? How is the overall lesson grade different How is the overall lesson grade different

from the task grade?from the task grade? How do we grade decision making?How do we grade decision making?

Self-Management Plan(For each day & the entire course)

What are my goals?What are my goals? Knowledge/skillsKnowledge/skills AttitudesAttitudes

What do I need to What do I need to do?do?

What will success What will success look like?look like?

Learner-Centered Debriefing

Uncover/articulate Uncover/articulate their own mistakestheir own mistakes

Recognize the limit Recognize the limit of their own of their own knowledgeknowledge

Analyze a situation Analyze a situation or eventor event

Value their own Value their own observationsobservations

Learner-CenteredGrading Central to Central to

“experience-based “experience-based learning” and learning” and development of the development of the individuals “mental individuals “mental model”model”

Feedback needs to Feedback needs to be non-threatening, be non-threatening, constructive and constructive and supportivesupportive

Grading Systems Compared

Traditional GradesTraditional Grades OutstandingOutstanding GoodGood SatisfactorySatisfactory UnsatisfactoryUnsatisfactory IncompleteIncomplete

Or………….Or…………. AA BB CC DD FF

Grading Systems Compared

FITS FITS Maneuvers/Skills/Maneuvers/Skills/Tasks GradesTasks Grades PerformPerform PracticePractice ExplainExplain DescribeDescribe Not ObservedNot Observed

FITS SRM GradesFITS SRM Grades Manage DecideManage Decide PracticePractice ExplainExplain Not ObservedNot Observed

Describe

DescribeDescribe – – at the completion at the completion of the scenario the PT will be of the scenario the PT will be able to describe the physical able to describe the physical characteristics and cognitive characteristics and cognitive elements of the scenario elements of the scenario activities.activities.

Explain

ExplainExplain – – at the completion of at the completion of the scenario the PT will be able the scenario the PT will be able to explain the scenario activity in to explain the scenario activity in a way that shows understanding a way that shows understanding of the underlying concepts, of the underlying concepts, principles, and procedures that principles, and procedures that comprise the activity.comprise the activity.

Practice

Practice Practice – – at the completion of at the completion of the scenario the student will be the scenario the student will be able to practice the scenario able to practice the scenario activity with little input from the activity with little input from the CFI. The PT with coaching and/or CFI. The PT with coaching and/or assistance from the CFI will assistance from the CFI will quickly correct minor deviations quickly correct minor deviations and errors identified by the CFI.and errors identified by the CFI.

Perform

Perform Perform - - at the completion of the at the completion of the scenario, the PT will be able to perform scenario, the PT will be able to perform the activity without assistance from the the activity without assistance from the CFI. Errors and deviations will be CFI. Errors and deviations will be identified and corrected by the PT in an identified and corrected by the PT in an expeditious manner. At no time will the expeditious manner. At no time will the successful completion of the activity be in successful completion of the activity be in doubt. (“doubt. (“Perform” Perform” will be used to signify will be used to signify that the PT is satisfactorily demonstrating that the PT is satisfactorily demonstrating proficiency in traditional piloting and proficiency in traditional piloting and systems operation skills)systems operation skills)

Manage (or) Decide Manage/DecideManage/Decide - - at the completion of the at the completion of the

scenario, the PT will be able to correctly scenario, the PT will be able to correctly gather the most important data available gather the most important data available both within and outside the cockpit, both within and outside the cockpit, identify possible courses of action, identify possible courses of action, evaluate the risk inherent in each course evaluate the risk inherent in each course of action, and make the appropriate of action, and make the appropriate decision. (“decision. (“Manage/Decide”Manage/Decide” will be used will be used to signify that the PT is satisfactorily to signify that the PT is satisfactorily demonstrating good SRM skills). demonstrating good SRM skills).   

Lets examine a maneuver! Describe a crosswind landing!Describe a crosswind landing! Explain the factors that effect a Explain the factors that effect a

crosswind landing!crosswind landing! Practice a crosswind landing!Practice a crosswind landing! Perform a crosswind landing!Perform a crosswind landing!

Private Pilot, Lesson Two

Student performs the exterior pre-flight and Student performs the exterior pre-flight and only misses the static ports. You correct it on only misses the static ports. You correct it on the spot? The remainder of the flight is similar the spot? The remainder of the flight is similar with the student missing small items but with the student missing small items but generally being well prepared. generally being well prepared. What is a traditional grade?What is a traditional grade? What is the students self grade?What is the students self grade? What is an appropriate learner centered What is an appropriate learner centered

grade?grade? What is the overall lesson grade? What is the overall lesson grade?

Instrument Student,Pre-Final Check ride GPS Approach

Student selects a GPS approach but fails to Student selects a GPS approach but fails to activate it. During the resulting confusion the activate it. During the resulting confusion the student executes a missed approach and student executes a missed approach and figures out her mistake. The next approach is figures out her mistake. The next approach is programmed and performed within standards.programmed and performed within standards. What is a traditional grade?What is a traditional grade? What is the students self grade?What is the students self grade? What is appropriate learner centered What is appropriate learner centered

grade(s)?grade(s)? What is the overall lesson grade? What is the overall lesson grade?

Cirrus FactoryTransition Training

A new Cirrus owner consistently mis-programs the autopilot and A new Cirrus owner consistently mis-programs the autopilot and GPS so that it fails to command appropriate turns, climbs, and GPS so that it fails to command appropriate turns, climbs, and descents. The student always wants to take the airplane off descents. The student always wants to take the airplane off autopilot and make turns manually. autopilot and make turns manually.

You attempt to instruct the required programming sequence You attempt to instruct the required programming sequence inflight but the student gets more and more frustrated and inflight but the student gets more and more frustrated and fails to improve. He actually is visibly angry (seemingly at you) fails to improve. He actually is visibly angry (seemingly at you) after landing?after landing? What else do you want to know about the What else do you want to know about the

student and what is the problem?student and what is the problem? How do you handle it?How do you handle it? Whats an appropriate approach to a learner Whats an appropriate approach to a learner

centered grade?centered grade? Whats the overall lesson grade? Whats the overall lesson grade?

IFR Descent and Landing

The student begins the descent checklist late and remains The student begins the descent checklist late and remains behind the aircraft. He swerves and porpoises (barely within behind the aircraft. He swerves and porpoises (barely within limits) down the glide slope and eventually stabilizes the limits) down the glide slope and eventually stabilizes the aircraft at 800 feet….then performs a beautiful landing. aircraft at 800 feet….then performs a beautiful landing.

How do you handle the critique?How do you handle the critique? What is the students grade?What is the students grade? What is an appropriate learner What is an appropriate learner

centered grade?centered grade? What is the overall lesson grade? What is the overall lesson grade?

Private Pilot, Flight Training Device (with visual) Lesson The student gives a perfect pre-flight briefing on The student gives a perfect pre-flight briefing on

engine loss on takeoff including landing on an available engine loss on takeoff including landing on an available road – then at 800 feet you fail the engine – the student road – then at 800 feet you fail the engine – the student performs the checklist perfectly but fails to turn performs the checklist perfectly but fails to turn immediately to the briefed road and lands in a field immediately to the briefed road and lands in a field damaging (simulated) the aircraftdamaging (simulated) the aircraft What is a traditional grade?What is a traditional grade? What is the students grade?What is the students grade? What is an appropriate learner What is an appropriate learner

centered grade?centered grade? What is the overall lesson grade? What is the overall lesson grade?

Learner Centered Grading (at First)

•Try it with the grading scale you normally use•Let the student grade the lesson as a part of the critique•They are usually harder on themselves•Then integrate objective grading

FITS Learner Centered Grading

Professor Frank AyersChairman, Flight DepartmentEmbry Riddle, Daytona Beach

ayersf@erau.edu