What makes a good driving lesson?

The answer to this question will differ between all of us.  An elderly African gentleman who started to learn to drive with me this week summed it up very nicely:

“How are you getting on Jo, how are you finding this?”

“Oh yes Tom, I like it very much….. my heart is much lighter”

As Jo is demonstrating here, a good driving lesson means different things to different people.

An effective “learning environment” has a delicate blend of essential ingredients.  The environment can include physical things like if the car is clean, how good the vision is from the drivers seat, whether you “feel” safe.  The preferred style in which the “transfer of learning” takes place includes physical and mental elements and is unique to all pupils.  For example, considering how often questions are used to test understanding, and the depth to the question will vary in benefit between pupils.  The manner in which content is explained by way of demonstration, graphics, and the choice of words that tap into a pupils psyche will help the message to resonate.

But by far the greatest factor to consider when thinking of the learning environment is what the pupil brings in the way of beliefs, experience, attitude, motivation, barriers and commitment – and they are purely mental factors.  Ignore these factors as a driving instructor and you will not only be doing your customer a disservice but you will directly limit the potential for job satisfaction.  I could be a top class driver, with knowledge in abundance but if I fail to tap into the mind of my pupil, effective learning will be limited.  In my experience, it matters not how anyone would care to categorise pupils – in terms of IQ, emotional intelligence, learning difficulties or disability; what matters is how willing and able the driving instructor is to adapt.

And given the fact that driving instructors are being paid to provide 1:1 tuition, are they not duty bound to “adapt”?  So if you have been struggling to have a good driving lesson for some time, my advice would be to stop doubting yourself, and go and find someone who can tap in to your potential more effectively, because potential, you undoubtedly have.

BIG TOM Driving School Intensive Driving Course in Bourne 01778 309773