Fun and interesting part 3 driving instructor training

Paying attention to how you and your pupils think is a crucial skill for a driving instructor to possess.  There is a fun drill given to PDI's on Part 3 training that explores this fundamental point and helps to trigger some deep reflection.  The act of thinking about how one thinks is called metacognition. 

Providing driving training in a car on a 1:1 basis means that a driving instructor DOES have the opportunity to pay attention to this detail.  Consider it from two points of view:

The instructor's thoughts

Responding to a safety critical incident - the weight placed on preservation of the car compared to the needs of the pupil
Explanations provided for driving techniques - not only how pupils develop them, but why
Progress tracking - responding to a perceived lack of progress, whether this is a driving instructor or pupil issue
Authorising pupils to go to test - perceptions of pressure, attitudes to pass rates

The pupil's thoughts  

Responding to an open question with "I don't know" - possible reasons why this is utilised as a coping mechanism
Adopting the strategy of "trial and error" and the attitude to making mistakes while learning to drive
Responsibility for the learning process and making it effective
Who controls dangers and manages risky situations

Trainees at BIG TOM are invited to "know thy impact" meaning to be mindful of how a driving instructor behaves can affect pupil experiences, safety and learning outcomes.  This subject cuts across all the assessment criteria of the Part 3 test. There are interesting points to cover within "Lesson planning", "Risk management" & "Teaching and learning strategies".