Freedom to practice

If you were to say to a pupil: "If you were practising now on your own, what would you do?", I wonder what kind of response that might evoke?

From you (the reader of this blog), and your pupil?

It's a good question.  Any question where you have no idea how someone might respond is, generally speaking, a good question.  Because, (never forget the because's), that would naturally mean what is about to happen is more aligned to how your pupil feels, rather than how you think.  It sounds simple, it might even sound condescending to some, but it is sound.

Let's take another one. Your pupil is progressing along, you take them someplace particular, they mess up, you take them there again, and then you wonder 10 mins, 1 hour, one day, one week or 2 weeks later, what would be the benefit of going back there again.

How is it best to practice?

Let's take the first example.

It helps them think.  It gives the opportunity to think about how they would like to practice.... which is no mean thing.   By all means, tell them about useful techniques, but once you have taken the time and trouble to explain a method, let them go.  Think of fishing reels when the fish bites and moves off.   Let them go.

Many instructors, at the time of the initial bite, over-react, in their quest to help.  It is not helpful; it is not. You might not believe me, but it is not.  Your disbelief is because you do not trust me as a driving instructor trainer.  In much the same way as a pupil will not believe you as a driving instructor.  Get used to that feeling; it is coming your way if you are a PDI.

I have videos that I show my customers that prove this point.

Forcing a pupil to practice in a particular manner, is not professional advice.  Why?  Because what suits you, does not necessarily suit another.  If you have not embraced that concept yet, do, it will serve you and your business very well.

The second example.

Many driving instructors fall into the trap of thinking that when a pupil fails a particular goal, they go straight back, revisit it, and then when the pupil achieves the goal, our job is done.  Not so.

Take care, my readers.  Honestly, take care.  There are a finite number of "traps" to fall into within the area of any given driving test centre.  It is so easy to become 'test-centric' in our thinking; teach pupils how to overcome particular challenges on driving test routes.

I've said it many times before on this blog, and the fact remains true.  Driving skills is what assists pupils, not learning driving test routes.  When the skills are sufficiently good, it matters not where your pupil goes to test.  If you have any doubts about this assertion, take a look at my driving school blog, and the truth will be more than apparent.