Comments for Instructor / examiner debrief
Issues in general with gaining instructors
The process is very dependent on the current club instructor(s)
The following points are unclear and very dependent on each individuals circumstances
Training on actually how to teach students
Information provided on resources available, from Northern and at a club level
Information provided on procedures - booking through northern region etc
Expectations set on an instructors role in the club, their responsibilities and duties
Development after the SLGA, First aid, intermediate/advanced, radio, IRB, leadership etc
Proposal
Institute a full weekend instructor course to address the points raised above. Prerequisite would be to be an instructor as it is today, would need some way of recognising an instructor who has done this course, northern/senior/advanced, something like that. This rating would need to be refreshed on a regular basis, certain number of candidates presented and attendance at an instructor/examiner workshop.
Finishing school
The finishing school is good but time consuming. Some of my recent candidates said it would be a great pity to see it go as it was a great help in their preparation and confidence, but not all saw the value of it.
I feel that finishing schools could be eliminated or the number of them could be reduced be either:
Students signed off by a northern/senior/advanced instructor (see above) would be exempt from attending a finishing school
and/or
An Examiner (from the local clubs) could perform a 'local finishing school' at a beach convenient to them and then sign the candidates off as ready for examination.
A reduced number of finishing schools could still be run for clubs that meet the above requirements
Both would have the following advantages:
Maintain high level of candidate preparation
Reduce Northern and regional examiners
Incent clubs to maintain their own examiners
Promote the above instructor course if accepted