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WINTER 2024 VERSION --- MUST COMPLETE BEFORE JAN 5
Module 04 Introduction
Module 04 Introduction
Please watch the following introduction video:
Deck Supervisors
Deck Supervisors
Deck Supervisors play an integral role both from an operational and teaching quality standpoint. All of our Deck Supervisors are extremely experienced staff members that exemplify the core qualities of Oakville Swim Academy.
Although they are in a supervisory role, both this position and the Instructor position have a common goal: to produce the best possible swimming lesson experience!
Staff Portal
Staff Portal
Oakville Swim Academy has made a significant effort to streamline resources and make them as accessible as possible. Recently, much attention has been paid to the Staff Portal. Not only is attendance and Instructor notes located in the Staff Portal, it also offers a centralized location for helpful pieces of information! Oakville Swim Academy is regularly updating this portal with helpful resources such as:
Level details;
Lesson plans;
Video Resource Library;
Payroll information;
Company policies; and
So much more!
Co-Workers
Co-Workers
Swimmers and Swimming Instructors benefit in a variety of ways when Instructors work together and share ideas. A growing body of study suggests a variety of advantages. Let's take a look, shall we?
Assists Novice Instructors
When collaboration is fostered amongst veteran and brand new teachers, research shows that these new teachers feel more confident and supported.
We recognize that for many of you, this is your first instructional job, and the dedication we place on supporting our new instructors is unmatched, and many of our veteran instructors share their wealth of knowledge and experience with our new Instructors. This is fantastic, and we encourage this practice to continue!
Improves Student Success
Simply put: When teachers collaborate and share their ideas, student success rates rise. Now, the research cited refers to academic performance, but the results can easily be applied to our area of instruction: the pool!
Oakville Swim Academy is endowed with 1:1 attention. From small class sizes to shadow shifts, we aspire for our people, staff and students, to be in the best position to succeed.
Higher Quality Instruction & Lesson Consistency
When teachers collaborate, the quality of lessons improves greatly because Instructors, both seasoned and new, are provided with more and higher quality teaching ideas. We refer to this as "growing an instructors' tool kit." The more tools (e.g., lesson and activity ideas, teaching approaches, class management strategies) an Instructor has, the more likely the Instructor can command any level, type of learner, or obstacle.
These are just several of the benefits of teaching collaboration, but what role does it have at Oakville Swim Academy? Well, these findings lead us to recommend two key points:
If your teaching strategy (e.g., activity, lesson structure, type of feedback, etc.) worked, share it!!! Please, please, please share your success with your Deck Supervisor, co-workers; even with Simon! OSA recognizes that there is more than one way to teach a skill and these ideas/suggestions produced by Instructors and Deck Supervisors influence changes in our curriculum and teaching approaches!
If you are running into an obstacle, ask for advice! As mentioned above, being an Instructor at Oakville Swim Academy requires you to be a team player. Both the Deck Supervisor and your fellow co-instructors could recommend a solution that may work! There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for advice when faced with a tough situation (e.g., a hesitant child, particular difficult skill, high energy class).
Learning Activity: 1 Piece of Advice
Learning Activity: 1 Piece of Advice
The saying goes, 'hindsight is 20/20,' right? Take a moment and provide 1 piece of advice you would give to yourself before your first Instruction shift
Simon Peebles
Simon Peebles
Hopefully, you have met, or at least know who Simon Peebles is (he is the non-child in the photo to the left). Simon is our Sr. VP of Organizational Strategy, which is a fancy title for being your go-to person for any questions or concerns that either:
a) Not be answered by your Deck Supervisor; or
b) Sensitive nature
As a current Provincial Trainer with the Lifesaving Society, he can help with teaching, lesson plans, and/or class management.
He can be contacted via his email: Simon@theswimacademy.org or, if it is a complex question, he also offers meetings via Zoom/Skype/Teams (whatever works). If this interests you, shoot him an email and we can arrange something that works.
Supervisor of Deck Operations
Supervisor of Deck Operations
Maya is the Supervisor of Deck Operations here at Oakville Swim Academy and has been working here since 2018! She thoroughly enjoys swimming and believes safety awareness around water is a lifelong skill.
If you have any questions, big or small, please don't ever hesitate to reach out to Maya.
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