OK so I have a question regarding the Instructor Flight Test.
As a general rule I am a huge computer geek, so I have been doing my instructors book in power point. I like the way I can organize my notes, my visuals and what not. So far I have not been using it in briefings, but do you think it would be ok to use it for the flight test because my handwritting sucks.
Any thoughts?
Power Point for Flight Test
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How are you going to teach your students?
I suggest you use your handwriting skills, as when you are instructing full time, with back-to-back students, you don't want to spend time setting up a computer and screen or finding a blank wall and all that, and booting it up... etc etc. That time between students is usually only enough to do one of the following:
1) pee
2) eat something small, like a granola bar or apple
3) call your night-rating student and remind him/her to bring their flashlight
4) quick recheck of the weather to see if the winds will be ok for your student who's supposed to be doing a solo while you're with your next student
If you have more time, say 15 minutes, you want to spend it by doing one of the following:
1) heat up last nights leftovers for lunch
2) run out and grab a coffee from Timmy's
3) longer bathroom break...
4) call the boy/girlfriend and tell them you just got another booking and won't be able to make dinner tonight
Bottom line, it really doesn't matter what you do for the flight test (although be sure that you have an available room well ahead of time to set up and make sure everything works!) but think ahead to what is most practical in real life... and trust me, you'll appreciate every second you can free up. And hey... you've said you've done all your briefings so far the "old fashioned way" (which incidentally still works during power outages!) so why change now? Keep what you are most comfortable with. Just make sure what you write is legible. Doesn't have to be pretty.
Hope this helps, and good luck...
ps it's hard to draw pictures and diagrams on a screen or blank wall, and often that's the best way to help out students with questions.
pps bring your own white-board pens, not too fat-tipped nor too thin-tipped, and practice printing slowly, keeping your letters larger rather than smaller.
I suggest you use your handwriting skills, as when you are instructing full time, with back-to-back students, you don't want to spend time setting up a computer and screen or finding a blank wall and all that, and booting it up... etc etc. That time between students is usually only enough to do one of the following:
1) pee
2) eat something small, like a granola bar or apple
3) call your night-rating student and remind him/her to bring their flashlight
4) quick recheck of the weather to see if the winds will be ok for your student who's supposed to be doing a solo while you're with your next student
If you have more time, say 15 minutes, you want to spend it by doing one of the following:
1) heat up last nights leftovers for lunch
2) run out and grab a coffee from Timmy's
3) longer bathroom break...
4) call the boy/girlfriend and tell them you just got another booking and won't be able to make dinner tonight
Bottom line, it really doesn't matter what you do for the flight test (although be sure that you have an available room well ahead of time to set up and make sure everything works!) but think ahead to what is most practical in real life... and trust me, you'll appreciate every second you can free up. And hey... you've said you've done all your briefings so far the "old fashioned way" (which incidentally still works during power outages!) so why change now? Keep what you are most comfortable with. Just make sure what you write is legible. Doesn't have to be pretty.
Hope this helps, and good luck...
ps it's hard to draw pictures and diagrams on a screen or blank wall, and often that's the best way to help out students with questions.
pps bring your own white-board pens, not too fat-tipped nor too thin-tipped, and practice printing slowly, keeping your letters larger rather than smaller.
Last edited by chipmunk on Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Just be careful because it is fair game for them to say "you have had a power failure" and you will have to show them that you can do the lesson without the use of your computer.
This has happened to some friends even with things like the use of an overhead, or other props like model aircraft.
This has happened to some friends even with things like the use of an overhead, or other props like model aircraft.
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Right Seat Captain
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That'd actually be pretty funny if you were giving a nice presentation on forced approaches via Powerpoint and all of a sudden TC pulls the plug for the projector........"ok you've just had a power failure"
......ahhh shit...ok, um....
- establish control of the marker pens
- pick a suitable whiteboard
- determine best angle for student to see board
- start setting up for forced writing
- change pens every couple minutes to prevent a real pen failure
- don't turn your back to the student
- overshoot presentation if more than 20 minutes
......ahhh shit...ok, um....
- establish control of the marker pens
- pick a suitable whiteboard
- determine best angle for student to see board
- start setting up for forced writing
- change pens every couple minutes to prevent a real pen failure
- don't turn your back to the student
- overshoot presentation if more than 20 minutes
I just laughed my balls off! My friend thought it was pretty funny too and she doesn't even fly. Thanks for the chuckle Ralliart.
And yes, I've heard of people using a computer for the flight test.
But no, it's probably not practical in real life.
And yes, I've heard of people using a computer for the flight test.
But no, it's probably not practical in real life.
"Yeah. There is a problem. You...because you're dangerous. You're dangerous and foolish - and that makes you dangerous! Now, let's cut the...crap. We've got a plane to fly. Let's try to be on time, okay?"
~Val Kilmer, Saturday Night Live
~Val Kilmer, Saturday Night Live
I loved using powerpoint for all of my lessons.
That being said, you've gotta have everything printed up as well in case of technical failures - which happen all the frickin time. I also had it up on overheads so I could still get my nerd on if the computer didn't work.
BTW, the examiner I did my ride with loved the powerpoint.
That being said, you've gotta have everything printed up as well in case of technical failures - which happen all the frickin time. I also had it up on overheads so I could still get my nerd on if the computer didn't work.
BTW, the examiner I did my ride with loved the powerpoint.
Substance, not glitter
Something to always keep in mind is that the examiner (if he's any good) will be looking for substance and not glitter.
If your lesson(s) you present are in a logical order, well thought out etc... you know"aim, motivation, tkt's, MTP 1, MTP 2 etc... then it really doesn't matter. I've seen some pretty amazing lessons done with nothing but a whiteboard, and I've seen some pretty crappy ones done with lots of bells and whistles in powerpoint... lots of pretty pictures but really didn't get the message across. Occasionally people have a tendency to use slick teaching aids as a crutch; they're great when they augment the material being taught but don't really stand up on their own.
In addition, as mentioned before be prepared for surprises such as a "simulated power failure" which is a very legit scenario.
Back when I was a class 1, I highly encouraged my students to use whatever medium they choose because what I really cared about was the material, their logical presentation of the material and how it would be digested by a real student. I suppose I could throw in the old cliche about "you don't care what colour the cat is as long as it catches mice".
I hope you enjoyed your instructor rating and you ride goes well.
If your lesson(s) you present are in a logical order, well thought out etc... you know"aim, motivation, tkt's, MTP 1, MTP 2 etc... then it really doesn't matter. I've seen some pretty amazing lessons done with nothing but a whiteboard, and I've seen some pretty crappy ones done with lots of bells and whistles in powerpoint... lots of pretty pictures but really didn't get the message across. Occasionally people have a tendency to use slick teaching aids as a crutch; they're great when they augment the material being taught but don't really stand up on their own.
In addition, as mentioned before be prepared for surprises such as a "simulated power failure" which is a very legit scenario.
Back when I was a class 1, I highly encouraged my students to use whatever medium they choose because what I really cared about was the material, their logical presentation of the material and how it would be digested by a real student. I suppose I could throw in the old cliche about "you don't care what colour the cat is as long as it catches mice".
I hope you enjoyed your instructor rating and you ride goes well.
Re: Substance, not glitter
As a person who has trained many instructors, and now has the job of examining them...Luscombe wrote:Something to always keep in mind is that the examiner (if he's any good) will be looking for substance and not glitter.
If your lesson(s) you present are in a logical order, well thought out etc... you know"aim, motivation, tkt's, MTP 1, MTP 2 etc... then it really doesn't matter. I've seen some pretty amazing lessons done with nothing but a whiteboard, and I've seen some pretty crappy ones done with lots of bells and whistles in powerpoint... lots of pretty pictures but really didn't get the message across. Occasionally people have a tendency to use slick teaching aids as a crutch; they're great when they augment the material being taught but don't really stand up on their own.
In addition, as mentioned before be prepared for surprises such as a "simulated power failure" which is a very legit scenario.
Back when I was a class 1, I highly encouraged my students to use whatever medium they choose because what I really cared about was the material, their logical presentation of the material and how it would be digested by a real student. I suppose I could throw in the old cliche about "you don't care what colour the cat is as long as it catches mice".
I hope you enjoyed your instructor rating and you ride goes well.
Wow! Sounds like a heck of a thing!
I have not had a candidate use this in an Instructor ride (although I did use it myself in my interview with a certain federal agency).
However...
Be sure it is practical... so if you did not have the presintation (or had it go out on you mid-way) that you would be able to complete the requirements.
Having said this, the Flight Instructor flight test is the most subjective of all the flight tests. Know your stuff, and be able to relate it, regardless of your "multimedia technical expertise" and you should be fine.
Good luck!
-Guy
