Private Pilot Flight Training and Instruction Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM Effective Criticism Requirements 1. Student/instructor awareness of what is being done wrong 2. Instructor analysis of why 3. Instructor suggests a corrective program 4. Student acceptance of the finding It was easy to determine the previous student's problem by observing his tension on the yoke. This was not a problem arising from knowledge or lack of it. The problem was in the training program itself. The student just needed to fly more frequently. I demonstrated a complete landing circuit with emphasis on the lightness of my yoke touch. The next student approach was still a very tense process. The best advice is wasted if not understood or accepted. An emotional problem is not well or easily resolved by intellectual solutions. Criticism should not be directed toward embarrassment, anxiety and fear. These are typical emotions at various stages of flight training. They do and are expected to interfere with learning, safety and enjoyment. Expectations of success, driven by ego, overlie the situation and the ability to exercise good judgment deteriorates. The active cockpit with the student in control is not the time nor place to give instruction. However, since I always use a tape recorder, I will be making running comments during most flight. It is my expectation that the student will play the tapes back and be able to associate what was happening with my comments. Ideally an over the shoulder video would be far better. I do not expect a student response. There is good reason not to make more than four consecutive landings in the same configuration and pattern. I have found it important to vary from right to left patterns, the use of flaps, power, and radio work. I make a practice of always requesting the option while in the pattern. Traffic permitting this means we can do a touch and go, stop and go, landing and taxi back, or go-around. For, as yet undetermined reasons, people learn differently. While most learning is visually, there are those who learn by hearing proportionately much better than do others. Learning by doing is still another preferred method by others. Learning to fly requires a judicious mix of all three. The good instructor uses videos, tapes and flying in combination adjusted to the needs of the student. Reading is the most economical teaching/learning method but some do not adapt to self-instruction well. Regardless of the student's learning preference, you should get the student to get the information transformed into their own words as soon as possible. Often several revisions are needed as with checklists. I like to have students walk patterns and maneuvers on the ground prior to flying. Some people have more difficulty doing this than others. You never know until you try. I insist that all of my students take a few hours of aerobatics and a couple of sailplane flights so that they can realize the options that exist when control or engine power becomes a problem. Written by Gene Whitt Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM