AI Course/Exam

[Steve Pearson]

I'm off to do my AI Course and exam, anyone got any tips or advice.

[dave sydenham]

I'm off to do my AI Course and exam, anyone got any tips or advice.

Enjoy it!
Keep thinking 'Essential Criteria'
Prepare any lessons you could get asked in advance and laminate your lesson plans. Saves time and pressure on the day.
Work as a team - help each other out.
Concentrate on your strengths rather than worrying too much about your weaknesses.
Sounds obvious but practice, practice, practice... I ran a Search and Recovery Course shortly before mine so was well practiced with making up all types of shotlines, lifts and carrying out underwater tasks.

Best of luck!

Cheers!

Dave
:o)

[Steve Pearson]

:=I'm off to do my AI Course and exam, anyone got any tips or advice.

Enjoy it!
Keep thinking 'Essential Criteria'
Prepare any lessons you could get asked in advance and laminate your lesson plans. Saves time and pressure on the day.
Work as a team - help each other out.
Concentrate on your strengths rather than worrying too much about your weaknesses.
Sounds obvious but practice, practice, practice... I ran a Search and Recovery Course shortly before mine so was well practiced with making up all types of shotlines, lifts and carrying out underwater tasks.

Best of luck!

Cheers!

Dave
:o)

Thanks for the advice Dave

[Steve Plotkin]

:=:=I'm off to do my AI Course and exam, anyone got any tips or advice.

Have A great time and enjoy the event.

I completed mine in Oct. I found the working as a team with your 'buddy' for the day helped both of us out and also was appreciated by the coaching team.

Also if you make a number of errors on the day (I did in a few theory areas) it does not mean a complete washout - do not get dispondent and give up - the examiners want you to pass.

If you start a teaching topic and it starts to go all wrong, stop and tell them that you are restarting - this will be fine.

Learn a number of small teaching topics for the surface intervals, knots, GPS, radio etc you will find these really invaluable.

Above all - have a great time

[Steve Pearson]

:=:=:=I'm off to do my AI Course and exam, anyone got any tips or advice.

Have A great time and enjoy the event.

I completed mine in Oct. I found the working as a team with your 'buddy' for the day helped both of us out and also was appreciated by the coaching team.

Also if you make a number of errors on the day (I did in a few theory areas) it does not mean a complete washout - do not get dispondent and give up - the examiners want you to pass.

If you start a teaching topic and it starts to go all wrong, stop and tell them that you are restarting - this will be fine.

Learn a number of small teaching topics for the surface intervals, knots, GPS, radio etc you will find these really invaluable.

Above all - have a great time

Thanks for the useful tips Steve

[Andy Wade]

:=:=:=:=I'm off to do my AI Course and exam, anyone got any tips or advice.
:=
:=Have A great time and enjoy the event.
:=
:=I completed mine in Oct. I found the working as a team with your 'buddy' for the day helped both of us out and also was appreciated by the coaching team.
:=
:=Also if you make a number of errors on the day (I did in a few theory areas) it does not mean a complete washout - do not get dispondent and give up - the examiners want you to pass.
:=
:=If you start a teaching topic and it starts to go all wrong, stop and tell them that you are restarting - this will be fine.
:=
:=Learn a number of small teaching topics for the surface intervals, knots, GPS, radio etc you will find these really invaluable.
:=
:=Above all - have a great time

Thanks for the useful tips Steve

Yes, the main thing is to enjoy yourself, it's not just about being 'word perfect', they are looking for people who are capable _and_ enthusiastic too. If you prepare everything you can beforehand, and use every available opportunity to teach, you'll do fine.
The examiners really do want you to pass. Yes really.
If you're enjoying yourself then you'll give yourself the best opportunity to 'shine' on the day.
If you're going to learn some knots, make sure you know what they are used for, it 'progresses' the teaching of the knots.
Another good one is explaining the basics of position fixing by transit lines, you can usually see something that lines up from the boat.
Use your thumbs to show how it's better to have the two 'permanent conspicuous objects' as far apart as possible, line your thumbs up (with one eye closed), then use your other eye to see your thumbs move from being in line with each other, do this with your thumbs as far apart as possible, then again with them close together, see how far they move out of line. You'll see that it makes a big difference to the accuracy of the transit if the objects used are as far apart as possible. It's a great little demo, which requires no teaching aids other than your thumbs. Now transpose this to some 'permanent conspicuous objects' on shore to complete the teaching exercise.
It takes about 5 minutes with a bit of practice beforehand.

generally, talk to the other candidates and do help one another, it makes for a better working partnership and a happier working environment.
I know you probably won't do this anyway, but the worst thing you can ever do is try to score points off one another. I have seen it happen and no-one gained.

[Steve Pearson]

:=:=:=:=:=I'm off to do my AI Course and exam, anyone got any tips or advice.
:=:=
:=:=Have A great time and enjoy the event.
:=:=
:=:=I completed mine in Oct. I found the working as a team with your 'buddy' for the day helped both of us out and also was appreciated by the coaching team.
:=:=
:=:=Also if you make a number of errors on the day (I did in a few theory areas) it does not mean a complete washout - do not get dispondent and give up - the examiners want you to pass.
:=:=
:=:=If you start a teaching topic and it starts to go all wrong, stop and tell them that you are restarting - this will be fine.
:=:=
:=:=Learn a number of small teaching topics for the surface intervals, knots, GPS, radio etc you will find these really invaluable.
:=:=
:=:=Above all - have a great time
:=
:=Thanks for the useful tips Steve

Yes, the main thing is to enjoy yourself, it's not just about being 'word perfect', they are looking for people who are capable _and_ enthusiastic too. If you prepare everything you can beforehand, and use every available opportunity to teach, you'll do fine.
The examiners really do want you to pass. Yes really.
If you're enjoying yourself then you'll give yourself the best opportunity to 'shine' on the day.
If you're going to learn some knots, make sure you know what they are used for, it 'progresses' the teaching of the knots.
Another good one is explaining the basics of position fixing by transit lines, you can usually see something that lines up from the boat.
Use your thumbs to show how it's better to have the two 'permanent conspicuous objects' as far apart as possible, line your thumbs up (with one eye closed), then use your other eye to see your thumbs move from being in line with each other, do this with your thumbs as far apart as possible, then again with them close together, see how far they move out of line. You'll see that it makes a big difference to the accuracy of the transit if the objects used are as far apart as possible. It's a great little demo, which requires no teaching aids other than your thumbs. Now transpose this to some 'permanent conspicuous objects' on shore to complete the teaching exercise.
It takes about 5 minutes with a bit of practice beforehand.

generally, talk to the other candidates and do help one another, it makes for a better working partnership and a happier working environment.
I know you probably won't do this anyway, but the worst thing you can ever do is try to score points off one another. I have seen it happen and no-one gained.

Thanks Andy,

Could you explain in a bit more detail the exercise with the thumbs I couldn't quite understand it

[Ron Evans]

I'm a candidate on the course with you. Don't worry about the course - we are going for several days diving together in the warm sun and sea - does it matter if we pass or fail if we have a good time?

Ron

[Dave Sydenham]

I'm a candidate on the course with you. Don't worry about the course - we are going for several days diving together in the warm sun and sea - does it matter if we pass or fail if we have a good time?

Ron


Yes, I did mine at Cumbrae too!! ;o)

Cheers!

Dave

[Steve Pearson]

I'm a candidate on the course with you. Don't worry about the course - we are going for several days diving together in the warm sun and sea - does it matter if we pass or fail if we have a good time?

Ron

Hi Ron,

Look forward to seeing you there. I passed on some info for you to Mike, for your lectures, hopefully it should be of some use

Steve

[Andy Wade]

Could you explain in a bit more detail the exercise with the thumbs I couldn't quite understand it.



OK, try this link on Dive Instruct: