IFC London Feb 2006

[Rick]

any other people going on this??

Also does anyone know when BSAC send out the info as they took my dosh a while ago!

From what I understand you get course notes etc, reason I want to know is I am busy the 2 weekends prior to it doing other stuff so dont want all the reading to be last minute

[Adrian Kelland]

Rick,

From past experience, the info comes relatively late.

It maybe that the admin people wait untill the last moment for late registrations, then send out all the customised info at the same time.

Hopefully one of the BSAC management team will be along and give the correct reply :)

Adrian

[Mark]

I've just done the IFC in Cardiff, very good course, very happy to have done it.
I received the info about 2 weeks before the course, but this basically just consists of the programme.
There is no need to read up before the course.

Mark

[Rick]

i thought you got the BSAC book 'Teaching in Scuba diving' the way they are doing now with other SDCs?

[Adrian Kelland]

i thought you got the BSAC book 'Teaching in Scuba diving' the way they are doing now with other SDCs?
IIRC, that is givern out on the day - saves heavy postage?

[John Williams]

The IFC is exactly that...a COURSE!

All you need to take with you is an open mind (and all your pool diving kit, including your snorkel!!!)

There are some exercises in planning classroom and underwater lessons - so the equipement to make notes (wet and dry) would be an advantage ...but not required!

When planning/preparing dry lessons coloured pens, card, scissors and sticky-back plastic are always fun things to have with you! (Take your Blue Peter badge if you have one...it always impresses the instructors!)

Seriously - don't worry about reading up for an IFC...everything you need is either provided, in your own pool kit or between your ears!

One sound bit of advice though - don't make any alternative arrangements for the Saturday night! The meal out with the instructors is always a REALLY good do!
(you get to talk about diving and drinking and instruction and drinking and kit configuration and drinking ....and other fun stuff like that!)

HTH

John

[Rick]

One sound bit of advice though - don't make any alternative arrangements for the Saturday night! The meal out with the instructors is always a REALLY good do!
(you get to talk about diving and drinking and instruction and drinking and kit configuration and drinking ....and other fun stuff like that!)

HTH

John

sounds like fun :)

[Helen (AKA Hellvet)]

i'm on the IFC exeter 26th/27th November.
ive just received the pack and it has a brief guide to the programme for the 2 days, start time/end time, lecture content, what to bring, pool sessions, where its held, where to stay, etc, but there's nothing to read beforehand.

i'm told you get everything you need to from the lectures - but the closer it gets the more nervous i get! really looking forward to this - heard lots of good things!

[Dave Sydenham]

Don't be nervous - have fun! :D

[Helen (AKA Hellvet)]

I'm not nervous about the course - really looking forward to it!:D
I'm not even nervous about the theory presentation - i'm really used to doing this from uni.
Its the practical lesson that freaks me out - and again its not even the doing it cos i've led try dives under the supervision of an instructor and my DO, and ive broken down skills into simple steps during this, so i know i really should be fine.
Its just that i hate being watched doing practical skills, or teaching practical skills and it makes me really nervous.:eek: I don't mean by students - thats fine - they know less than me so thats ok(!) but i hate being watched doing something by someone who knows how to teach it better than me. I know i'm there to learn, and they're going to teach me that - but thats just the way i am - i get wound up by practical assessments!!

[Ben Panter]

Don't sweat it about the practical - just remember that they've had their skills assessed themselves before (countless times to get to instructor trainer standard!) and will be anticipating the awkwardness, it affects us all! Just try to be open to new ways of doing what you know how to do and be prepared to share what works for you with other people.
Every course I teach (not ITC yet!) I learn something new... either from the other instructors or from the students.
It'll be fine... :)

[Dave Sydenham]

Yeah, don't worry about it, everyone is in the same boat. On my final observe on the IFC before becoming a fully fledged Instructor Trainer I was being observed by the NDO herself - however the only pressure was the pressure I put upon myself to be honest by wanting to do the best I could. So all my students and myself were all learning and observing each other so I guess what I'm saying is it's the same for all of us - even the Instructors! ;)

Everyone gets nervous but what I usually find on most courses whether they be SDCs, ITS or regular diving courses is that most people get so caught up in whats going on they don't have so much time to focus on being nervous. If you do feel it causing you a problem on the day, mention it to your instructor as perhaps if you do your lesson first then you can relax and get the most out of the others lessons without sitting worrying thinking "me next!!!" Don't worry, we've all done it - ITS instructors are not going to be judgemental on the IFC as you are there to learn. You may even find that you're better than you think you are :D .

It really is great fun.

Cheers!

Dave

[Helen (AKA Hellvet)]

thanks for all the supportiveness guys:cool: - its what everyone always says to me including my DO and TO who are encouraging a bunch of us to do the course.:D

As you just said the only pressure is the pressure you put on yourself - unfortunately i'm very good at this! :rolleyes: I don't generally have a problem actually when doing practical stuff, i just get really nervous! My ex-TO, now chairman is always really surprised when i get wound up before assessments/skills demos because he knows i can do it(he has more confidence than me!), and because he knows i come from a background of exams! Trouble is most of them are written exams so you can always cross it out and start again!

Seriously guys i know ill be fine, but its good to hear that others get like this too!:p

[Dave Sydenham]

How to overcome nerves is covered on the course. The more you do it the easier it becomes...

Everyone really is supportive of one another on these events. I bet you enjoy it when you get there ;)

[Taff Griffiths]

Hi

When I did my IFC I was bricking it as I did not know what to expect I was overseas just before the course so I could not realy get any info on the actual content etc.

When the course started I was relieved as all the course instructors were approachable, friendly and best of all willing to pass on their experience and knowledge.

The IFC is there to get you to the required standard to effectively and most of all safely instruct students.

I ended up learning loads, gained the confidence to teach safely and had a great time to boot!

Enjoy :D

[Andy Wade]

The IFC is exactly that...a COURSE!

All you need to take with you is an open mind (and all your pool diving kit, including your snorkel!!!)

There are some exercises in planning classroom and underwater lessons - so the equipement to make notes (wet and dry) would be an advantage ...but not required!

When planning/preparing dry lessons coloured pens, card, scissors and sticky-back plastic are always fun things to have with you! (Take your Blue Peter badge if you have one...it always impresses the instructors!)

Seriously - don't worry about reading up for an IFC...everything you need is either provided, in your own pool kit or between your ears!

One sound bit of advice though - don't make any alternative arrangements for the Saturday night! The meal out with the instructors is always a REALLY good do!
(you get to talk about diving and drinking and instruction and drinking and kit configuration and drinking ....and other fun stuff like that!)

HTH

John

Going out for a meal with all them old fossils what call themselves instructors?
:eek:
What? Eating and drinking and socialising with them?
:eek:
Surely not?
:eek:
Sheesh, I'd forgotten how frightening the ITS can be...
:D

[John Williams]

Trouble is most of them are written exams so you can always cross it out and start again!


Who says?
There's nothing more reassuring to a student than an instructor who says

"Whoops - we all get it wrong sometimes! Please consider that a demo of how NOT to do it and watch me now as I try to get it right!"

Humour is always a good ice breaker - except maybe at funerals!

Remember that these students actually want to be there - they are your friends ...the people who you want to go diving with just as soon as they finish initial training! (that's almost better than friends!)

Do you ever get this nervous down the pub? Do you ALWAYS get everything right when doing something you enjoy with other friends?

It's only because it's new to you and you feel unsure...just do it as often as you go out with friends and it will soon become just as easy!

Welcome to the wonderful world of diving instruction!

John

[Tony F]

I still consider myself a relative newcomer to diving and especially to putting something back, I did an IFC this year and have only just started filling in for my branch when an instructor can't make his scheduled lesson/lecture.

The IFC was without doubt the best course I've been on to date, it's an excellent example of the BSAC at it's best and fantastic value for money. It taught me a good deal and gave me the confidence to be able to pass my knowledge and experience (although limited) on.

Who says? There's nothing more reassuring to a student than an instructor who says "Whoops - we all get it wrong sometimes! Please consider that a demo of how NOT to do it and watch me now as I try to get it right!"

Humour is always a good ice breaker - except maybe at funerals!

What a good point, the only thing I can maybe disagree with is that well intentioned humour may even be useful at the odd funeral. I'm storing this information away in my locker as I progress.

[Ben Thompson]

Hi Rick,

I'll be at that IFC in London (as an instructor) and it should be fun! We've just finished one this weekend gone, which went really well, and we all had a great time.

If you need any more info on it or a hand closer to the date, give me a yell!

[Helen (AKA Hellvet)]

i'll stop hijacking this thread now and start my own - i promised my course instructors i would!

see my other thread!