Slow Learner

[Stewart]

Anyone got any skills tips for teaching slow learners ?

I am looking after a trainee who has done around 7/8 pool sessions but she is still struggling to get to grips with basic skills. I am mimicking the skills slowly and clearly but she still seems to struggle. She lacks confidence and on occasions 'goes to pieces'.

I see her as a challenge and I am determined to 'turn her around'. Can anyone suggest an approach/technique which worked for them ?

Stewart (DL/ADI)

[Gareth]

Stewart

Your slow learner's problems appear from what you say to relate to confidence.

It may be best to teach a single skill, then actually do some 'diving' in the pool i.e. swimming, then repeat the skill periodically during the session.

Basically building confidence, & ensuring that your student is enjoying the experience but no being overwelmed with the skills.
Then repeat the same skill the following week before progressing to another skill.

Ultimately you do have to accept that some are not suited to diving!
Remember that ultimately this individual has to be self sufficent,or at least capable of buddying another diver!

That said, it is often just a matter of confidence, which can be built with practice.

Gareth

[JimW]

Hi Stewart,

Sounds like your perseverence and commitment is exactly what she needs.:)

I would suggest that the first thing to do is to forget trying to do things quickly and move at a pace she is comfortable with. You will find that running a pool session and allowing her to simply do just what she wants to do will help you identify the skills she is comfortable with (because she will start by practicing them) and then she will identify for herself which skill she wants to work on next because once she gets bored she will start to work on the more difficult ones for her.

Introducing some simple games might help as well but the key thing is not to keep on forcing her to repeat training she is not confortable with before she is ready for the challenge. (I nearly gave up diving on my second pool session because I spent 1 hour 50 minutes trying to clear my new mask (never was able to clear that mask!!:mad: ))

Good posting though

Regards,
Jim:cool:

[Tony F]

It may be best to teach a single skill, then actually do some 'diving' in the pool i.e. swimming, then repeat the skill periodically during the session.

Basically building confidence, & ensuring that your student is enjoying the experience but no being overwelmed with the skills. Then repeat the same skill the following week before progressing to another skill.

Great advice above and let me point out I'm no expert but IMVHO .......

I would give her plenty of reassurance with phrases like:

'sometimes the best divers learn slowly'
'it really doesn't matter how long we take to get this sorted but I'm convinced you'll get there'
'please don't worry about not getting every skill first time, it doesn't matter when you get them so long as you do before we move on, I'll not rush you it's fine'.
'it isn't a race'

Also I'd consider screwing the odd skill up myself to put her at ease, as a proficient diver you may appear intimidating to her.

Of course you may have already tried these ideas as clearly you're putting some effort into helping her over the problem, hope the work pays off :)

[magentaseas]

[QUOTE=JimW]Hi Stewart,

Introducing some simple games might help as well but the key thing is not to keep on forcing her to repeat training she is not confortable with before she is ready for the challenge.


Have you tried playing with an underwater frisbee, they're good fun and may take her mind off skills for a bit and help her relax.
Playing with them in the deep end of the pool can help with buoyancy skills and the trainees dont realise theyre learning, it also improves confidence.
Good luck

sharon

[Woz]

Anyone got any skills tips for teaching slow learners ?

I am looking after a trainee who has done around 7/8 pool sessions but she is still struggling to get to grips with basic skills. I am mimicking the skills slowly and clearly but she still seems to struggle. She lacks confidence and on occasions 'goes to pieces'.

I see her as a challenge and I am determined to 'turn her around'. Can anyone suggest an approach/technique which worked for them ?

Stewart (DL/ADI)A good hard slap.

But seriously- anything in particular she is having difficulty with? Mask clearing is usually the sticking point for alot but using a few simple techniques you can usually get it within a few goes.

[JimW]

http://www.bsac.org/shop/images/aquadisc.jpg
http://www.bsac.org/shop/accs.htm

:cool:

[PeteM]

http://www.bsac.org/shop/images/aquadisc.jpg
http://www.bsac.org/shop/accs.htm

:cool:

I've used one of these to help build confidence a few times. It works well, teaches confidence, mobility, bouyancy.

Also takes thier mind off things so they relax, so they stop over breathing, so their bouyancy gets better, then thier confidence builds.

[Chris Cherrington]

I see her as a challenge ..

This bit makes me wonder if you are approaching it right.

If this person is nervous (as seems likely) your "job" is reassurance and patience. They are not a "challenge". Breathing underwater is a pretty stupid thing to do. 4 million years of evolution have taught us not to. Only an idiot would ever think about it. Relying on some equipment is madness...

Try to build a positive feedback loop that reassures this person they can rely on the equipment. Go slowly and allow them to fail and to build their own personal experience.

The "challenge" IMHO is to prove to this person that they are capable of anything with your help. If they cant do it YOU have failed.

Stick at it, when it all comes together (as you and I know it will eventually) the person will be all the bigger for their experience and you will be a far better educator. (Remember "educator" dogs are "trained" people educated)

All the best with it.

Chris

[Alan Ewart]

I think it's all been said really.


It's about patience, praise, small steps, emphasis on success and ignoring any failure.

If you get stressed about the lack of progress then the student will eventually self destruct.

We have one (advanced Diver) in our club who suffered a drowning accident as a kid. Can you imagine the instructors patience to overcome that one?

Personally I dont think 7 or 8 pool sessions are anything to worry about.

Do you have access to anywhere like swanage pier? If there arwe some fishies and stuff to gaze at it may take her mind off things.

I would probably enoucourage the student to swim around for 20 mins or so before attempting any skills

[Mike Halligan]

Hi Stewart,

A good one, and plenty of sound advice already.

I am looking after a trainee who has done around 7/8 pool sessions but she is still struggling to get to grips with basic skills. I am mimicking the skills slowly and clearly but she still seems to struggle. She lacks confidence and on occasions 'goes to pieces'.

I'm also a slow learner. That may be because I have always insisted "But there must be a reason", and that's not easy to do underwater! (More likely, I'm simply thick.) Even so, our prescribed pool sessions can be difficult to cram into an hour. Therefore, some of her preparation and briefing might have been hurried. You don't say how many of the pool sessions have been 1:1.

I see her as a challenge and I am determined to 'turn her around'. Can anyone suggest an approach/technique which worked for them ?

She's survived 7/8 pool sessions, so now would be a good time to ask her what she feels is going well and what is less satisfying for her. Perhaps you might treat it as a progress review and seek her feedback on what teaching was good and what was less effective from her perspective. I remember well how tedious it was to have to prove oneself every time one dragged on the drysuit. (I don't need the "Am I having fun yet?" tee-shirt, it is etched onto my psyche.)

There's room for us all to improve and our students are often our best critics, if we'd only listen. In your position, I might consider (not discuss) what competency I am unhappy with, then find a way of developing this within positive re-inforcement of good stuff.

Hope this helps,
Mike

[iain aitchison]

Hi Stewart,

progression - in tiniest playful logical steps is the simple method.

The reality is that a more simple starting point after a relaxing start might help.

I have often found too that with females it can help enormously if there are just females in the group or a female instructor takes them for the lesson. Generally then the learning process fits the female logic structure better.

I think generally females find the total reliance on the kit difficult to accept so the skills which are of interest are sometimes the ones to allows less dependancy on it - ie to what to do when it fails. Nobody wants to be helpless for themselves or their partner. This instinct is stronger in females.

Remember UW is UW so keep it well shallow at the beginning - it all counts to build confidence. Breathing of the DV looking down is effectively UW.

Neutral bouyancy (breathing, swimming attidude and BCD) will help to bring out the sense of freedom of being UW. I have had students where this was the key and they went on to great things.

Critical is that the person concerned wants to dive for themselves - if they do then the skills will come. Often female partners are bullied into learning to dive because their male partner has decided both want to learn to dive. Often the guys think they know it all, and the girls really do know it but cannot see that they know it.

If you have a female instructor or good female ADI in the club, try that route on a 1:1 session in the shallower part of the pool.

Being warm helps too - I find I concentrate much better since I got a decent pool suit. Nobody looks forward to a shiver in a winter pool session.

regards
Iain

[Nick Kay]

I have often found too that with females it can help enormously if there are just females in the group or a female instructor takes them for the lesson. Generally then the learning process fits the female logic structure better.
You may also find the same issues with me where there is "an age gap". Some (older) men find it difficult to relate to "younger" instructors and the greater the age gap, the greater the problem(s)
So, try & find older instructors...

[Chris aka divingchef]

All good advice, all I can add is that if she wants to do it, help her achive it.
My last student took about a year, but now is a very competent diver.
Keep at it, perserverance does pay off in the end.
Best wishes
Chris:)

[Tim Ahern]

Hi.

All of the advice is very good and useful. I have found that a few bad/poor experiences tend to block any forward improvement.

I would take each skill and break it down to each small step, get the student to only practise each small step until comfortable. Then after 5 to 10 minutes stop go for a simple swim around, come back to it. Do it as dry runs then kneeling in shallow water.

Once a step is learnt start with it the next session, always go at the students pace, let them ask questions about it.

It does take a lot longer but it works and more importantly the student can see it working.

Keep with it the sense of helping someone over come their difficulties is the best pay back.

[Stewart]

Thanks everybody for their suggestions regarding my "slow learner" topic posted last week. The various contributions were most appreciated.

Like many people stated and as preached in the IFC, everything needs to be delivered in SMALL CHUNK SIZE BITES in a PROGRESSIVE MANNER.

I will let you all know how things go - watch this space for updates !!

Stewart
BSAC DL/ADI

[Richie N]

Anyone got any skills tips for teaching slow learners ?

I am looking after a trainee who has done around 7/8 pool sessions but she is still struggling to get to grips with basic skills. I am mimicking the skills slowly and clearly but she still seems to struggle. She lacks confidence and on occasions 'goes to pieces'.

I see her as a challenge and I am determined to 'turn her around'. Can anyone suggest an approach/technique which worked for them ?

Stewart (DL/ADI)

Hi Stewart, I assume the trainee is being taught on a one-to-one basis, if not then I would highly recommend seperating her away from any 'supernovices' you may have in her group. This can be a real bind for any struggling trainee who is lacking confidence.

You didn't mention what skills she is particularly struggling with but whatever they may be, focus on one aspect of that skill. Then do what they hammered into your Instructor training (IFC ?), teach the skill, in small pieces, broken down into bite size chunks, if you will. Do not move on before the 'small piece or step' has been achieved. Its often more frustrating for an instructor than it is for the student, so you may have to seriously bite your tongue if the pace seems slow.

If time dictates, allow some scope for the student to have a pootle around, just to chill out - under supervision of course. This helps take the heat out of the lesson. Then maybe cover the 'broken down' learned skill again, maybe progressing a little.

For the student 7 or 8 weeks into the course (OD ?) does not seem extremly bad, but remember it could well be the instructor that is not delivering - im in no way casting blame (honest), but I remember on several pupils whereby I addressed the problem by not being shy and seeking in-water practical advice from others that teach within the branch.

Hope this helps - good luck.
Rich [APOLOGIES FOR REPEATING AN EARLIER RETURN - GREAT MINDS THINKING ALIKE??]

[Lisa (BB)]

Stewart -

You haven't said is its all or just some of the basic skills she's stuck on?

We had one trainee who after a similar amount of pool sessions still couldn't clear her mask. A friend (a singer - not a diver!) suggested that we got the trainee to put her tongue to the roof of her mouth as she was about to exhale thru her nose to clear the mask - it works!! (Honest - something about not being able to breath thru your mouth when you do that!). Had another who couldn't clear a partial flood - found out that his first instr had told him he "had" to have an inch of water in the mask for a partial flood (:confused: - don't ask!) - told him it didn't matter - he was fine! - so it may be a case of just changing some of the things you've done slightly.

Hope the novel helps!! :D

Lisa

[R.Burgess]

Sometimes it's not your teaching ability or your demonstrations but nerves and anxiety on the part of the student that hinders their progress. I'm not overly keen on pool training because it bares little comparison with diving as a fully equipped diver. I have found a simple relaxation exercise sometimes helps before a lesson begins. Trainee floating on back with jacket inflated is told to breath slowly and deeply. Tell them to let their body relax and go limp, slowly mention each part of the body telling them to fell the part and relax the muscles as you work slowly to the head.

[majo]

what has worked well for one of our instructors is just doing bouyance and bouyance games.

once thats done skills are easy to tack on

[Ant Slegg]

First I have to say I'm impressed - if she's struggling but still at it after 7 or 8 lessons she has all the determination that she needs.

I've found in the past that some people need a target for diving. If you have access to a local sea aquarium why not set up a trip to it (for everyone not just the one Trainee) and let them see what they can see when they dive in the UK. As an alternative have a video/photo evening of your branches photographic efforts. Avoid setting a target by which they have to be qualified (i.e. a dive trip or holiday) as that only loads up the pressure.

Make sure that they are aware that they are making progress. My branch has some spreadsheets that we issue that mean that part of a lesson can be signed off (based on the Instructor Manual). When a lesson is completed get the QRB signed up too. It's amazing what a little ink on paper can do for people's confidence.

Finally make sure that you aren't setting your own standards too high. I've dealt with divers who are carrying cards from other agencies but who's skills don't meet what I consider the BS-ACs requirements but were apparently satifactory for commercial purposes (makes the SALT process somewhat difficult). Don't expect, for instance, a Trainee to mask clear one handed in 2 seconds.


Ant

[Roz]

You've had a plethora of top notch advice, and I hope something works for you, as your student is very determined.

One tip that I have found useful is that if you can do the skill on dry land, then practice it there several times to build confidence and 'muscle memory'. Make it like a game if you can. When I teach ascents and descents I get my students to dance around, almost Macarena style, going through the motions of what they need to do when they are in the water. We make it fun and a joke and it works.

It's normal that when you add water to a student all sensible ideas leave their heads. By working through skills several times on dry land, when you do go into the pool, the muscle memory kicks in, they relax and things come together.

You've had loads of good tips, I think one of the most valuable is to leave a skill if it is going pearshaped and do something completely different. Keeping on with a skill when it is going bad is sure to guarantee tears before bedtime from either you or the student.

Another tip is good communication. I've got two hand signs I teach my students. One is "blonde", where they tug their fringe/front of their hair, and the other one is "fluffy bunny". (They both mean the same thing. 'I have no idea what is going on or what I am meant to be doing'). For Fluffy Bunny put two fingers up, then bend them like rabbits ears, as if making shadow bunnies. Then you just bounce your hand up and down, as though the bunny is bounding through the grass. I find both of these are invaluable. If I ask a student to do a skill and they just go blank, and can't remember or want a demonstration again, then they just give me "blonde" or "fluffy bunny". We both know they are unsure of what they are meant to be doing, and it makes everyone smile, keeps the situation light and fun, and saves valuable pool time, because you are not both staring at each other wondering what is going to happen next.

Everyone has epics with skills when they are learning. I had a complete cow with mask remove/replace/clear.

Finally not trying to be negative, but there are some people who really should not be diving. It's not for them. I've seen too many people learn to dive for their boyfriend/girlfriend/dad/cats uncle and they've hated it. When I've discovered this I've said, "you have two options. Learn to dive for you, no one else, but you, or try something different". Some have given up and been happy doing so, with others going on to learn to dive for themselves and discovered they love it. No matter how much you love it, diving is not for everyone though.

Good luck with your student and I hope this helps.