2.9 MEASURING SUCCESS – Erfolgsfaktoren
PLANNING FOR SUCCESS
Success can be measured in a variety of ways; the success of your rider and your own success as an instructor. You need to plan and be organized.
Teaching Strategy – Select a teaching strategy that will best suit the group.
Things to consider: Who are you teaching – youth/adults? What is the rider’s ability – beginner, intermediate, or advanced? What skill are you teaching? Is the location appropriate for the skill?
Teaching Plan – Prepare a teaching plan.
Things to consider: Does your site selection for the skills lesson meet your requirements? Do you have a permit? Did you map out your site design plan? Do you know your skill lesson with keywords? Do you know the common errors and how to give corrections? Do you have a pocket tool book or cue cards?
Communication – Be approachable, direct, and clear.
Things to consider: Learn and use your rider’s names and if needed use name tags. Make eye contact with each rider. Give everyone individual attention. Learn something about each rider.
Show enthusiasm in your voice and body language.
Empathy – Create a positive and respectful learning environment.
Things to consider: Learning new skills can be very frustrating. Do you know how to recognize facial expressions? How will you reduce frustrations? Try not to repeat the same corrections over and over, try different teaching methods. Review static holds, or if needed take a break.
Technical Knowledge – Your riders are coming to you as the expert, be sure you teach within your ability and knowledge.
Things to consider: Your riders have either taken another clinic or watched a skill video online, don’t speak negatively about their previous lessons or Instructors. Do you have the knowledge to teach and perform the skills you teach? Can you analyze, detect, and correct errors with helpful, positive feedback?
FOLLOW-UP
In order to improve your performance as an instructor, you need accurate feedback from your riders. You need to be open to receiving all feedback, both positive and negative. Create a method of collecting this information that allows your rider to be direct. Your riders are most likely to respond to evaluation forms if you distribute and collect them immediately after the lesson.
Examples: online survey, paper survey, phone call, email.
Evaluation Forms – It is important to solicit feedback, allowing you the opportunity to consider those areas of your teaching method, and make any necessary adjustments or improvements to your method or program. Questions should be written in such a way as to make people feel comfortable. You want your questions to be short and direct, about the venue, weather, and the instructor.
Examples: Where did you hear about the clinic? Were your expectations met today? How did you feel about today’s clinic? Would you recommend this clinic to others? What did you like most about the clinic or Instructor? What could we improve?
Phone Calls or E-Mails – A quick call or email is your opportunity to go a step beyond the evaluation form. It is a professional touch that will be appreciated and is good for your image as an instructor and that of the business. You may include information about an upcoming clinic or ask questions arising in the evaluation form.
| PRO TIP: If you have a rider that was injured during your clinic or ride, a follow-up call is one of the best things you can do to prevent a bad outcome/keep that rider happy. If you had a rider that struggled in class or you feel may not have had the best experience, a follow-up call can be very beneficial. |
Self-Evaluation – Time to be honest with yourself, take the time to log your thoughts on the lesson, and be sure to record any specific information regarding an injury. If you prepared a teaching plan, use that to make your comments. Did you follow your plan? What were the positives and what changes or improvements can you make?
Things to consider: Location of the skill lesson, time of day, weather, how many riders, the skill, and the lesson, Were you clear and concise? Did your riders have success? What did I learn?
