Understanding human behavior and effective communication is critical in delivering instruction.
We are basically looking for certain predictable patterns in the way that many people respond and act in certain situations. This does not mean that every person will act the same, but it can explain general ideas in a way that can be especially useful when attempting to teach concepts to a diverse group of people.
All human needs can be thought of as the things that a person requires for normal growth and development. These needs are satisfied in order of importance. Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs is a great outline of human needs and the order in which they can be satisfied:
Explanations of Each Human NeedMotivation is the reason that a person acts or behaves in a certain way. It determines the amount of effort a person will put in to reach their goals.
Motivation, including the motivation to want to become a pilot, can come from various sources. Some people just love airplanes, while others see it as a path to improve their technical skills. Some people simply like to learn new things.
Whatever the case may be, it is important that an instructor understands a learner's motivations and can tailor their instruction to them. Keeping motivation high during training will improve outcomes and keep every interaction fresh.
There is not one single way to motivate all people. Instead, look into incorporating the following ideas into your training:
Methods of Maintaining Motivation Specific to Flight InstructionDefense mechanisms are an unconscious psychological operation that functions to protect a person from anxiety-producing thoughts and feelings related to internal conflicts and outer stressors. These directly go against an instructors ability to properly teach.
Explanations of Each Defense MechanismAnxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness often about something that is going to happen.
Reactions to anxiety can vary, but generally there are a few ways in which people react to stress.
Rapid and exact response within the limits of the experience and training
If an instructor believes a student may be suffering from a serious psychological abnormality, they have a responsibility to refrain from instructing that student.
Additionally, the instructor has the responsibility of assuring that this person does not continue flight training. Possible steps to achieve this goal are:
Effective communication is extremely important in flight instruction, not only to properly transfer information in a way that a learner can understand, but also in minimizing the amount of time wasted during instruction. If endorsements have already been provided, they should be withheld