An idea for your teaching toolbox

Vaughan Marsh revives memories of his childhood Etch-a-Sketch toy.

One of my favourite things about running instructor training is seeing the variety of ways in which instructors get a message across or encourage students to practice a new skill. I’m keen to build up a bank of great ideas and will kick the process off with one I saw during a Trainer revalidation in Australia earlier his year. Thanks to Mike Job for showing us the following game which checked many of our skills whilst being a fun exercise.

First Mike set us the task of drawing a Westerly Cardinal top mark with the track on the plotter using the yacht as the pencil. We had to plan the route on a paper chart and the exercise needed to be done without the use of the plotter or GPS. The plotter was set up with the track turned on so it could be checked afterwards but was not visible during the exercise.

The key to the exercise was starting at a known position. Then each change of direction was placed by us at a position that could be established using traditional navigational skills such as transits, back bearings depths etc.

The game can be made as easy or as complicated as you like and you can introduce progression through the week by drawing other shapes or words.

On a sailing course you might stipulate that it must be done under sail, or on a motor boat introduce the complication of a significant beam sea. You can then test planning skills and awareness of the elements prior to and during the exercise. Adding in tide and a course to steer would be needed on most if not all legs.

This exercise could also be planned on a plotter or GPS using waypoints but, when it’s being carried out, the changes of direction would need to be independently verified using traditional navigation techniques.

If you use a particularly fun, unusual or engaging teaching exercise we would love to hear about it and possibly feature it in Wavelength for others to share. Please send your ideas to wavelength@rya.org.uk.

Wavelength January 2019