Assistance for Candidates and Assessors
Canoe SA through the Education and Safety Technical Committee has brought assessors together to attempt to ensure there are uniform standards for assessment. Assessors meet about once every 6 months to discuss issues, update their knowledge and review the operation of procedures.
Some of the procedures outlined below are different to the documentation on AC Award Scheme documents. In particular candidates for assessment should note that they are required to provide their assessment project documentation to the assessor at least 10 days prior to the practical assessment. This conflicts with the Assessment Project documentation which states "You have six weeks from the conclusion of your practical assessment to submit your project and log book."
Candidates may ask for a "mentor" to assist them through the process. The mentor is the person to go to to get an answer to the question "What do I do next?"
When a candidate is ready for assessment (with the appropriate Assessment Project completed) they should ring Canoe SA (T – 08 8240 3294) to have an assessor from the assessment panel asigned to carry out their assessment.
Pre-amble: It is important to distinguish the role and place of the ‘Project’ and the ‘Assessment’.
The Project is:
- a task set for those that complete the Flatwater Instructor Induction. (such as by attending both the Flatwater Lifeguard and Flatwater Skills courses)
- a formative task, where candidates are provided feedback on their ability to construct a session plan.
Project notes:
- The Session Plan, along with other relevant teaching assessment paperwork (log book, risk management plan, float plan if applicable, information for participants, & etc) is to be submitted well before the teaching assessment. This is to allow time for the assessor to read and critically analyse the documentation and provide feedback where appropriate.
- An on-water teaching assessment would not ordinarily proceed until a satisfactory session plan has been submitted. Generally the candidate has a mentor Assessor that can assist with development of skills, but the Assessor may also assist with this if the candidate submits the document within a sufficient time frame.
- Candidates may choose to construct a session plan that can be used for their Teaching Assessment. That is, if the candidate constructs a session plan that matches the setting where they complete their on-water teaching assessment then they do not need to do another session plan.
- The session plan contains clearly stated aims and objectives.
- The sequence, timing, nature of the activities, teaching and learning methodology is appropriate for the group, environment and equipment available.
- Ideally the plan should appear to be an engaging session for the participant, with a focus on maximizing on water time, and integrating theory with practical where possible.
- The session plan includes evidence of implementation of the Risk Management Plan, including implementation of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare policies and procedures.
- Specific environmental factors, including acknowledgement of the specific environmental hazards, teaching sites and positioning of the group are to be acknowledged.
- Candidates are asked to demonstrate knowledge of key specific teaching points for each stroke taught. This may be brief and in point form, and does not need to include all detail.
- In addition to teaching, the session plan contains information regarding activities that allow participants to apply learned skills in either a task, challenge, game or journey.
For your assistance in completing the Flatwater Instructor award click here for a proforma log book
Sea Instructor log book click here