What you will learn
- Understand how students learn through cognitive theory, perception, and insight.
- Recognize and manage defense mechanisms and abnormal stress reactions.
- Design effective lessons using the four-step teaching process.
- Apply formative and summative assessment techniques with constructive critique.
- Uphold instructor professionalism and safety advocacy responsibilities.
- Integrate risk management principles into every aspect of instruction.
Topics covered
The Learning Process
Thorndike's laws of learning, Bloom's taxonomy, cognitive theory, perception, insight, motivation, and the four levels of learning (rote through correlation).
Human Behavior and Communication
Defense mechanisms (projection, rationalization, denial), Maslow's hierarchy, student emotional reactions, communication barriers, and effective instructor-student interaction.
The Teaching Process
Lesson plan development, training delivery methods (lecture, guided discussion, demonstration-performance), application step, review and evaluation, and syllabus design.
Assessment and Critique
Formative vs. summative assessment, effective oral questioning, written test design, characteristics of effective assessment, and constructive critique techniques.
Instructor Responsibilities
Flight instructor duties beyond teaching, professionalism standards, evaluating student ability, safety advocacy, and managing training pressure.
Risk Management Principles
Risk management process, levels of risk, single-pilot resource management, aeronautical decision-making models, and hazardous attitudes with antidotes.
Prerequisites
- •No specific certificate required — FOI is typically the first instructor test.
- •Basic aviation knowledge helpful but not required.
- •Aviation Instructor's Handbook (FAA-H-8083-9B) recommended as primary reference.