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How often do you test your clients?
Quite often the word 'test' sends adult learners running for cover. It conjures up so many bad experiences because people take a test personally and if they fail the test they believe it means they are a failure. A valid test - let's change the wording to an assessment - is a useful tool to help you check what has been learned so far. However, for the assessment to be valid and robust, the learner driver has to be truly independent. As driving instructors, we need to keep quiet and recognise that, if we cannot do this, we need to stop the assessment and re-think our training because they were not ready to be assessed. It's worth bearing in mind that assessments can be simple and can also be used informally. You might say to your pupil, 'Have a go on your own'. If you do this, it is essential that you are measuring the performance against the goals set for the training session and not DVSA Test criteria. There is a time and place for that - consider whether a formal assessment is necessary. 1. Assess the skill - let them show what they have learnt independently. 2. Assess the knowledge - ask them to explain what they are doing and why they are doing it. 3. Practise in the real world - assessments should be challenging. This also helps examine any feelings they may have about the situation. If it is not challenging enough try to create a scenario. When people are learning we, as trainers, need to assess their learning and understanding. This does not mean when we assess them they are being assessed against the DVSA test standard - it means they are being assessed against what they have learnt. We are looking to transfer their learning from the short term memory into the longer term memory - this is the point of the recap at the beginning of the lesson to help the pupil recall the key points from the previous lesson that are relevant to today. When creating an assessment remember these points: 1. The word test can often create tension and stress. Regular testing will help your learner cope with stressful situations and help them find strategies to cope. You can change the word test, to assess or let's find out what you have learned so far. 2. Testing is a natural part of learning, make your test fun and challenging. 3. Testing helps you judge your training and consolidates learning. 4. Giving feedback on the testing is essential, remember to get their feedback first. 5. Testing should happen frequently throughout the training to make sure that learning has taken place. 6. The test should give you and them an insight into their skill, their thinking and their feelings. 7. Have a checklist of what is being tested, as situations could arise that are not relevant to the learning that is being tested. You and the learner need to be clear on what is being tested. Tests need only last a few minutes. 8. Make sure that the person does not feel judged, they should feel engaged and be successful. 9. Testing is all about the learning that has taken place - it is not a straightforward pass or fail. Look for what went well, consider what didn't go so well and seek ways to make improvements. 10. In a straightforward way, testing whether the learner has learnt something tests your training. Kind regards Graham From Kent to Glasgow and all points in between these are just a sample of our latest reviews.
If you would like to add a review please follow this link Jennifer phipps Ashford 21 Sept 2016 I have recently completed and passed my ADI training which I can't thank Graham and Tri coaching team enough for. They have taken me through from scratch with excellent training, terrific support and assistance throughout the course. Dorian West London 16 Aug 2016 I done a standard check test course about two years ago now and was well impressed with what I learnt from Graham and Susan. I went on to do the Btec4 in driver development, still impressed, so I didn't stop there, went on to do train the trainer course. I only have good things to say, as I learnt so much from each course that I did I definitely got value for money. It helped me put my prices up Read More Phil Knight Sunderland 28 Jul 2016 I have studied with Tri-coaching and now work with/for them. The training I have received and the continuous support and training I get from them have transformed the way I work, made me so much better at my job, and allowed me to deliver client centered learning to anyone I train. On my Standards Check I got 49 out of 51, all thanks to Tri-Coaching. Suzie Cokayne Derby 14 May 2016 I can't recommend the Tri-Coaching partnership highly enough. My life has literally transformed into what I always wanted it to be but had no idea how to achieve it. I had already been an ADI for 17 years when I did my first training with them at which point the clouds parted and I never looked back. Susan and Graham really are the best of the best. Invest in yourself and do 1 of their courses, Read More Ali shahraki Birmingham 14 May 2016 The best course I ever been to. Thanks guys. Keep up the good work. Level 4 coaching. Kenny Mcilvaney Hamilton 5 May 2016 found Tri-Coaching partnership through Hermes report and looking for coaching training. Talked to ask researched former Adi's who completed the B-Tech course who recommended it to me. Found the course challenging and insightful I am still learning and adapting my lessons on a daily basis even though I completed the course over a year ago. I feel this course has given me the inspiration and Read More Paula Carter Cambridge 3 May 2016 I did BTEC3 with Tri Coaching Partnership and gained invaluable knowledge and advice whilst working with great coach who encouraged, pushed us to think out of the box and who made us feel confident in using different methods with great results. Now looking forward to studying for BTEC4 with them. Terry Leferi Hitchin 29 Apr 2016 I can't say enough great things about Tri Coaching Partnership. The training I have taken with them has transformed my business. You have two of the most respected and knowledgeable trainers in the industry at the helm to help and support you. The courses on offer are second to none and perhaps more importantly you can trust them to deliver quality training every time. Stop looking for someone Read More Kevin Field Leighton Buzzard 28 Apr 2016 A great training provider. So good I became one of their trainers. The level of support and encouragement for me to be able to achieve my goals was simply the best. Chris Watkinson London 25 Apr 2016 Excellent training services, not cheap, but defo the best around by miles!!, Don't waste your time and money on inferior products, it only get what you pay for in life and this training establishment definitely is the best. Tony Benton Goole 24 Apr 2016 Quality training. The Tri-Coaching's BTEC 4 really is the gold standard for client centred learning in the driving instructor training sector. Completing it has taken my business to new levels, with much greater job satisfaction. Stewart Lochrie Glasgow 24 Apr 2016 Quite simply, unique in the driver training industry. Highly recommended. Lucy West Brighton 7 Jan 2016 Great training course for becoming a driving instructor with fantastic support. Being successful will mean different things to us all. However, it might be fair to assume there are a few givens, possibly including earning enough money and having plenty of work.
Whilst at the moment the latter may probably be easier given the current climate, the former may not be so easy to achieve, especially if you do not feel able to charge your worth in such a competitive market. Perhaps you'd like to increase your lesson prices but negative thoughts sometimes get in the way, such as 'I can't charge more, no one will pay that price'. How do we get where we want to go and once we get there how do we stay there. Here are some tips that might help: 1. Know what you want. 2. Think about what your daily work life - the hours you work, the breaks you take, your clients, your car - What does your perfect working day look like? 3. If you were advising someone else about how to be successful, what would you tell them? Write it down. 4. Kick negativity into touch, it just doesn't help. 5. Think about what will help you develop your marketplace and what are the best tools to be able to do it. Create a mind map that includes your website, Facebook and other social media. 6. Consider how you could be the best in your area - think about what the best instructor would have and how that differs from what you have currently. 7. Reputation is great but also a delicate balance. Just one negative comment from a customer could have an impact on your reputation. Having a strong online presence can help to prevent this from happening. Start a daily or weekly blog post - be positive, with driving tips, facts, information - to become the 'go to place' in your area for driving information. 8. If you want to stay ahead of the game you need to stay up to date with technology, such as sat navs, i-pads and in-car cameras. 9. invest in your own continual professional development and look after your number one asset - You. CPD pays and builds self confidence. 10. Consider what might be holding you back from succeeding - fear, family, money, time? We sometimes put obstacles in the way to sabotage our own success. Don't let YOU be the biggest problem in getting what YOU want - plan your journey now and start the action today. Kind regards Graham
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An excellent 2 day course for ADI trainers who need to move away from PST style training delivery in preparation for the upcoming changes to the ADI qualifying process.
Are you a trainer already? Is your training focused around the pre-set tests for the Part 3? Do you want to keep ahead of the game by gaining an understanding of how the DVSA National Standards are going to play a much bigger part in the way that people qualify as ADIs? The background to the changes We know that the DVSA will replace the Part 3 with a Standards Check. They have announced that they hope to do this within a year. This two-day course will focus on how to update your training so that it is client-centred and will fit the DVSA National Driver and Rider Training Standard. You will be able to go away and start implementing these techniques into your ADI training, whilst still preparing your customers for the existing Part 3 test. When the Standards Check is introduced you will be able to switch easily to the new format. What happens on the course The first day will be spent in the classroom and the second day will be out in the car. The course looks at lesson planning, risk management, teaching and learning strategies and role play and focuses on training people to become driving instructors, rather than just getting them ready to pass a test. There are only six places available on each course so book early, you can book your place now by following thislink Do you feel you were let down by the training you received to help you become a successful ADI because all you got were techniques on how to pass your Parts 1, 2 and 3? Did your training equip you with sufficient knowledge and experience to deal with the new Standards Check and develop your role as a professional driving instructor? We often find ourselves alone in this job and even though many of you have passed check tests and standards checks - and, in addition, you will have gained plenty of experience on the road in practical situations - which have helped you to learn and evaluate your own teachings, you will probably recognize that there is still a long way to go. Our job is to help people learn and we understand that the human brain is a pretty complex beast with just as many self-limiting as performance-enhancing thought patterns. As trainers the more we get to understand and embrace the principles of learning the easier our job becomes. Learning from experience takes time and is often a process of trial and error because using one technique with one customer often may not work with another. Developing your skills and training is a continuous journey and we at Tri-Coaching have developed course that help you become better at what you do, no matter where you are in your own personal development. If you would like to know how we can help you go to our website and look at what we have to offer. Our courses include: Standards Check Training aCCeLerate - a two-day introduction to coaching BTEC Level 4 Professional Award in Coaching for Driver Development Trainer Conversion Course Kind regards Graham  Following my recent blog post on driving test waiting times, I wanted to tell you more about what we’re doing to improve how we train and recruit new driving examiners.
Over the last 3 years, test demand has increased by over 200,000 tests – with an extra 92,000 last year alone. At the start of the year there were 265 fewer driving examiners than the last time demand was this high. Between April 2008 and March 2009 we saw demand rise to 1,756,522. To help us reduce waiting times, we need to take on more driving examiners. Our recent examiner recruitment campaigns are starting to show results. At the start of the campaign we were recruiting on average 10 examiners per month (April 2014 to March 2015). Since April 2016, we've been recruiting on average 20 per month. However, the sooner new examiners can start testing, the greater impact they’ll have on waiting times. Improving the recruitment processIn the past, our recruitment campaigns brought in an average of 100 new driving examiners per year. We had to carry out 400 assessments to get those 100 examiners. These one-day assessments were made up of a role-play assessment and an assessed car drive. All candidates had to do both parts. Assessment now splitWe've now changed this, so instead of having a one-day event with 2 parts, candidates are now invited to a role-play assessment, where around 600 role-play assessments are carried out. Around half are successful, and they’re then asked to do an assessment drive. Driving assessment: the new 4 levelsWe've also introduced 4 levels of assessment for the drive. They are:
In the past, around 50% of those taking assessment drives went on to the training academy. This has now risen to 80%. Previously, anyone considered by an assessor to need more than 10 hours of driver development would have failed the test. Now, new entrant examiners get a 3-day driver development course so that all new examiners show a high level of driver competency. There are also 2 more days of driver development available for anyone who needs more time. Driving examiners mentoring schemeThe other big change we've made is to the training process. Many qualified driving examiners were already acting as mentors to new entrant examiners – giving up their own time through lunch and at the end of the day because they knew they were making a difference. We wanted to build on this dedication and recognise their expertise. This new process gives qualified driving examiners time away from testing to help prepare new entrant examiners for their course. We've asked examiners to sign up to mentor and share their knowledge on basic parts of the driving test, such as:
Accompanying driving testsNew examiners are based at their local test centre in weeks 1 and 2 to provide them with the opportunity to become familiar with the environment in their driving test centre. It allows them to learn the routes, accompany driving tests, and gives them time to reflect on the course so far. I'm aware that some instructors are concerned about new entrants accompanying driving tests during weeks 1 and 2. The more experience new entrants gain by accompanying driving tests and learning the routes, the sooner they’ll be ready to start testing. However, the examiner will always check that the candidates and instructor are happy with the new entrant accompanying the test. By working together we can get new examiners into test centres sooner. The earlier they start testing the greater impact they’ll have on waiting times. What’s nextMore driving examiners are still needed. I'm hoping to bring a significant number of new entrant examiners into the agency over the next few months. Improving the ADI part 3 test
Over the past few months, we’ve been speaking to the approved driving instructor (ADI) industry and organisations on DVSA’s Official Register of Driving Instructor Trainers (ORDIT) about improving the training and testing of trainee driver instructors. In this blog post, I’ll be talking about how we’re proposing to change the ADI Part 3 test and the reasons for doing so. [insert ‘More’ tag] Aligning with the National standard In April 2014, we introduced the ‘standards check’ which changed the way we assessed ADIs; focussing on assessing their competence to deliver effective training in line with the National standard for driver and rider training. We therefore want to mirror this in the qualification process so that new instructors are trained in this way from the outset. Why we’re changing The industry has confirmed that the current fault-based ADI Part 3 test, which relies on pre-set tests and role play exercises, is both unrealistic and restrictive. It doesn’t give trainee instructors enough opportunity to demonstrate the full range of skills that will they need when qualified. The change will mean that new ADIs won’t need to undertake additional training or learn different teaching methods ahead of their standards check. It will also enable the test to be delivered at a greater number of test centres and local to where their training has taken place. The main changes We’ll be moving to a competency-based assessment. Trainee instructors will be assessed over a single one-hour lesson on the 3 main competencies of lesson planning, risk management and teaching and learning strategies. They’ll also be assessed on an additional 17 sub-competencies. Also, there’ll be no more role play by a DVSA examiner – trainee instructors must provide a ‘real’ pupil. This could be a friend, family member or colleague. The lesson will have to reflect the learning goals and needs of their pupil. To ensure that trainee instructors obtain the required range of skills, knowledge and understanding we’re exploring the use of a log book in which they and their trainer record the subjects covered, the different levels of instruction given and overall progress. Most, if not all instructor trainers already record progress like this and DVSA are happy for them to continue to use or adapt their existing processes. When will this happen? We need to produce an impact assessment first, setting out the costs and benefits of making the change. We also need to consider those trainee instructors who are already in the process of qualifying and give trainers time to develop their learning materials. Therefore, we won’t be introducing this change until Autumn 2017 at the earliest. We’ll keep you updated on timing and how we’re developing ORDIT as things progress. What we’ve done so far In May this year, we conducted research to identify awareness of this change and how well prepared instructor trainers and ORDIT organisations are to deliver the new training requirements. The research also set out to confirm what impacts and benefits the change might have. Early findings: Early analysis of responses indicates that:
We’ll publish the final report soon, and we’ll be undertaking further research with instructor trainers to help us finalise our impact assessment. Working with the industry We also met with NASP (National Associations Strategic Partnership) and spoke with some ORDIT organisations (small, medium and large) to discuss our findings and agree the principles of the new Part 3. Reactions were very positive, showing a clear enthusiasm about the prospect of a new ADI Part3. If you’re not an ORDIT registered organisation, it’s important that you contact DVSA so that your instructor trainer organisation can be included in further work around the ADI part 3 test. |
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