ASA Instructor Qualification Clinic Training – 114 Catamaran Cruising IQC
ASA 114 Catamaran Instructor Qualification Clinic
IQC – Instructor Qualification Clinic
To instruct any level of ASA course, an IQC is required for the instructor. An IQC, Instructor Qualification Clinic, is when and where the prospective instructor put demonstrate knowledge of the topic, take a written test on the topic, and instruct while an instructor’s instructor observes and critiques the instruction.
What’s It Like?
It’s incredibly nerve-wracking! Anytime someone observes your teaching, it’s possible you will be nervous. Add a normal amount of apprehension to being observed by an instructor’s instructor to the added element that anyone else in the class has some subject-matter knowledge, and possibly more than you.
Our Group
In my recent clinic, out of the three instructors testing, I probably was the middle knowledge person. One of my former 101/103/104 students has gone on to earn his captain’s license, and has become an instructor at the school where I teach – St. Augustine Sailing. The other ASA instructor was from South Florida, with decades of experience. I might have had an edge as I had been on the boat we were using for class, a Lagoon 38, at least three times. The out-of-towner had never been on the boat.
What We Did First
First, we headed to the boat to teach a practical segment. I drew docking, our other instructor drew anchoring with bridle, and the third drew generator operation.
Teaching Our Topic
We each teach our topic as if the other “students” (us) had no familiarity. Sometimes, it was pretty funny because before you could instruct one of the others to perform a particular task, they were already halfway through that maneuver because they already knew what and how to do. Plus, keeping a straight face while explaining it to someone who may know the topic better than you do – we all later said we felt pretty nervous to “teach” captains with more experience.
Proficiency Demonstrations
After the practical instruction, we each put the boat through several tacks and gybes and hove to while the afternoon storms started building. Also, we had to complete any maneuvers before late afternoon because our marina’s channel is currently shoaled in and inaccessible at low tide. We then demonstrated proficiency with reefing.
Written Test
Once back at the dock, we headed to the classroom where we took the written test. Then, we each taught a lesson in the controlled environment of the classroom
Teaching an Indoor Lesson
This is where I have the advantage – I also teach for a high school, so I’m able to construct complicated lesson plans in under five minutes complete with success criteria, learning targets, and lesson objectives. Add to that 30 years of teaching experience as well as a master’s degree in teaching adult learners, and I can come up with some strong methods for instruction.
I taught reefing. I’ve found that in every instance, listen to what an instructor asks of you, and deliver exactly that. If they say to use wait time, then ask questions then wait. If they say to check for comprehension from all students, then don’t use unison response, but ask individuals questions to check for comprehension. If they say to use props – do it.
White Board and Props
For my class, I began with a white board drawing of a sail with two reef points and corresponding tacks and clews and reef lines. I introduced the lesson with a discussion of when to reef, why to reef, and characteristics of catamarans that might make reefing different than on a mono hull.
Then I handed each student a page torn out of the local sightseeing magazine, roughly cut into the shape of a high-roach catamaran main sail. Next, I had them take the first reef, then the second. “Foldables” are a hot technique in public education currently, and worked perfectly for this demonstration. I could see immediately if each student knew what would happen to the sail. They were able to match up my description of location of reefing lines – first one furthest back on the boom – and how the sail’s leech would get closer and closer to the mast as the sail dropped. The method allowed them to see the overall operation without the distraction of a swinging boom, other boats, or even lazy jacks. They said they liked the paper folding, and would use it for teaching reefing in all classes.
Last, I recapped the lesson and used direct questions to check for comprehension. Shew.
Wrap Up
I’d tell you what the two other captains taught, but I can’t even remember now. I was so relieved to be finished with the entire class that I guess I blanked them out of my mind.
In all, if you are considering taking any ASA IQC classes; be ready for anything! Learn, teach….
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