Using Teaching Aids

There are many different types of teaching aids that a driving instructor can use, in this module we will mention a few and then focus on the Visual Teaching System (VTS).  During the online session or during your in-car session with your trainer you will have more opportunity to explore this area and discuss further, it really is a case of finding what works best with who.

In this very modern age of accessible I.T. it would be crazy not to exploit the flexibility of learning through the internet.  Many of your students will not have passed their theory test and will, in line with their driving lessons, be studying to pass the theory and hazard perception tests.  At Alert Drivers we offer free access to our instructors and students to the Theory test Pro app.  This app not only allows your student to sit mock tests, practice their skills at hazard perception and focus on areas for improvement but also allows the instructor to check on the students progress.  By knowing how the students progress is here and where they need to improve the instructor can add aspects for revision into the lesson.  Discussing legalities or identifying road signs for example.  The alert drivers theory test pro  app can be found using this link and is free to all Alert Drivers instructors and students:

https://alert-drivers-school-of-motoring.theorytestpro.co.uk/

You might choose to direct your student to Youtube to research aspects of an upcoming lesson, a word of warning here though.  Youtube is greatly under regulated and pretty much anyone can post 'training videos' onto the site.  It is best to locate clips etc. yourself and provide links etc. if this is a media you wish to use as the student could quickly focus on undesirable skills recommended by an unqualified provider.

At Alert Drivers we encourage, and as a PDI (Trainee Instructor) it is compulsory that you use a Visual Training System (VTS).  This is a book made up of diagrams and plans of manoeuvres  and systems that the learner student will need to master in order to develop their skills as a driver.  A copy of the VTS used by Alert Drivers can be found using the this link, VTS, and access to it is free to Alert Drivers Instructors and PDI's who are members of the Alert Drivers School of Motoring franchise.

So what is a visual training aid?  Simply put it is anything that can be looked at or watched in order to help understand a required task or training objective.  Below is a short video outlining the use of a VTS.  The VTS is designed to make it easy for the student to understand the stages or sequence of planned steps of a manoeuvre as well as help the trainer to focus questions and development at key areas.  A VTS like this would be used primarily during a full lesson presentation but can also be used as a recap lesson during remedial training or further development.

During your in car training with your trainer and in the online workshop you will be taking a greater look at the VTS and how to improve your skill at using it.

Exercise:  Below is a page from the VTS.  Watch the video below and then practice yourself with page below.  If you, once you have retained the information on the page, try it with a friend or family member if you can.  The aim is to make it feel as relaxed and 'normal' as possible.  Try to think of any areas that may pose a problem for a learner, what questions might you ask them?  What questions might they ask you?  Remember the object of the VTS is to support and make learning easier for the student driver, questions are good as they encourage thought and interaction with the subject.