Adapting your driving instruction to reflect the learners needs

It is important to adapt the way you teach to suit the way your driver learns and the level of instruction you use should reflect the driver’s needs.
 
As a simple guide, if the driver continually makes errors the probability is that you are under instructing or you are asking the driver to do something beyond their present capabilities. There are times when the instructions you give have to be broken down into the smallest detail. This often occurs when a new subject is being introduced for the first time. You should have the ability to give a full talk through. Try talking yourself through an exercise (e.g. the turn in the road) and doing exactly as you say, does this lead to errors?  


Observing the driver will help you establish your level of instruction, look at what they are doing, is there a need to instruct? If the driver is not making any errors and you are constantly talking then you are over instructing. 


You will also need to be able to prompt your driver when necessary, this will be down to your ability to observe potential hazards in good time, and then observe your driver’s actions to establish if they are responding. Do you need to ask a question that will help the driver identify the correct course of action, or do you need to instruct? The answer is dependent on your ability as an instructor to identify the level of instruction needed to fit your driver's needs. 

You could be giving the correct instructions but still not getting the desired response from your driver. This could be down to the timing of your instructions. Are you giving enough time for the driver to respond? Are the instructions spoken clearly and audibly? The secret is to get drivers to respond to your instructions. Using their name or changing the tone of your voice is a good way of gaining their attention.


Sometimes people don't hear what you are saying because your communication style is not matching their thinking pattern. Asking a simple question like, 'How do you learn best?' may help you give better instructions. For example, a visual learner could be prompted by, 'Can you SEE the junction ahead?' An audio learner may respond better to, 'SOUNDS like you're coming in too fast here' or someone who is kinaesthetic and likes to have a go to find out how things work may well respond to, 'This FEELS really uncomfortable at this speed'.

 'Adapt the way you teach to suit the way someone learns' 

If you want to know more about levels of instruction and the way people learn best then contact us on
0800 059 8009. We are happy to discuss with you how we can match your training to your learning styles.