Avionics News August 2020 - 36

INSIDER TIPS TO
MAKING THE MOST OF
DISTANCE LEARNING
According to Craig Joiner, senior vice president of brand
experience for Adaptive 3.0 Learning provider Fulcrum Labs,
while distance learning is a great tool, it's not a one-size-fits-all
solution. Educators and learners must take steps to ensure they
get the maximum benefit from each session.
Joiner shared the following tips that Fulcrum Labs uses with
its successful Adaptive 3.0 Learning platform.
MICRO-LEARNING: Learning content should be broken into
bite-sized chunks and followed by low-stakes practice. Studies
have shown this greatly increases retention. It also helps
learners fit studies/training into their schedules and allows them
to "cross the finish line" more frequently, which can increase
motivation and morale. 
LEARNER AUTONOMY: Put the learner in the driver's
seat. Giving learners some control/autonomy over their learning
experience increases buy-in, engagement and ownership of the
material.
ONE-ON-ONE (COMPETENCY-BASED) MODEL: The average
student coached one-on-one, using mastery learning techniques,
performs two standard deviations better than students who
learn via conventional instructional methods, meaning C
students are able to achieve an A grade level.
OPTIMAL CHALLENGE: Target the individual's learning sweet
spot, the level just above their current capabilities to maximize
their performance and achieve the greatest efficiency. 
SPACED REPETITION: To help learners overcome the natural
forgetting curve and retain information, consider spreading out
memory boosters over time.
APPLICATION-LEVEL MASTERY: Just because someone
understands a skill doesn't mean they can apply it. Give learners
opportunities to practice application-level mastery. 
MASTERY & CONFIDENCE: Mastery of learning material
is only one part of the equation when the goal is application.
When mastery is combined with confidence, application
increases. 
SELF-REMEDIATION: Provide learners with the time and tools
to effectively shore up weaknesses and build confidence. 
BEHAVIOR & PERFORMANCE: Performance is only half
the equation during training. We should also be monitoring
and tracking behaviors that indicate success, such as
sourcing information they know versus trying to fake it until
they make it. q
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avionics news

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august

2020

COVID-19'S IMPACT

Continued from page 35

we shut down in-person instruction, most of the
facility could start a Zoom meeting and continue
where they left off."
An epidemic of Zoom fatigue?
While the initial rush was for schools of all
kinds to put information and instructors online
for their students, experts are quick to caution
that this is not always in everyone's best
interest. Like anything, you can have too much
of a good thing.
According to Craig Joiner, senior vice president
of brand experience for Adaptive 3.0 Learning
provider Fulcrum Labs, loading students and
teachers up with a lot of online classes doesn't
always provide the best, long-term outcome.
"We've seen a lot of articles about how schools
are flocking to Zoom and other video conferencing
tools, but there are problems with that solution," he
cautioned. "Educators are learning that, while there
is an initial excitement with distance learning, it's
not set up for long-term success, especially with
technical type training.
"I saw it with my son. At first, he thought the
Zoom classes from his school were great. After a
couple of weeks, he just started to zone out. These
passive experiences, watching a lecture, couldn't
keep his attention. We're hearing that a lot from
the various schools we work with, and people are
referring to it as Zoom fatigue.
"Having students sitting in front of their
computer or tablet for two hours passively
watching something isn't the most-effective or
efficient approach to teaching. Nor is it a great
learning experience."
As Joiner explained, one of the biggest problems
is that the material - as good as it may be - is often
being delivered by people who are great classroom
teachers but are not experienced in being in front of
a camera. No offense to anyone.
Joiner added that it's an even bigger issue when
you're dealing with the types of people who choose
aircraft and avionics maintenance as their career.
"These are hands-on learners who both want and
need that dynamic to stay engaged and interested,"
he said. "In addition, that hands-on experience is
why many of the students choose particular schools
in the first place.
Avionics News August 2020

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