Chapter 2
Human Behavior
Instructors should:
- Provide a training syllabus (see Chapter 7, Planning Instructional Activity) that is organized with clearly defined course objectives to show the learner how the training helps him or her attain specific goals.
- Help learners integrate new ideas with what they already know to ensure they keep and use the new information.
- Assume responsibility only for his or her own expectations, not for those of learners. It is important to clarify and articulate all learner expectations early on.
- Recognize the learner’s need to control pace and start/stop time.
- Take advantage of the adult preference to self-direct and self-design learning projects by giving the learner frequent scenario based training (SBT) opportunities
- Remember that self-direction does not mean isolation. Studies of self-directed learning indicate self-directed projects involve other people as resources, guides, etc.
- Use books, programmed instruction, and computers which are popular with adult learners.
- Refrain from “spoon-feeding” the learner.
- Set a cooperative learning climate.
- Create opportunities for mutual planning.
An aviation learner may be the retired business executive who always wanted to learn how to fly, an Army helicopter pilot who wants to learn how to fly an airplane, or a former automobile mechanic who decides to pursue avionics. These learners may be financially stressed, or they may be financially secure. They may be healthy but they may be experiencing such age-related problems as diminished hearing or eyesight. Whatever the personal circumstances of the learner, he or she wants the learning experience to be problem-oriented, personalized, and the instructor to be accepting of the learner’s need for self-direction and personal responsibility.
Chapter Summary
This chapter discussed how human behavior affects learning, the effect of human needs on learning, defense mechanisms learners use to prevent learning, how adults learn, and the flight instructor’s role in determining a learner’s future in the aviation community. For more information on these topics, it is recommended the instructor read a general educational psychology text or visit one of the many online sites devoted to education.