Instructional Design at SARINZ

As SARINZ actively seeks to continually improve not only its instructors, staff and knowledge of the Search and Rescue industry, but we also seek to continue to improve our ability to meet the needs of the SAR industry we serve. To do this SARINZ has adopted a Systems Approach to Training (SAT). The SAT addresses the fact that training cannot be considered in isolation. Success on SAR operations will depend on many factors. This system has been devised to meet SAR needs. Its ultimate aim is to ensure that each person is capable of performing his or her job under SAR operational conditions. Its merit lays in the fact that it draws together related aspects of training that may have previously stood in isolation.

The systems approach to training is a set of procedures, which have been designed to ensure that its users conduct training in such a way that Search and Rescues current and projected needs are meet.

All SAR managers have a responsibility to their teams and those who they seek to rescue, and therefore must ensure that both SAR individuals and SAR team’s receive the most effective training possible. The effectiveness of training is measured by the extent to which training reflect the requirements of the job. The efficiency of training is a comparison of the gain in performance as a result of the training, to the expenditure of resources.

A systems approach to training provides a methodology for initiating, designing, developing, delivering and evaluating training. The approach uses systems analysis techniques developed in, and for business organisations. It is output-based and requires that desired outputs be determined by analysis of activities in the global SAR community. These outputs then determine training inputs such as the type of student, the curriculum and the learning strategy. The maintenance of systems-based training requires appropriate feedback loops to keep training relevant, effective and efficient.

This SAT provides a dedicated framework within which systems analysis, design and implementation occurs and it assigns the responsibilities for events and activities necessary for the system’s implementation. It provides the personnel responsible for the training with simple logical processes applicable to all individual training.