SARINZ/TPP Instructor Forum 2009

At the end of January SARINZ/TPP conducted an instructor training forum. The aim of the forum was to provide selected SAR practitioners and SARINZ/TPP instructors with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to be a proficient instructor or assistant instructor within the unique SARINZ/TPP environment.

The forum was kicked off by the SARINZ/TPP management team who gave some very interesting presentations on the overall uniqueness of SARINZ and TPP.

A substantial part of the forum was given to the different Programme Managers (PM), this enabled the PM’s to bring together their teams and concentrate on what was important to their programmes. The PM’s spent a considerable amount of time discussing and refining the way courses are presented, the content and programme direction for the year. This will help to ensure that the courses in the coming year are all presented in a very professional manner; the end result should see the best results for the learners, SAR and the subject.

Horizons unlimited presented a daylong workshop on Instructor development which covered areas such as; the power hour, adults as learners, experiential learning, learning styles, 4 MAT teaching approach, giving directions, getting responses and tips to using power point. This workshop provided a great chance to refresh or learn new concepts in professional instructing. The day was seen as a great success and the results are a direct reflection on the professionalism of the Horizon instructors.

The last part of the workshop gave groups the chance to up skill themselves in SAR or discuss issues that were important within the SAR sector. Having so many Subject Matter Experts in one place, at one time was too much of an opportunity to waste. A lot of very good information was passed and shared.

The instructor forum sees us well set for the rest of the year. Skills have been refreshed, new tools are ready and a focus has been set. I personally feel recharged, focused and ready for the year ahead.

The event was sponsored by SARINZ and TPP. The instructors within SARINZ/TPP are seen as great asset to not only SARINZ and TPP but to the entire SAR family, this investment into their professional development can only benefits us all.

Talk has already turned to what we will cover next year, as we continue to “help others save lives”.