Lake Canoe Basic Tandem Instructor
This course is 2.5 days and designed for those that want to teach the foundational skills for lake paddling in a calm setting, close to shore. The focus for new instructors is on the foundational instructing skills, group management, stroke technique and risk management.
Mandate of the Lake Canoe Basic Tandem Instructor
The Lake Canoe Basic Tandem Instructor is certified to:
- conduct Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Basic Tandem skills courses,
- conduct Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Waterfront Tandem clinics, and
- assist with Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Introduction Tandem Skills courses.
Course Details
Prerequisites
Age
At least 16 years of age.
Membership
Current Paddle Canada membership and Provincial/Territorial membership (where required).
Skills Certification
Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Introduction Tandem Skills or lake experience at the Introduction Lake skills level with the permission of the Instructor Trainer.
Instructor Certification
None
Teaching Experience
None
Paddling Experience
Some paddling experience.
Minimum Course Length
20 hours of instruction (2.5 days) with a minimum 16 hours of instruction on the water.
Class Ratio
1 Instructor Trainer: 10 candidates
Minimum Staff and Certification
A minimum of one Lake Canoe Basic Tandem Instructor Trainer is required to teach this course.
Minimum Number of Registered Candidates
This instructor course must have a minimum of three registered candidates, each with the required prerequisites completed, to qualify.
If there are fewer than three registered candidates, the instructor trainer can certify them via the instructor Mentorship process.
Course Location
Pond or lake.
Environmental Conditions
Conditions should not exceed water class - 0
Breeze up to 11 km/hr
Within 50 metres from shore
Instructor Candidate Assessment
The Basic Instructor candidate will be assessed by the following methods:
- Continuous assessment (by observation) of skills throughout the course.
- Written and/or oral presentations demonstrating ability to communicate course content.
- Ongoing assessment (by observation) of the candidate’s performance in the areas of safety, self-care, care of equipment, group dynamics and leadership.
- A minimum of two demonstrations of teaching ability by each candidate, at least one of which shall be an “on water” session in which the candidate teaches a Basic Lake skill.
- Mini theory teaching session topic(s) throughout the course may be assigned at short notice from a previous issued list.
The Instructor Candidate will demonstrate all skills at a high level of proficiency within the Basic level suitable for instructional demonstration purposes. Rescue, knowledge and general paddling skills will exceed minimum standards and be suitable to the instructional environment.
A Paddle Canada Instructor is a leader in the paddling community and must demonstrate above-average judgment in all matters relating to safety, group management and the health and welfare of all participants. The demands of the paddling environment make demonstration of good judgment an important skill for the completion of this course.
For each category of paddling skills, theory and teaching, candidates will be graded Pass, Weak, or Incomplete.
To achieve this certification, a pass is required in all categories, however one weak may be accepted at the discretion of the instructor.
Up to two weak evaluation items may be eligible for a conditional pass at the discretion of the instructor. An Incomplete in any one category will result in an incomplete in the overall course. The head instructor will outline as clearly as possible the criteria, which determines a pass, weak or fail grading of each test to the candidates prior to assessment.
Reassessment or retesting may be conducted by the course instructor or a designated instructor at the appropriate level, according to the guidelines.
Course Outcomes
Across the broad expanse of Canadian waterways, consistency of course content and assessment are important considerations. However, variations in regional geography and environmental conditions require instructor trainers to be flexible in their delivery of course content and the assessment of skills and knowledge.
Knowledge and Paddling Skills Review
The candidate will:
- explain all knowledge and theory topics as outlined in the Lake Canoe Basic Tandem Skills course, and
- perform a “demonstration quality” review of all paddling skills as outlined in the Lake Canoe Basic Tandem Skills course.
Teaching Notes
It is expected that the instructor candidate can demonstrate the required skills with ease of confidence, clearly showing the key components of each stroke and manoeuvre at the level appropriate to the Basic Lake Level program.
Instructor Ethics
The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of:
- the Paddle Canada Instructor’s Code of conduct,
- Discuss what it means to be a professional instructor, and
- the roles and responsibilities of a Paddle Canada canoe instructor.
Teaching Theory and Knowledge
Learning Styles
The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of:
- the concept of learning styles and different ways participants can receive and acquire information including verbal, aural, visual, and physical,
- how to use different learning styles, and
- how to cater to a variety of different learning styles in their lessons.
Teaching Styles
The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of:
- explain the concept of teaching styles,
- outline the advantages and challenges of some common teaching styles (for example, command versus participant-centred), and
- give examples of scenarios where different teaching styles are appropriately applied.
Teaching Strategies
The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of:
- review different ways of presenting information to participants,
- outline advantages and challenges of some common teaching strategies (for example, lectures, scenarios, discussions, questions, games, and activities), and
- learn and apply a simple teaching strategy suitable for skill development at the Basic Skills level, such as IDEAS (Introduction, Demonstration, Explanation, Action, and Summary), IES (Introduction, Engage, and Summary).
Program Design and Delivery
The candidate will:
- prepare progressions and sequencing of material (when to teach, what and why) that are appropriate for the Lake Canoe Basic Tandem Skill level,
- explain the characteristics of specific novice populations (for example age, culture, existing knowledge) and how to alter course delivery for those specific characteristics,
- select effective teaching locations for working with Lake Canoe Basic Tandem Skill level participants both on the water and on the shore, and
- discuss things to consider when teaching novice paddlers in the outdoors (for example keeping participants comfortable and safe, paddling close to shore, minimizing distractions, situating the group to minimize effects of wind, current and sun etc.).
Adaptive Paddling and Inclusive Instruction
The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of:
- what is meant by adaptive paddling and inclusive instruction, and
- which disabilities can easily be accommodated for in a typical Basic Skills course.
Teaching Notes
Adaptive paddling and inclusion instruction means being able to meet the needs of any population the instructor is working with by modifying the program or implementing creative solutions. Example populations include teaching kids, youth, adults, seniors and people with physical or learning disabilities.
Instructor Trainers should use this as an opportunity to discuss being participant centered as well as some simple delivery adaptations (for example, less talk, more play when working with youth, ensuring someone who needs to read lips can always see your face, etc.).
Learn more about adaptive paddling and inclusive instruction.
Leadership and Group Management Skills
The candidate will:
- demonstrate leadership skills in a variety of situations including the daily routine of running a Basic Skills program,
- paddling close to shore,
- organize the group according to the environment or needs of the participants to enhance learning when teaching,
- speak clearly and effectively with participants using a variety of verbal and nonverbal communication tools in a variety of conditions, both on and off the water, and
- set and manage appropriate boundaries.
Safety Skills
The candidate will:
- always paddle close to shore,
- respond effectively and quickly to participants who capsized their canoe,
- Water based rescue
- Shore based rescue
- explain common signs of a capsized and a participant in distress,
- explain and demonstrate proper canoe over canoe rescues,
- demonstrate all rescues with a high degree of proficiency as outlined in the Basic Skills course,
- demonstrate basic safety management including:
- ensuring equipment is in good repair,
- site orientation,
- ensuring pre-course paperwork is complete including waivers, medical forms, etc.,
- select an appropriate teaching location for the participant’s needs, skill level and environmental conditions, and
- identify potential hazards in a variety of situations and state appropriate preventative safety procedures.
- explain the Transport Canada vessel regulations for guided excursions and the extra safety gear required to comply, and
- lead the group through a guided excursion safety briefing.
Evaluation and Assessment
The candidate will:
- explain the concept of learning outcomes, and how to use them to determine a participant’s performance,
- outline the Paddle Canada learning outcomes for Lake Canoe Basic Tandem skills,
- explain the concept of a benchmark (performance standards below which a participant cannot pass) and what the benchmarks are at the Basic Skills level,
- demonstrate ways of giving feedback to participants that are supportive and positive,
- demonstrate the ability to assess a variety of technical and soft skills in relation to clearly defined objectives,
- provide timely, accurate and appropriate feedback to participants,
- describe the administrative steps for reporting on the level of achievement of the participants (pass, fail, conditional pass), and
- give examples of when it is appropriate to use a Conditional Pass at the Basic Skills level.
Course Administration and Paddle Canada Knowledge
The candidate will:
- demonstrate knowledge of Paddle Canada policies and programs,
- discuss insurance and liability issues affecting the instructor,
- review course registering and reporting, and
- review certification maintenance policies and procedures
Teaching Notes
Some of the administrative topics can be covered in pre-course reading assignments and then reviewed during the course.
Assignments and Tasks
Course Plan Development
The candidate will develop a detailed course plan for a Paddle Canada Lake Canoe Basic Tandem Skills course. This assignment may be completed after the instructor course; however, certification will not be issued until the assignment, and all other criteria have been satisfied.
The course plan will include:
- a list of course objectives,
- a clear and logical progression of skills and theory topics taught,
- estimated timelines for each activity or skill, and
- teaching location for each activity or skill.
Teaching Skills Demonstration
The candidate will:
- develop and present a minimum of two formal demonstrations of their teaching ability by teaching both a paddling skill (on-water) and a knowledge topic (on-land) based on the Basic Lake Skills course,
- develop and demonstrate an appropriate teaching progression for the skills taught,
- provide a detailed teaching outline or lesson plan for each topic assigned,
- foster a rewarding learning environment by using positive language,
- use a range of appropriate teaching aids and techniques including on-water activities,
- model ethics and values consistent with the Paddle Canada with the Paddle Canada code of conduct,
- offer relevant, constructive feedback to participants during debriefing sessions, phrased in a non-threatening/demeaning manner,
- select a teaching location appropriate to the skill being taught and to the skill level of the participants, and
- clearly communicate all teaching location boundaries for practice sessions.
Teaching Notes
Presentations should be 10-15 minutes in length depending on the assignment topic.
Skill presentation should be organized with:
- a clear introduction,
- a clear demonstration,
- a clear explanation
- an opportunity to address the different learning styles
- let those participants go that want to practice, and
- to engage more with those that need more explanation/direction etc,
- An opportunity to act in identify and fix common errors, and
- A defined summary end.
All strokes and manoeuvres will be of demonstration quality and demonstrated in a manner consistent with any explanation.
Theory topics should be organized with:
- a clear introduction of topic
- clear directions on what the group will be engaged with,
- a defined summary end
Candidates should be given at least 24 hours’ notice of their formal teaching topics. Other practice teaching session topic(s) throughout the course may be assigned at short notice from a previous issued list.
Lake Canoe Basic Tandem Instructor Mentorship Specific Policies
As an alternative to an instructor course, instructor candidates can earn certification through mentorship. The mentorship process entails working as an apprentice instructor under direct supervision of a mentor who is a qualified instructor trainer on a minimum of two appropriate skills courses.
Refer to the page, Instructor Certification through Mentorship for specific information on the mentorship process.
Prerequisites
Instructor Candidates must complete all prerequisite skills, before commencing a mentorship.
The Instructor Candidate must have Lake Canoe Introduction Tandem or Solo Skills certification before starting this mentorship.
Refer to the course syllabus for other prerequisites.
Assessment Process
The Instructor Candidate must mentor on a minimum of two Lake Canoe Basic Tandem Skills courses as part of the assessment process though the Candidate may be required to mentor on more Lake Canoe Basic Tandem skill courses at the discretion of the Mentor.
Minimum Staff Numbers and Certification Levels
Only one assessing mentor is required, and the same mentor can assess the instructor candidate on both courses.
The mentor must be at least a Lake Canoe Basic Tandem Instructor Trainer to be qualified to assess an instructor candidate at this level.
A maximum of two Instructor Candidates may be assessed on a course.
Both the Instructor Candidate and Mentor must be present throughout the entire course.
General Policies
To ensure that the Instructor Candidate experiences an appropriate level of group dynamics, and shows competence in managing those dynamics, a minimum of 3 participants must be enrolled in all skills courses where a mentorship is taking place.
Mentors may require the instructor candidate to teach additional courses between mentorships at their discretion.
The instructor candidate must complete all assessment tasks as outlined in the Basic Lake Instructor course syllabus, including requirements for submission of course lesson plans.