Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Instructor

The Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Instructor can teach with a participant or an assistant in the bow seat, or when in a solo position, hold a Moving Water Canoe Basic Instructor certification.

Mandate of the Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Instructor

The Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Instructor is certified to:

• instruct Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Skills courses, and
• assist with Instructing Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Skills courses.

Course Details

Prerequisites

Age

At least 18 years of age.

Membership

Current Paddle Canada membership and Provincial/Territorial membership (where required).

Skills Certification

Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Introduction Tandem Skills or Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Introduction Solo Skills or extensive river experience with the permission of the Instructor Trainer.

Instructor Certification

None

Teaching Experience

None

Paddling Experience

Extensive paddling experience on Class I rivers (30 days).

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 : 8 candidates

Minimum Staff and Certification Level

A minimum of one Instructor Trainer is required to teach this course.

A minimum of one Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Instructor Trainer.

Minimum Number of Registered Candidates

This Instructor course must have a minimum of three registered candidates.

If there are fewer than three registered candidates, the instructor trainer can certify them via the instructor mentorship process.

Course Location

Appropriate to a Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Skills course.

Environmental Conditions

Class 0 Rivers, slow moving, where the beginner paddler can easily paddle upstream.

3 km/hr (slow walking speed).

Light to gentle breeze (0-19 km/h).

Instructor Candidate Assessment

The Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Instructor candidate will be assessed by the following methods:

1. Continuous assessment (by observation) of skills throughout the course.
2. Written and/or oral presentations demonstrating ability to communicate course content.
3. Ongoing assessment (by observation) of the candidate’s performance in the areas of safety, self-care, care of equipment, group dynamics and leadership.
4. A minimum of three demonstrations of teaching ability by each candidate, at least one of which shall be an “on water” skill and one shall be a theory or skill item within Risk Management at the Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Skills course.
5. 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 Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Skill course 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.Prior to assessment, the head instructor will outline as clearly as possible to the candidates the criteria that determines a pass, weak or incomplete grading for each test.

Reassessment or retesting may be conducted by the course Instructor Trainer or a designated Instructor Trainer 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 Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Skills course, and
• perform a "demonstration quality" review of all paddling skills as outlined in the Moving Water Canoe Basic Tandem Skills course.

Instructor Ethics

The candidate will:

• explain the Paddle Canada Instructor’s Code of conduct,
• demonstrate knowledge of what it means to be a professional Instructor, and
• understand 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,
• explain how to use different learning styles, and
• understand how to cater to a variety of different learning styles in their lessons.

Teaching Styles

The candidate will:

• 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:

• 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 Tandem Skills level, such as IDEAS (Introduction, Demonstration, Explanation, Action, and Summary) or IES (Introduction, Engage, and Summary).

Program Design and Delivery

The candidate will:

• prepare progressions and sequencing of material (for example, when to teach, what and why) that are appropriate for the Basic Tandem Skills 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 Basic Skill level participants both on the water and on the shore, and
• demonstrate knowledge of things to consider when teaching novice paddlers in the outdoors (for example, keeping participants comfortable and safe, minimizing distractions, situating the group to minimize effects of wind, current and sun etc.).

Adaptive Paddling and Inclusive Instruction

The candidate will:

• understand what is meant by adaptive paddling and inclusive instruction, and
• demonstrate knowledge of which disabilities can easily be accommodated in a typical Basic Tandem Skills course.

Leadership and Group Management Skills

The candidate will:

• demonstrate leadership skills in a variety of situations including the daily routine of running a Basic Tandem Skills program,
• 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:

• complete at least
  • 2 canoe rescues (canoe over canoe, tandem curl/parallel), and
  • throw bag practice with a partner/swimmer,  
• respond effectively and quickly to participants who capsized their canoe,
• explain common signs of a capsize and a participant in distress,
• demonstrate all rescues with a high degree of proficiency as outlined in the Basic Tandem 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 participants’ 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 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 Tandem 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, incomplete, and conditional pass), and
• give examples of when it is appropriate to use a conditional pass at the Basic Tandem Skills level.

Course Administration and Paddle Canada Knowledge

The candidate will:

• demonstrate knowledge of Paddle Canada policies and programs,
• understand insurance and liability issues affecting the Instructor,
• review course registering and reporting, and
• review certification maintenance policies and procedures.