Studying for DM sucks!!

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

It's a shame you found the Encyclopedia dry . . . I actually read it for pleasure, long before I did my DM, and found it interesting and full of a good deal of useful information (although, as with ALL PADI materials, the tone is hard to swallow).
 
If you are teaching yourself, how much are you paying yourself to do that. Or did you get a significant discount? My PADI DM was supposed to be more self study but when I asked how much he was going to take off for not teaching me that changed. The crossover to NAUI was very little self study. Lots of classroom, lectures, and pool time. If you are paying for a course why is the instructor not teaching the material and using self study for reinforcement?
 
Jim,

Not everyone wants to sit in a room getting spoon fed. True, for many this is optimal. I personally consider most class time to be close to "death by instruction."

Now, given that little rant, my personally preferred method is to go over the key aspects, let them study a bit, hand out a practice quiz, go over it to discuss where they may want to refine their approach, then rinse and repeat as necessary.

But straight lecture is almost always painful for me. I've found that in any traditionally taught class (my instructional past is a bit broader than scuba), 30% are bored to tears, 30% are not able to keep up, 30% are taking a mental vacation whether or not they can afford it, and 10% find the pace/approach perfect for learning.

It's like mass-producing custom clothes. "One-size-rarely-fits-anyone-correctly"
 
It's a shame you found the Encyclopedia dry . . . I actually read it for pleasure, long before I did my DM, and found it interesting and full of a good deal of useful information (although, as with ALL PADI materials, the tone is hard to swallow).

I got a copy of the PADI encyclopedia the other day. That is quite interesting.
The theory content I received for my SSI Dive control specialist is quite dry. SSI have the better course (plenty of opinions on this), but the theory was very easy and dry.
I wasn't expecting course material harder then high school level anyway.
 
Yeh, but just think of all the money you can make!!! ha ha ha he he he:rofl3:
 
Jim,

Not everyone wants to sit in a room getting spoon fed. True, for many this is optimal. I personally consider most class time to be close to "death by instruction."

Now, given that little rant, my personally preferred method is to go over the key aspects, let them study a bit, hand out a practice quiz, go over it to discuss where they may want to refine their approach, then rinse and repeat as necessary.

But straight lecture is almost always painful for me. I've found that in any traditionally taught class (my instructional past is a bit broader than scuba), 30% are bored to tears, 30% are not able to keep up, 30% are taking a mental vacation whether or not they can afford it, and 10% find the pace/approach perfect for learning.

It's like mass-producing custom clothes. "One-size-rarely-fits-anyone-correctly"

Its not about being spoon fed info. I understand that some people do better outside the classroom setting. What it is about is the classes where the student is paying top dollar for instruction and is not really getting it. If a student is expected to do most of the work at home on their own then they should get a discount. As for your lecture stats I see that and experienced it myself in college. Not just because of the material but the way it was delivered.

One prof I had was in his 60's, very dry, and boring as hell because he did not want discussion or to take questions. It was one of the important classes for my degree. I struggled because he made it boring. Another class in technical writing- read basic english for the idiots who could not read and write but still managed "scholarships"- could have been worse. But the instructor for that course was animated, encouraged discussion and debate even, and allowed us (those who could write) to put in papers for extra credit on subjects we chose. I developed a great deal in that class. Granted not using it really had an effect on my punctuation and a few other things but hey that's why I have an editor for my book that will be ready in a few months. I have written courses, essays, and papers on a number of subjects. Submitted proposals at work and had them taken seriously because of how they were written as much as why.

I see scuba instruction the same way. I have 16 hours of lecture in my classes. It is not a one way street. Students are encouraged and even pushed to ask questions, participate in the discussions and with the program I teach that has them reviewing what we covered and preparing for the next class with the homework to research and add to the material we cover. It is not just me talking. I will question and quiz. I also expect them to question and quiz me. They can't do that as effectively at home alone.

BTW Thanks for your service, Major
 
When I did my DM my Instructor wanted me to come in and sit while he lectured Physics and Physiology. I offered to study and take the exams instead and agreed I would sit through the lectures if I bombed the exams. I did very well on the exams with my self study.
 
Push thru, apply yourself it is very rewarding. I am type A except when it comes to math & physics. Diving was the first time in my entire life that there was a practical application to math & physics (other than shopping % discounts) that it made it meaningful to learn. When I see new formulas for something diving related and X actually means something, I can wrap my brain around it and even get excited.
 
If you are teaching yourself, how much are you paying yourself to do that. Or did you get a significant discount? ...... If you are paying for a course why is the instructor not teaching the material and using self study for reinforcement?

I'm sure given your experience and knowledge this question is rhetorical. Base word being rhetoric. Wanna have the NAUI vs SSI vs PADI discussion feel free to start another thread or just revive one of the other 2000 already on here.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

Back
Top Bottom