Tod's+Module+5


 * __Learning to Surf Online__**

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Comments:

This course scores poorly as an e3 instructional event. While on the surface it appears to be a typical. On-line course, it falls apart pretty quickly under scrutiny. In the end, it’s level 1 at best with mostly tell and a little show. There is multimedia but the few images that are useful are not sequenced correctly and thus are minimally helpful. Other pictures are clearly placed just to make it look pretty. Some actually detract from the learning because they fall amongst text discussing something else and it can confuse the learner. There is no learner interaction or attempts to test the learner’s mental model.

Component skills:

The board – This was poorly sequenced. As an example, they talk about waxing the board without giving the learner the “parts-of” the board so that they can understand where to apply the wax. Tell/show, properly sequenced would have been fine. It’s not rocket science so they wouldn’t necessarily have to demonstrate mastery of the board anatomy.

Paddling out – they missed a big chance for effective use of multimedia. All tell, no show. This could be improved with the addition of picture with examples and non-examples of a well-trimmed board, correct stroke, correct position, finding the channel, etc.

Catching the wave – this is the place they really could have used some show. How do you effectively use words to describe waves and the correct place to be while riding. So many chances! I think I would break this down into several different component skills; position to catch a wave, identifying a good wave to catch, when to start paddling, when to stand up, how to stand up, etc.

Safety and etiquette – Same comments as above, apply. As somebody who almost got beat up for “dropping in on somebody’s wave” a lot more effort would be required to help folks understand the concepts (kind of).

Buying a board – what’s a “ding?” Pictures showing different types of boards, how do identify problems with a board. Prices you could expect to pay, etc. would be helpful. This was a very weak section.