A Problem Shared

A Problem Shared….

Back in 2011, Ken Horne and I shared an idea and a vision with the other committee members of the Stirling and District ADI Association (now Forth Valley ADI Association). The idea was to see if we could get association members to come together to share and discuss the different ways and methods of doing what we do as Driving Instructors, in an in car session.

We recognised that many might find the idea uncomfortable, that they might feel that they would be judged on what they did or said, or would be afraid of “saying the wrong thing” or be made to look foolish. So we made it clear from the very start, that if the idea was to work it would have to have the following fundamental foundations:

• It had to be non-judgemental
• It would not be training – no one could be told what to do
• It had to recognise that we can each learn from anyone, be they a new PDI or an ADI of 25 years
• It had to be a relationship of equals

We coined the name “Shared Learning”.

A Cool Response

When we first aired the idea at an Association meeting, to say the reception was lukewarm may be overstating matters. People liked the idea, but you could see the apprehension. However, as a committee we felt it was an idea worth perseverance, so we decided the best way to make it happen was to start it ourselves and see where it went. So at 10.00 am on the 10^th January 2012, Ken, Linn Brown and I met up in the car park of a local supermarket and we picked a topic (mind maps) and discussed how we use them. Within 20 minutes, we knew we were onto something. So we came back the next week and did it again.

As word has spread, numbers have climbed slowly and by October 2012 we know have 8 members who are participating, and these are ADIs blocking time out of their diary to come along. 

An Evolving Structure

The sessions tend to work along these lines:

We meet up and find out if anyone has a particular topic to discuss. This might be about using a technique such as scaling or mind maps, how to deal with a particular lesson topic or a difficulty encountered within a lesson. Or there might be a check test on the horizon!

Once the topic is agreed, we split into groups (usually of three) where one person might take the role of the ADI, one the learner and one an observer and then go for a “lesson”. Alternatively, it might just be that three people get in a car and discussion around different options takes place.

Encouraging Results

The response and feedback to date has been superb. Best result recently was from an instructor who came who had a pupil who was having problems with roundabouts, but in all other aspects their driving was very good. After one session discussing different possibilities and solutions, and one practical on road session, the instructor was delighted to inform us that after implementing some of the suggestions with their client, the pupil passed their test with no faults. The instructor commented, “I would not have thought of the suggested approaches without the sessions, but I tried them and they worked.” He has been back every week since.

The key thing here is not that he was given any amazing or revolutionary methods to achieve something; it was just that he hadn’t considered them. Shared Learning is fundamentally about peer learning – by collectively sharing our expertise, experience and knowledge we provide awareness of alternatives to be considered. Whilst forums and meetings might provide a similar opportunity, these are nowhere near as dynamic or as interactive as having three people sat in a car. Discussions often take a life of their own, as the different ideas combine to give direction to new ones. CPD, for free, where everyone is learning – how can that not be a good idea?

Since setting up Shared Learning I have read that research has shown that the most successful schools are those where the staffroom discussion is linked to teaching, so this approach has been found to work in other areas of education. 

Going Forward

When the seeds of this idea were first sown, we always expected a slow build. Many will never come along, through fear or scepticism or a whole host of other factors. But it is building, as word spreads and confidence grows.  To our knowledge, there is no other ADI Association in Scotland running a similar scheme, and we don’t actually know of another in the UK. We’re quite proud to have done something that’s different. We now aim to bring actual pupils along (a couple of mock tests with a different instructor have already been done to good affect), and we have just invested in some in car video equipment as we plan to record sessions. It has also been suggested that we might look into some form of evaluation of the scheme, as it may have the potential to form the basis of a wider initiative. 

For as long as it helps our fellow ADIs, and they see a benefit, we can only build on the success. If you are involved in an Association, why not try a Shared Learning pilot? Until you try, you never know where something might lead… 

Forth Valley Driving Instructors Association

For details of Forth Valley Driving Instructors Association, please visit www.forthvalleyadi.co.uk.