Goal Setting in Driving Instruction
Understanding the essence of coaching in driving instruction and its distinction from traditional instruction is crucial. Comparing the old check test with the new standards check provides valuable insights.
The Importance of Goal Setting in Driving Instruction
Understanding the essence of coaching in driving instruction and its distinction from traditional instruction is crucial. Comparing the old check test with the new standards check provides valuable insights. While the check test evaluates the ability to identify, analyse, and correct driver errors, the new standards check focuses on encouraging independent learning through goal setting.
There are two fundamental aims in any driving lesson: ensuring that learning takes place and providing value for money. These aims are consistent regardless of whether the assessment is through a check test or a standards check. The spectrum ranges from fault correction at one end (aligned with the check test) to goal setting at the other end (aligned with the standards check). It’s essential to recognise where you fall on this spectrum. If you lean towards goal setting, you will naturally adopt a client-centred approach. Conversely, if you believe in learning through fault correction, you may remain instructive and in control of the lesson.
For me, the most effective way to learn to drive is through goal setting rather than fault correction. Here are six significant reasons why customers need to learn how to set goals for themselves.
1. Goal Setting Breaks Learning into Manageable Chunks
Creighton Abrams famously said, “When eating an elephant, take one bite at a time.” When learners feel overwhelmed, viewing the driving task as a series of bite-sized goals can be helpful. This approach shifts the focus away from the daunting driving test and allows learners to achieve smaller, manageable goals, thus reducing stress and increasing confidence.
2. Goal Setting Identifies Strengths and Development Needs
Understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses is crucial for effective learning. Many people tend to focus on their weaknesses, leading to negative self-perception. By learning to set their own goals, customers can identify their strengths and weaknesses, understand what they need to improve, and recognise their achievements, thus fostering a positive learning environment.
3. Goal Setting Raises Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is vital in the learning process. Customers need to understand how they learn best, how their emotions influence their decisions and behaviours, and any barriers to learning they might erect. Goal setting enhances self-awareness, helping learners identify and overcome these barriers, making them more receptive to the learning process.
4. Goal Setting Builds Self-Responsibility
Taking ownership of the learning process and driving tasks is crucial for effective decision-making and self-determination. Through goal setting, customers take control of their learning, which can be both exciting and challenging. This shared responsibility between instructor and learner ensures that while the instructor is responsible for safety, the learner becomes responsible for their learning journey.
5. Goal Setting Develops Skills for Life
Learning to set goals nurtures lifelong skills, particularly self-evaluation. This aligns with a Driver Education framework, where level four focuses on self-evaluation. By setting and assessing their goals, learners develop a better understanding of their judgment and decision-making abilities, ensuring safer and more objective driving practices.
6. Goal Setting Moves Towards Realising Full Potential
According to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, human beings have five levels of needs, from basic physiological needs to self-actualization. Goal setting plays a critical role in progressing through these levels, ultimately helping individuals realise their full potential. By setting and achieving goals, learners not only improve their driving skills but also enhance their overall personal development.
These six points underline the importance of goal setting in driving instruction. By incorporating goal setting into lessons, instructors can ensure that learning is effective, value for money is provided, and learners are equipped with essential life skills. Ultimately, goal setting is as vital for instructors as it is for their customers, fostering a more rewarding and effective learning experience.
