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Safety Trainers Workshop
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Eleven observer trainers including myself, from
all regions of the United States met in Seattle from
March 12 through 17, 2001 to complete a Marine Safety
Instructor Course. All of the participants came away
with better resources, techniques and materials for
observer safety training from this course.
I learned the importance of using teaching methods
that stimulate as many of the senses as possible.
In my program we currently utilize handouts, lecture
and videos during safety training. Given the fact
we retain only 10% of what we read, 20% of what we
hear and 30% of what we see, I plan to add more effective
methods-- demonstrations, class involvement (games & stories)
and role playing- to our training curriculum.
The course reinforced educational theory by having
us give presentations on assigned safety topics.
I learned to write a lesson plan with clear objectives,
utilize a variety of teaching methods and to include
a way to evaluate whether my objectives were met.
I also received valuable feedback on my presentation
skills from the instructors, my trainer peer group
and from a video taken of my presentation. Additional "hands
on" training included a pool session, a USCG damage
control trailer, a vessel stability model tank, a
dewatering pump and signal flares. We also spent
a half day at Fisherman's Terminal to conduct safety
drills aboard the F/V ALRITA and toured several vessel
types while focusing on fishery specific safety concerns
for observers. |
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First row (left to right): Ken Kruse,
Sheryl Corey, Jennifer Ferdinand, Elizabeth Scott-Denton,
Jerry Dzugan, Mike Tork; Second row: Paula Cullenberg,
Kit Van Meter, Margaret Toner, Teresa Turk, Cheryl
Brown, Lewis Van Fossen, Don Petersen, Dan Decker;
Third row: Kyle Hogrefe, Lisa Thompson, Lyle Enriquez
and Joe Arceneaux (not shown here)
Workshop
Photo Collection
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Each trainer received an Alaska Marine Safety Education
Association Instructor Manual, which is an excellent
resource that contains current information on marine
safety equipment and teaching aids. However, we realized
that our best resource will be each other. The Alaska
Center has subsequently offered to provide some retired
immersion suits to be used for training by smaller
programs. I will be helping the National Observer
Program create a website for posting electronic training
materials and sources for other training resources.
On the final day of the workshop, we created an
inventory of safety training elements currently taught
in each of the observer programs and identified common
elements. A summary of safety training recommendations
from this workshop will be presented to the National
Observer Program Advisory Team.
I want to thank the National Observer Program for
the opportunity to organize and benefit from the
Train the Trainer's Workshop. My gratitude extends
to the Alaska Fisheries Science Center and staff,
Alaska Marine Safety Education Association, USCG
Marine Safety Office Puget Sound, and all the participants
for making the train the trainer's safety workshop
a complete success. There was support and positive
feedback for the train the trainers format and we
hope to expand this type of regional exchange into
other areas of observer training in coming years.
Cheryl J. Brown April, 2001
SEFSC, Miami, Florida
(on detail to the National Observer Program February 1 to June 1)
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