Improving Assessments and Evaluations of Pilots in Collegiate Aviation Programs

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

The purpose of the proposed study is to improve assessments and evaluation techniques of student pilots in collegiate aviation programs. Proper evaluation and assessment of student pilot performance in collegiate aviation programs is important to the success and credibility of the training program. Students in pilot training programs are scrutinized unlike other students in other academic programs. There exists well-defined program evaluation cycles, specific skills and knowledge to be tested, objective criteria on which to judge performance, tight restrictions on evaluator qualifications, and a well-defined curriculum for creating an evaluation context. This researcher would look at three reasons student pilots are evaluated. The first is to decide whether an individual pilot is proficient to fly. Decisions involving the student pilots ability to proceed in the degree to graduation warrant the highest quality performance evaluation. Second, instructors need to assess their trainees' knowledge and skill to offer appropriate feedback and remediation. The quality of pilot training depends on the evaluators being capable of making accurate judgments of performance. Third, student pilot evaluations should guide the development and modification of training programs. This researcher seeks feedback from the members of the National Training Aircraft Symposium as to the development of a methodology for evaluator training and collaboration sessions. These kind of sessions are relatively new and have arisen primarily as a result of airline training programs. Many of the major carriers have some sort of evaluator training, in which collegiate aviation programs might benefit by establishing like programs.

Author

• Dittmer, Peter Matthew, Ed.D. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• Assessment
• Pilot Training
• Collegiate Aviation Program
• Education
• Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research