IAM Observed Run
Discussion
I'm a car mad lady who has just started her IAM course (via the 'Skills for Life'). I'm absolutely loving it, not least as there seem to be far more gentlemen than ladies on the course! We've had the introductory meeting, and I've been out with an Observer for a couple of runs.
During the drive, my Observer keeps quiet, although he offers a few words of encouragement. He doesn't talk me through things. While I appreciate that these are not lessons as such, I'm surprised that he is not more vocal during the drive. At the end, he then talks me through a few things I've done, both good and bad.
Is this normal? I don't particularly want to raise it with him, as I'm a bit backwards in coming forwards, it's only my first couple of drives, and he is the 'expert' after all. He is actually a Senior Observer, and I'm sure he has done this many times before. Am I being unduly worried.
If any one can put my mind at ease and recommend the best course of action I would be most grateful, as I fully appreciate his time and effort, and if this is normal, I am more than happy to continue as is.
During the drive, my Observer keeps quiet, although he offers a few words of encouragement. He doesn't talk me through things. While I appreciate that these are not lessons as such, I'm surprised that he is not more vocal during the drive. At the end, he then talks me through a few things I've done, both good and bad.
Is this normal? I don't particularly want to raise it with him, as I'm a bit backwards in coming forwards, it's only my first couple of drives, and he is the 'expert' after all. He is actually a Senior Observer, and I'm sure he has done this many times before. Am I being unduly worried.
If any one can put my mind at ease and recommend the best course of action I would be most grateful, as I fully appreciate his time and effort, and if this is normal, I am more than happy to continue as is.
Thank you (I think).
My real concern was that I've just started the course. So I don't really know what I should be doing yet, but it appears that I'm expected to be doing it. When I do a manouvre, he hasn't said exactly what I should do, and whether or not I'm doing it correctly or not. The other day (I'm fortunate that I can go out through the week, rather than a weekend) we started to concentrate on 'The System', but he didn't take me through it, although to be fair he did ask if I knew what it was, and I believe that I gave a good answer. I was quite pleased, as I know mainly what it is as I've studied the handbook in considerable detail, the one sent with the 'Skills for Life' (I tend to sit at home of an evening, reading). However, he hasn't talked me through it, step by step, and I don't know if I'm doing it correctly or not at each hazard. I was hoping he would say use the mirrors now, take up that road position, slow down, change now, etc, but he doesn't.
However, I take your point, and having read your response my initial question now seems a bit foolish. The drive is for my benefit, so I need to decide what I want.
Best regards, and thank you for your comments.
My real concern was that I've just started the course. So I don't really know what I should be doing yet, but it appears that I'm expected to be doing it. When I do a manouvre, he hasn't said exactly what I should do, and whether or not I'm doing it correctly or not. The other day (I'm fortunate that I can go out through the week, rather than a weekend) we started to concentrate on 'The System', but he didn't take me through it, although to be fair he did ask if I knew what it was, and I believe that I gave a good answer. I was quite pleased, as I know mainly what it is as I've studied the handbook in considerable detail, the one sent with the 'Skills for Life' (I tend to sit at home of an evening, reading). However, he hasn't talked me through it, step by step, and I don't know if I'm doing it correctly or not at each hazard. I was hoping he would say use the mirrors now, take up that road position, slow down, change now, etc, but he doesn't.
However, I take your point, and having read your response my initial question now seems a bit foolish. The drive is for my benefit, so I need to decide what I want.
Best regards, and thank you for your comments.
Thank you to everyone for your helpful comments. The more I think about this, the more confused I am as to exactly what I should be expecting.
Is the intention of an observed run to review what the Associate should have learned themselves from previous study. Or is it to teach an Associate something they may not know.
For example, if we are concentrating on 'The System' and we approach a corner. Would you expect the Observer to start (from the very first corner ever done) with comments such as "take up this position", "now check the mirrors", " start to change speed", "2nd gear may be appropriate" i.e. assume no knowledge and start to teach. Or would it be more normal for the Observer to just see what happens without saying anything either approaching, going through, or accelerating away from the hazard i.e. assume the Associate has learned what to do from the book, and make few if any comments.
I think my main problem is that I'm afraid of appearing foolish by asking.
By the way, my son has recommended this site, as he seems to find it highly amusing that I am interested in cars, and in driving (I can only assume that he thinks Mothers only do knitting and cooking). However, if there is a more appropriate site or forum, please let me know.
Is the intention of an observed run to review what the Associate should have learned themselves from previous study. Or is it to teach an Associate something they may not know.
For example, if we are concentrating on 'The System' and we approach a corner. Would you expect the Observer to start (from the very first corner ever done) with comments such as "take up this position", "now check the mirrors", " start to change speed", "2nd gear may be appropriate" i.e. assume no knowledge and start to teach. Or would it be more normal for the Observer to just see what happens without saying anything either approaching, going through, or accelerating away from the hazard i.e. assume the Associate has learned what to do from the book, and make few if any comments.
I think my main problem is that I'm afraid of appearing foolish by asking.
By the way, my son has recommended this site, as he seems to find it highly amusing that I am interested in cars, and in driving (I can only assume that he thinks Mothers only do knitting and cooking). However, if there is a more appropriate site or forum, please let me know.
Thank you to everyone for your comments.
Having thought about my runs to date, I think that the main problem is that I've had hardly any feedback at all, whether during the drive or immediately afterwards.
When we started to do 'the system', I think it's probably fair to say that it is unlikely I did it correctly everytime. I accept that, as I am supposed to be learninig. After I accelerated away from the very first corner, I expected a comment, but there wasn't one. Second corner, still no comment. So , I didn't know if I was doing it correctly or not. Did I signal in time. Did I slow down enough. Was the gear correct. I have no idea, as there was no comment whatsoever. At the end of the run, he didn't say they were all good, or all bad, or some good, he didn't comment on them at all.
Similarly with the positioning on the road. No comment. Also, we've not mentioned 'observation' yet (which has surprised me somewhat) or 'the driving plan' but now I'm worried that he won't tell me what to look out for.
The main confusion for me is that I appreciate that I am a 'learner', and that he is a very experienced observer. Considering that I fully appreciate his knowledge and experience, how can I feel that I'm not being told anything. It must be me, I'm just not sure why or how.
I am genuinely getting more confused, and starting to wish I hadn't done this. Just to emphasise my total confusion, I cannot practice between the runs, as I do not know what I am doing right, and what I am doing wrong. The more I think about it, the more I think I may become a drop out ( and wouldn't my husband just love that!!!).
Sorry for going on so, but I need to think about how best to proceed.
Having thought about my runs to date, I think that the main problem is that I've had hardly any feedback at all, whether during the drive or immediately afterwards.
When we started to do 'the system', I think it's probably fair to say that it is unlikely I did it correctly everytime. I accept that, as I am supposed to be learninig. After I accelerated away from the very first corner, I expected a comment, but there wasn't one. Second corner, still no comment. So , I didn't know if I was doing it correctly or not. Did I signal in time. Did I slow down enough. Was the gear correct. I have no idea, as there was no comment whatsoever. At the end of the run, he didn't say they were all good, or all bad, or some good, he didn't comment on them at all.
Similarly with the positioning on the road. No comment. Also, we've not mentioned 'observation' yet (which has surprised me somewhat) or 'the driving plan' but now I'm worried that he won't tell me what to look out for.
The main confusion for me is that I appreciate that I am a 'learner', and that he is a very experienced observer. Considering that I fully appreciate his knowledge and experience, how can I feel that I'm not being told anything. It must be me, I'm just not sure why or how.
I am genuinely getting more confused, and starting to wish I hadn't done this. Just to emphasise my total confusion, I cannot practice between the runs, as I do not know what I am doing right, and what I am doing wrong. The more I think about it, the more I think I may become a drop out ( and wouldn't my husband just love that!!!).
Sorry for going on so, but I need to think about how best to proceed.
Thank you to everyone for their kind comments. I have taken everything on board, which I can assure you has been most helpful.
I have decided that before the run starts, I am going to ask my Observer to give me feedback on each occasion during the run. For example, each time I turn a corner, I would like to know if the system is being performed correctly. If it is, then fine. If not, then I immediately know what to change.
The more I think about it, the more I realise that the problem is quite simple. During the last run I must have used 'the system' to go past or through a hazard on 100 occasions (turning a corner, overtaking parked cars, stopping at lights, etc). At no time did the observer comment, therefore I left the run and drove back home not knowing if I did them all correctly (pat on the back for me) or did them all incorrectly (more study and practice required).
I'm sure if I explain this to the Observer, everything should be okay, so I am going to do this. If not, I am going to ask for a different observer, as it cannot be correct to have no feedback whatsoever. Talking it through with everyone helped me to put it into perspective, so thank you again.
Kindest Regards
Sally
P.S my husband and son both warned me that this Internet site occasionally gets 'fractious', and I was to expect rather caustic comments. I can honestly say I have not seen that at all, and I am most impressed with the advice freely given.
I have decided that before the run starts, I am going to ask my Observer to give me feedback on each occasion during the run. For example, each time I turn a corner, I would like to know if the system is being performed correctly. If it is, then fine. If not, then I immediately know what to change.
The more I think about it, the more I realise that the problem is quite simple. During the last run I must have used 'the system' to go past or through a hazard on 100 occasions (turning a corner, overtaking parked cars, stopping at lights, etc). At no time did the observer comment, therefore I left the run and drove back home not knowing if I did them all correctly (pat on the back for me) or did them all incorrectly (more study and practice required).
I'm sure if I explain this to the Observer, everything should be okay, so I am going to do this. If not, I am going to ask for a different observer, as it cannot be correct to have no feedback whatsoever. Talking it through with everyone helped me to put it into perspective, so thank you again.
Kindest Regards
Sally
P.S my husband and son both warned me that this Internet site occasionally gets 'fractious', and I was to expect rather caustic comments. I can honestly say I have not seen that at all, and I am most impressed with the advice freely given.
I have indeed had another run. Before we even set off, I started by asking for immediate feedback each time I did something. I explained to the Observer that I needed to know if I was doing it correctly, otherwise how could I practice in between the runs.
He understood completely, and commented that I was generally doing everything okay. I am applying the 'System' as required, with good control. He has told me to carry on practicing as I am doing it now, so I must be doing something right somewhere!
I feel a lot happier than I did previously, and it is mainly down to the words of encouragement on here. Without being able to talk it through, I do not think I would have been able to say anything to the Observer, so thank you to everyone who helped.
Best Regards
Sally
P.S. I have asked another question, and I have put it onto another 'post'. I don't know if that is what you normally do (rather than add it onto this one) but it would appear to make sense. My next run is not until Thursday, so I thought I would ask now.
He understood completely, and commented that I was generally doing everything okay. I am applying the 'System' as required, with good control. He has told me to carry on practicing as I am doing it now, so I must be doing something right somewhere!
I feel a lot happier than I did previously, and it is mainly down to the words of encouragement on here. Without being able to talk it through, I do not think I would have been able to say anything to the Observer, so thank you to everyone who helped.
Best Regards
Sally
P.S. I have asked another question, and I have put it onto another 'post'. I don't know if that is what you normally do (rather than add it onto this one) but it would appear to make sense. My next run is not until Thursday, so I thought I would ask now.
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff