ADA - Part 1: Didactics & Methodology

This part of the ADA preparation focuses on the theory of training content and the procedures of teaching.

1. Definitions

• Didactics: Theory of training content, its selection and its significance for the trainee (science of teaching and learning).
  • Core questions: What is the training for? What are the contents?
• Methodology: Science of teaching, instructing and briefing procedures.
  • Core questions: How is training conducted? With what is training conducted?

2. Learning Areas

One distinguishes three essential learning areas:

1. Cognitive Area (Knowledge): Mental abilities, factual knowledge.
2. Psychomotor Area (Skills): Physical, manual activities (“Hand”).
3. Affective Area (Attitudes): Emotional level, values and behavior (“Heart”).

3. Learning Objectives

Learning objectives describe the desired final behavior after a learning process.

Hierarchy

• General Learning Objectives (Richtlernziele): General educational goals (legal level).
• Rough Learning Objectives (Groblernziele): Clarification of general learning objectives for specific subject areas.
• Fine Learning Objectives (Feinlernziele): Unambiguous description of knowledge and skills.

Taxonomy Levels (Cognitive)

1. Reproduction: Reproducing knowledge.
2. Reorganization: Rearranging/explaining material.
3. Transfer: Applying what has been learned to other tasks.
4. Problem Solving/Creativity: Developing new things, evaluating.

4. The Four-Step Method

A classic of operational instruction:

1. Prepare: Prepare the workplace, material and the trainee (motivation).
2. Demonstrate: The trainer demonstrates and explains the steps (What - How - Why).
3. Imitate: The trainee carries out the work himself and explains his procedure. Mistakes are corrected immediately.
4. Practice: The trainee continues to work alone. The trainer checks the result and is available for questions.

5. Pedagogical Principles

The following basic rules should be observed during instruction:

• From easy to difficult.
• From simple to complicated.
• From known to unknown.
• From concrete to abstract.
• Promote clarity and self-activity.