Poll- Ground School - On your own or in a classroom?

[John90290]

Trying to get an idea of where pilots are getting, or did receive, their ground school education.

 

 

 

For the purposes of the poll I am defining traditional ground school as one involving an actual teacher, alive and in the flesh, which I could see has the benefits of real-time interaction.

 

The second option would be any self guided learning be it through, books, a DVD, or online.

 

 

In essence, with a full time job, flying on the weekends and stealing a few sick days and vacation days, time is tight for an actual 4 hour per night, 2 nights per week instructor lead ground school. On the other hand, I don't want to short change myself on something that much more experienced pilots on this forum state is something to consider.

 

I hope this clears things up a bit.

 

The input so far has been very helpful, thanks! This forum continues to be a great source of information.

Edited March 12, 2007 by John90290

[Superman]

Back in the day, when I did my private airplane I went to the classroom ground school and took a "written" (paper) test. Didn't really have much in the way of self study then, and Al Gore hadn't invented the Internet yet.

 

All the rest has been self study, mostly with John and Martha's help

 

Clark

[Gunner]

all self study with the exception of a few weekend seminars to help me pass the writtens...

[RaymondKHessel]

Where's the button for those of us who are doing it all by book???

[Brianmech72]

I can't imagine doing it all by myself. For me definitely the classroom. Its also been super helpful to be able to talk with other students and learn from their experiences.

 

Where's the button for those of us who are doing it all by book???

[gft]

Like all the other polls, something is left out-

Where's the button for-

"I read the book".

 

gft

[joker]

gft / RaymondKHessel

 

Maybe he's not interested in those who 'did it by the book'. It could have been deliberately ommitted. He could be trying to ascertain what kind of organisation people like to get prescribed courses of instruction from. This would not include people just doing their own ad-hoc book study.

 

Joker

Edited March 10, 2007 by joker

[heligirl03]

Yeah, we need a book option. Online? Is there a rotorwing online course? I know there are knowledge test prep kits online...

 

By the book...

[gft]

gft / RaymondKHessel

 

Maybe he's not interested in those who 'did it by the book'. It could have been deliberately ommitted. He could be trying to ascertain what kind of organisation people like to get prescribed courses of instruction from. This would not include people just doing their own ad-hoc book study.

 

Joker

 

 

Ah ha-

I must have misunderstood the part about "On your own".

Thank you Joker for the clarification.

 

gft

[joker]

Actually, I think he did leave it out by accident!

 

I was just playing devil's advocate. Based on the questionnaire that we saw, we can't come to any conclusion (as you immediately did) that he 'forgot' to include 'ad-hoc book study'. Particularly as he calls it 'Ground School' which implies some sort of institutional learning.

 

In other words, if I was interpreting the results from that survey above, the 'ad-hoc book work' set has to be discounted and conclusions based on the two sets queried.

 

Questionnaire design is a very difficult thing to get right. So here is my suggestion of a book for anyone thinking of doing any research. I have mentioned this book before. It's the bible!

 

Questionnaire Design, Interviewing and Attitude Measurement (Paperback)

by A.N. Oppenheim (Author)

 

Paperback: 310 pages

Publisher: Pinter Pub Ltd; New edition (July 1992)

ISBN-10: 1855670445

ISBN-13: 978-1855670440

 

Amazon Link to book

 

 

On the otherhand, poor John902010 was just asking a simple question for interest and got slammed by you, and then his thread got hijacked by me! Maybe we should cut him some slack.

 

John, if you can change the survey, include an 'ad-hoc book work' option and then also include the all-important 'Other' option.

 

Your question should look like this:

 

Which method of acquiring the necessary ground knowledge did you first choose when starting your flight training?

 

1. Classroom

2. Online or Distance Learning Course (including any Mail Order homestudy course where a definite syllabus is followed.)

3. Ad-Hoc Self-Study from books

4. 1-to-1 Instruction from CFI

5. Other

 

Joker

Edited March 12, 2007 by joker

[Superman]

Not trying to complicate things, but I took "Online or Mail Order" to include, DVD's, Tapes, Internet and Books. Anything outside of the Classroom environment.

 

John......... Your poll, what's the ruling?

 

Clark

[nbit]

All mine on my own, with the exception of flushing out lesson plans for CFI/CFII and 11th hour quizzing by sign-off instructors before practical and knowledge tests...

[Scottie]

I bought the private pilot complete dvd set from Sporty's. The dvd's are great, but I still feel like im missing out on somethings. There are some things I don't get from reading a book or watching a dvd so I think an instructor would have benefited me more.

[Tenacious T]

I ask a LOT of questions, I don't think I could progress as I have been without interaction with students and teachers in the classroom. I also do a lot of self-study and as I do a list of questions builds in my head for which I get answers the next time I go to class.

[gft]

Ok, Ok- I have a confession to make.

I didn't do it all by myself.

I gave my girlfriend a cheat sheet of notes so she could quiz me.

First she only asked questions right after I came home from a flight lesson or had been reading up in one of my text books.

Then she started popping questions at me before dinner, during dinner, after dinner, in the middle of American Idol, while driving in the truck, while showering and even in the rack after the lights were out.

I'd created a pop quiz monster.

Truth is, she should have taken the damn test.

Anyway- come test time I was confident and had no problem.

I was still a nervous bitch stepping into the test room.

 

gft

[rotor wing]

I ask a LOT of questions, I don't think I could progress as I have been without interaction with students and teachers in the classroom. I also do a lot of self-study and as I do a list of questions builds in my head for which I get answers the next time I go to class.

 

Did you keep track of all the questions you asked your instructor? I and others that trained at universal in Scottsdale, Arizona asked many questions to our instructors. A several months into it when I asked a instructor a question he said "ask me anything, I need the money". It turns out that all of the instructors were charging us the hourly rate of $50.00 for questions that the students ask them. We also found out that they were charging us for lunch that they said they would buy. If the student said anything about flying the student bought thier own lunch and the instructors lunch without the student knowing. Students were also charged for flight and ground lessons that never took place. The total that I was overcharged is over $5,000.00 and I am still trying to get it back.

[summit76]

Did you keep track of all the questions you asked your instructor? I and others that trained at universal in Scottsdale, Arizona asked many questions to our instructors. A several months into it when I asked a instructor a question he said "ask me anything, I need the money". It turns out that all of the instructors were charging us the hourly rate of $50.00 for questions that the students ask them. We also found out that they were charging us for lunch that they said they would buy. If the student said anything about flying the student bought thier own lunch and the instructors lunch without the student knowing. Students were also charged for flight and ground lessons that never took place. The total that I was overcharged is over $5,000.00 and I am still trying to get it back.

 

 

You must be joking! This can't happend, can it !

[Tenacious T]

Did you keep track of all the questions you asked your instructor? I and others that trained at universal in Scottsdale, Arizona asked many questions to our instructors. A several months into it when I asked a instructor a question he said "ask me anything, I need the money". It turns out that all of the instructors were charging us the hourly rate of $50.00 for questions that the students ask them. We also found out that they were charging us for lunch that they said they would buy. If the student said anything about flying the student bought thier own lunch and the instructors lunch without the student knowing. Students were also charged for flight and ground lessons that never took place. The total that I was overcharged is over $5,000.00 and I am still trying to get it back.

 

 

Not a factor at my school, no extra charge for answers and the instructors are very helpful with explanations. I have heard of what you describe though.

[Rachel]

While online ground schooling sounds pretty good, considering if you do not have the additional time to sit and listen to an instructor; I have found that most of my notes I took from my instructor is worth its weight in gold. Plus, I am learning from his experience as well, and if I need something explained in 12 different ways (I'm notorious for this) I have someone who has the patience to do so.

R

[Tenacious T]

Also, there is a lot to be learned from the anecdotes of experienced pilots. Plus, as you interact with them and they get to know you, you are networking and building connections in the helicopter community.