Page last updated:
28 JAN 2005

Required Equipment and Materials:

• Presentation Materials: Charts for the Workshop can be downloaded from the Web site Aid Verifier Classroom Training Materials. They can be used to make overhead transparencies (foils) or they can be presented using a personal computer and projection device. The charts were developed using Microsoft® PowerPoint®. If PowerPoint software is not available, a free PowerPoint Viewer can be downloaded and used to print or to project the charts using the viewer.


 

• Aid Verifier Qualification Examination: One copy for each student — will be handed out when the Examination is administered during the last 30 minutes of the Workshop. The Instructor must assure that all copies of the Examination are returned and accounted for at the end of the Workshop.


 

• Flashing Light Training Aid(s): Lighted aids must be timed to ascertain that they are "watching properly". Students should practice and become comfortable with timing lighted aids during the Workshop or during an on-the-water session immediately following the Workshop. The Coast Guard usually has a training aid at the stations and the CG Cutter OIC should be contacted to see if the training aid could be used for the Auxiliary Workshop. One alternative would be the projection of the automated GIF Training Aids which are available on the Web site. Another alternative would be to use an actual lighted aid in the vicinity of the Workshop location. However, these aids only operate at night.


 

• Audio/Visual Equipment: A screen and either an overhead transparency projector or a personal computer with a projection device.


 

• Student Handout Packages (for each student) should be handed out at the beginning of the Workshop. The student will be allowed to reference these materials during the Examination. Each student package should include:
   

  1. Copies of the Workshop charts — To minimize reproduction costs, these are normally printed "two-up" (two charts to a page) using PowerPoint. Experience has shown that the PowerPoint Viewer may not work to print two charts per page. If so, and if the Instructor or another local person, does not have access to the full PowerPoint, contact the DSO-NS for a set of "two-up" originals that can be used to make the handout copies. Estimated cost to reproduce these handouts is four dollars per set for duplexed stapled copies.

  
   

  2. One copy of the Eighth Western Rivers Region Aid Verifier Guide (62 pages, Mircosoft Word) — Visit Aid Verifier Guide, Using Forms and General Information to download a copy. An original for making copies should also be available from any Aids to Navigation staff officer, from a currently qualified Aid Verifier, or from an Aid Verifier Examiner.

  
   

  3. One copy of the Auxiliary Operational Specialty Course Examination Answer Sheet form which will be used to administer the Aid Verifier Qualification Examination.

Instruction Guidelines:

1. Any Auxiliary Instructor who is currently certified as an Aid Verifier can conduct an Aid Verifier Workshop. That person should have extensive aid verification mission experience or have another Auxiliarist in the classroom who has that experience. There will be questions – mostly regarding the reporting procedures and how to use the pre-printed forms. The experienced person, if not the Instructor, can also relate their tales on performing night aid verification missions – especially when it comes to mission safety in their AOR. A Workshop should not be held without an experienced Aid Verifier in the classroom.


 

2. The student is required to pass the Auxiliary Aid Verifier Qualification Examination to become qualified. This is an open book examination and the students are allowed to use materials handed out in the Workshop during the examination. A copy of the examination can be obtained by the Instructor from the Director of Auxiliary, from an Aid Verifier Examiner (they are listed on the Aids to Navigation Web site) or from the DSO-NS. The student should record their answers on the Auxiliary Operational Specialty Course Examination Answer Sheet. A copy of the Workshop Attendance Report and the examination answer sheets should be sent to the DSO-NS for scoring. The DSO-NS will report the results to the Director of Auxiliary.


 

3. The SO-NS, or SOs-AN must attend and participate in the Workshop presentation to assure that the students understand the program that the SOs-AN have established for their Divisions. Each SO-NS develops an aids to navigation program that is unique for their Division's AOR that is consistent with current reporting procedures. The SO-NS assigns each Aid Verifier to a section of the Division's AOR and the class will provide the SO-NS with an opportunity to solicit support from the newly qualified AVs. The SO-NS should be prepared to address process flow (paperwork) questions. For SOs-AN who are new to the position, they need to understand how it was done in the past and they should be able to depend on the past SO-NS for that knowledge.


 

4. The Workshop curriculum and lesson plans have been tested and revised over the past four years to fit the following format assuming a typical 9:00 AM start and 3:00 PM completion:

   I - Course Introduction and the Aid Verifier Program
   II - Private Aids to Navigation Verifications and Reporting
   (short break)
   III - Verifying a Light's Characteristics
   (lunch / long break and practice timing lighted aids)
   IV - Bridge Verifications and Reporting
   V- Classification of Discrepancies and Reporting Actions Required
   VI - Aid Verifier Qualification Examination

   In the first two and one-half hours, the instruction should be able to cover the first three modules and allow one short break. Then (11:30 AM approximately), it is a good time to take a longer (working lunch) break and coach the students in timing lighted aids. If available, arrange to use the Coast Guard Station's training aid for students to practice timing lighted aids.

   Assuming this typical format, the afternoon session would start at 12:30 or 12:45 and should cover Sections IV and V by 2:30 PM. The remaining time is used for the examination.

Summary

Please note that the above "typical" lesson plan schedule is suggested for planning purposes only. The Instructor must be flexible to allow time for questions and to place additional emphasis on topics when the Instructor deems such emphasis is needed based on student reactions or questions.

The example format above does not preclude an Instructor from breaking up the curriculum into multiple days / sessions. However, the curriculum is designed to be presented in the sequence shown.

Note for your information: The Aid Verifier Workshop held at the 8WR Conferences is limited by the conference schedule to four and one-half hours. In order to fit into this schedule, the Workshop is "lecture only" with no time for student - Instructor interaction. Practice timing of lighted aids (the working lunch) is eliminated and only one short break is taken. This is not a desirable format.

All constructive comments and good ideas are always welcomed and encouraged. Questions will be answered and posted here for all to see. Send them to Mike Stanley at mstanl1@juno.com.

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