AOPA Learn and Earn Safety Challenge

[GeorgePerry]

MooneySpacer's

 

As many of you may know, I recently was brought in to lead AOPA's Air Safety Institute.  I typically do not use the forum to discuss AOPA stuff but since I fly Mooney's I wanted you all to have a special “sneak peek” at what ASI is getting ready to launch.  Below is a summary of the program and a link to take a look at what we're up to. 

 

 

LEARN & EARN YOUR WAY TO BECOMING A BETTER PILOT

AOPA’S AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE OFFERS VALUABLE REWARDS WITH THE FUN OF LEARNING

FREDERICK, Md. – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Foundation’s (AOPA) Air Safety Institute (ASI) today launched the “Earn & Learn Safety Challenge,” an innovative new program that enters those who take aviation safety courses into a quarterly drawing for valuable aviation gear.

A new prize will be awarded each quarter, beginning with a Stratus 2 ADS-B receiver – an $899 value -- courtesy of Sporty’s Pilot Shop. The first prize winner will be selected in a March 31^st drawing.

 

ASI’s safety courses are available to both AOPA members and non-members. Participants will automatically receive a prize entry for each completed free online safety course, Real Pilot Story or Accident Case Study. The more courses completed, the more chances each individual will have to win.

Pilots who are new to ASI courses can start with an easy, interactive safety challenge  that will match them with a course tailored specifically to their experience level and flying style.

 

Visitors can take the challenge as many times as they like, or they can just go to the ASI website to view their online transcript to identify other interesting courses that will enter them in the prize drawing. Courses listed in the transcript with a gray star are eligible for the Learn & Earn drawing, while a gold star will depict courses that have been completed.

 

The Air Safety Institute’s “Learn & Earn Safety Challenge” will run throughout 2015, with four separate winners announced in March, June, September, and December. Visit Learn & Earn for complete rules and additional details.

 

Safe pilots are always learning.  It is ASI’s continuing goal to improve general aviation safety by providing pilots a wealth of free information and educational resources.  The Air Safety Institute’s programs are funded solely through donations from pilots dedicated to that same mission. Pilots can show their support by donating to the AOPA Foundation.

[201er]

Sounds like a great idea to stimulate an interest in safety yet without going overboard and making it about "stuff" other than safety. Excellent balance.

[GeorgePerry]

Glad to do it…Please spread the word.

[carusoam]

Suspense...

Didn't recognize the links.

Best regards,

-a-

[GeorgePerry]

Its underlined (but a bit hidden) in the description, but here it is again.

 

http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/LearnandEarn

[MooneyBob]

.

[GeorgePerry]

^{I was wondering if anyone had tried the challenge and what you think of the program?  Don't worry you wont hurt my feelings.} 

[N201MKTurbo]

I clicked through to the start, but haven't had time to do it. I'll do it this weekend.

Sent from my LG-C800 using Tapatalk 2

[DrBill]

I did one yesterday. Was good!   Although I like all the aopa "classes".

[BigTex]

^{I was wondering if anyone had tried the challenge and what you think of the program? Don't worry you wont hurt my feelings.}

I did... And I failed it! As God as my witnesses I thought you were to use your full N# when operating around non-towered airports... You learn something every day.

[GeorgePerry]

I did... And I failed it! As God as my witnesses I thought you were to use your full N# when operating around non-towered airports... You learn something every day.

I wouldn't say you failed.  I'd say you learned  .  I run ASI and I usually have to take the quizzes twice. 

[GeorgePerry]

I should have titled this thread (Free Stuff or Tommy's political discussion).  That way I would have gotten much more feedback.  

 

I'm still interested in hearing how this is working and what you think.  The IT guys tell me it's good to go.  I fall in the Reagan camp on this one.  Trust but verify.  I'm hoping you guys and gals can let me know if you find any issues and what I can do to make this more fun and beneficial.

 

I'm keen to make improvements. 

[schule]

George,

Glad to see all the safety briefing came in handy. Good to see your experience inside AOPA. They need the tactical sense of things.

What kind of statistical prediction model are you using to predict an ASI course? I took the quiz and was given "Cockpit Weather." Some learning but I think there will be more interesting ones based on my use of 122.0 for inflight WX updates.

I did like the link into FAA Wings.

I was most interesting how most of the scenarios started with bad decisions: a 172 on a 3.5 hour XC with 4 hours fuel which is flying slower than the line of thunderstorms you are making XC decisions into and.....best of all......how the Great Lakes winter flight was in a NA Cirrus with TKS and no ability to cruise above the know icing WX.

[GeorgePerry]

What kind of statistical prediction model are you using to predict an ASI course? I took the quiz and was given "Cockpit Weather." Some learning but I think there will be more interesting ones based on my use of 122.0 for inflight WX updates.

 

 

Our IT guys worked with my team to create an algorithm that assigns ranking based on answer results.  It's not perfect as it has to be a system that'll work for every pilot and cover a variety of backgrounds.  The more important purpose was to give folks a place to start.  Once they see how much good stuff the Air Safety Institute has the idea was they'll pick what appeals to their personal interests as they take follow on courses etc. 

[schule]

Hope it works well.

I'll take a look at some of the other courses because they do look more interesting. So by making the survey a miss the site gets more hits on other more interesting courses then you might have a winner.

The course was good even if the baseline C172 and SR20 starting points are by definition a bad starting point. Glad to have a turbo Mooney to make these decisions easier......

[Bob_Belville]

^{I was wondering if anyone had tried the challenge and what you think of the program?  Don't worry you wont hurt my feelings.} 

I took a couple of the IFR Insights Courses while watching bowl games this afternoon. (Re?)learned quite a lot of detail. The courses are extremely well done. Thanks! 

[M016576]

Our IT guys worked with my team to create an algorithm that assigns ranking based on answer results. It's not perfect as it has to be a system that'll work for every pilot and cover a variety of backgrounds. The more important purpose was to give folks a place to start. Once they see how much good stuff the Air Safety Institute has the idea was they'll pick what appeals to their personal interests as they take follow on courses etc.

I took it twice, switching up my answers to try to get different courses (which I did). I love the interactive CBTs (When have you EVER heard a military pilot say that?!), particularly the case studies done in Microsoft flight simulator. Some are just bone chilling, but such valuable knowledge and a great learning experience. The courses I ended up being assigned were IFR flight planning and the old aircraft one. Both were great!

[schule]

I like how several of them help with FAA Wings credits. Took a few over the last couple of days and finished off all the Wings ground credits. Now if it would only stop raining for the flights......................

[bonal]

Haven't taken any of the courses but always watch the recreations that they do and send me. They are very well done and informative

[bonal]

Took the poll and went to the course but had to log in and don't know my account info. It's at work. Don't use email at home accept for MS. One complaint I have and have sent to AOPA is when they send me a course it requires a log in. If they sent it then it should already know my member status. And I have to dig around to find my password

[carusoam]

Honest feedback...

I am on my fourth attempt or so...

I wrote a post-it note to remember to leave feedback...

Yes, I really had a difficult time at first because the link wasn't obvious to me...

Then I returned and took the first poll. it acquired the usual quirky AOPA data like what type of personality I have based on my quirky preferences...

I had a few other priorities each day...so I expected to come back later...

Coming back to the page later resulted in me taking the first poll again at least twice...

Now, I am an expert of the first poll! I want to be a Corsair pilot in my off time...

The course that is selected for me is IFR Cockpit Weather...

I start getting excited for something I want to review again...

Now it asks me to log in again...

I remember going through this a couple days ago...

Resetting username and password.... again.

Getting a couple emails to get that corrected. Now my wife is up to date with what I'm doing as well...

Most websites that I have username and password recognize my Ipad. I don't recall why AOPA's site didn't...

Now, I'm going to try and take the class...

I would say, it takes too much effort for an average AOPA member to get to the training...

Maybe they have better memory skills than I do...?

AOPA has found a way to test both memory and patience...!

I went to take the training...

Pushed the button on the screen. and again...and again....

There is a small note at the bottom of the screen... Something about Optimum experience and Adobe Flash...

The training can't use my ipad?

Does this mean I have to fire up my old dinosaur windows computer to watch a video?

It reminds me of the riff between Steve Jobs and the Windows guys back a few years ago...

Now, I will have to test my memory and patience on the dinosaur we keep in the basement.

I am pretty sure that most Mooney pilots have an Ipad or decided that they will use a different technology because they can...

The nice thing about the Ipad is that it just works. it costs more, but it is the cost of not having a sharp memory...

Let me know if I missed something obvious. That is how I started at the top of this thread....

How is that for honest feed back you didn't really want to hear?

Best regards,

-a-

[1964-M20E]

George

 

Thanks for the heads up and thanks generally I like the ASI products.

 

Since you are intimately involved I have a suggestion.  ASI should make the questions what I call teaching questions.  Not so easy that the correct answer stands out but make them such that the questions are reinforcing the lesson not tripping you up.

 

I am currently studying to take the commercial rotorcraft exam and I get aggravated when answering questions and get it wrong for something small like NM vs. SM or when reading performance off a chart and the answer is 230fpm an they have 200fpm, 230fpm and 250fpm as the answers.  I know part of aviation is about the details especially when operating at the limits of performance.  However, if I’m looking at performance charts and I come up with 250fpm climb performance I’ll most likely count on 200fpm to give myself some extra margin.

 

Finally the training segments should be short and sweet no longer than 15 to 20 minutes to complete.  Like someone else said if it is too difficult members will pass it by.

[GeorgePerry]

Honest feedback...

I am on my fourth attempt or so...

I wrote a post-it note to remember to leave feedback...

Yes, I really had a difficult time at first because the link wasn't obvious to me...

Then I returned and took the first poll. it acquired the usual quirky AOPA data like what type of personality I have based on my quirky preferences...

I had a few other priorities each day...so I expected to come back later...

Coming back to the page later resulted in me taking the first poll again at least twice...

Now, I am an expert of the first poll! I want to be a Corsair pilot in my off time...

The course that is selected for me is IFR Cockpit Weather...

I start getting excited for something I want to review again...

Now it asks me to log in again...

I remember going through this a couple days ago...

Resetting username and password.... again.

Getting a couple emails to get that corrected. Now my wife is up to date with what I'm doing as well...

Most websites that I have username and password recognize my Ipad. I don't recall why AOPA's site didn't...

Now, I'm going to try and take the class...

I would say, it takes too much effort for an average AOPA member to get to the training...

Maybe they have better memory skills than I do...?

AOPA has found a way to test both memory and patience...!

I went to take the training...

Pushed the button on the screen. and again...and again....

There is a small note at the bottom of the screen... Something about Optimum experience and Adobe Flash...

The training can't use my ipad?

Does this mean I have to fire up my old dinosaur windows computer to watch a video?

It reminds me of the riff between Steve Jobs and the Windows guys back a few years ago...

Now, I will have to test my memory and patience on the dinosaur we keep in the basement.

I am pretty sure that most Mooney pilots have an Ipad or decided that they will use a different technology because they can...

The nice thing about the Ipad is that it just works. it costs more, but it is the cost of not having a sharp memory...

Let me know if I missed something obvious. That is how I started at the top of this thread....

How is that for honest feed back you didn't really want to hear?

Best regards,

-a-

 

 

All good feedback!  Thanks.

 

You do have to have an AOPA account (note, not a membership b/c all of this is free).  The account pairs the learner with a transcript so they can keep track of the courses, accident case studies etc that they've completed.  Also in order for AOPA to award the prize, we also need basic information, so the log in issue is unfortunately a requirement.

 

Yep Adobe Flash doesn't work on iPad.  Don't blame us - please blame apple.  Many of our "older" courses are written with flash and to convert them to iPad friendly HTML 5 is VERY EXPENSIVE.  Portable learning is best for sure, no argument there.  But we have to work with what we've got so doing this on a desktop/Flash compatible device is the best option.  

 

It is worth noting that all of our newer courses are fully iPad compatible, and we have updated some of our older courses as well.  But with over 300 "products" its a long list and is cost prohibitive to do all at once.

[GeorgePerry]

George

 

Thanks for the heads up and thanks generally I like the ASI products.

 

Since you are intimately involved I have a suggestion.  ASI should make the questions what I call teaching questions.  Not so easy that the correct answer stands out but make them such that the questions are reinforcing the lesson not tripping you up.

 

I am currently studying to take the commercial rotorcraft exam and I get aggravated when answering questions and get it wrong for something small like NM vs. SM or when reading performance off a chart and the answer is 230fpm an they have 200fpm, 230fpm and 250fpm as the answers.  I know part of aviation is about the details especially when operating at the limits of performance.  However, if I’m looking at performance charts and I come up with 250fpm climb performance I’ll most likely count on 200fpm to give myself some extra margin.

 

Finally the training segments should be short and sweet no longer than 15 to 20 minutes to complete.  Like someone else said if it is too difficult members will pass it by.

 

Good feedback on both points.

 

I agree that a lot of the questions are Too Hard.  I don't think most FAA DPE's could answer them all correctly.  I've talked with my curriculum development folks and let them know this.  Unfortunately the courses that are complete, are complete.  It would be prohibitively expensive to redesign what's been out for some time now.  

 

Also I agree the courses are too long.  They are designed to mirror a collegiate type course and thus the length.  eLearning trends are changing and information needs to be short, to the point, and portable.  The new stuff we are working on will do all of those things.