Understanding How you learn

It is very improtant when learning to drive that you understand the emotional and physical stages that you will go through before you become a competant driver. Many learners feel that they are not making progress or that they are struggling when really what is not understood is that the feelings are natural. Below we explain the 3 stages to learning.

How people learn first phase

When starting out in lessons you will feel awkward and will move in slow movements, This is where the Learners sub consciously is trying to control what is happening. The learner has to think before doing the movement in order to gain the knowledge.

• Performance is generally poor
• The Learner makes many errors
• Makes slow, choppy, movements
• The frustration level is high

How people learn second phase

This is the middle stage of development. Here you will not feel as awkward and your actions will start to flow, this is where the learner is subconciously linking pieces of information together. The learner will start to remember things that have happened before within a driving lesson.

• Less time is spent thinking about every detail
• An association begins & the movement one is learning with another that is already known
• The movements are not yet a permanent part of the brain
• Movements are still not yet automatic. (done automatically)

Movements do not become a permanent part of the brain until they are performed ten thousand times FACT.

How people learn third phase

This stage is reached when learning is almost complete, although an individual can continue to refine the skill through practice.

• The Learner no longer needs to depend on the instructor for all feedback about performance.
• The Learner has practiced the movement ten-thousand or nearly ten-thousand times.
• Movements become spontaneous.
• The Learner no longer has to think about the movement.
• The mind and body become one, just like itching your nose.

This last phase is also a very dangerous stage in driving. There is a tendency at times to sleep walk through the movements. By sleepwalk, I mean allow the mind to wander. In spite of the fact the mind and body have become one, a Learner must still concentrate on what they are doing. It is not good to think about the previous evening’s date, while practicing! For you to understanding the various psychomotor stages makes it easier to learn.

The Brain

The brain is very clever and when driving in familiar areas can switch off and hazards of any nature can be missed. Staying alert keeping the brain active is an important part of learning to drive. Having the ability to not only consider your actions but having the abilty to anticipate the actions of others is a difficult skill to master unfortunately many driving instructors do not spend enough time in this area of learning.

Remember COAST
C oncentration
O bservations
A nticipation
S pace
T ime

Styles of learning

Each learner has their own unique style of learning and our instructors have the ability to define these. Our instructors having assessed the learner will know the best form of teaching to suit. Not all instructors are capable of determining this and that is why at times you may have had lessons previously and felt that you learnt nothing.

Each of our Instructors aim to teach learner drivers to not just pass the driving test but to learn new skills that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Learning to drive on today’s roads requires much more than just having the ability to use the controls. A driver needs to be alert at all times and will need to show good control skills, good observations, confidence, and patience, the list is endless there will be times when quick decisions will have to be made. Being courteous and having the right attitude to others are also very important factors.

Laugh ‘n’ Pass firmly believe that you will get your monies worth you will definitely be more than happy with the quality and professionalism of instruction that you receive. Lessons will move along at a pace that suits and as soon as you are approaching a safe driving standard we will book your test.

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