Item: Skill and Knowledge Mastery of Students in Level I Avalanche Courses
-
-
Title: Skill and Knowledge Mastery of Students in Level I Avalanche Courses
Proceedings: Proceedings of the 2006 International Snow Science Workshop, Telluride, Colorado
Authors:
- Nancy Pfeiffer [ Alaska Avalanche School ]
- Jeffrey M. Foley [ Colorado Mountain College ]
Date: 2006
Abstract: Avalanche education began in the United States in early 1970’s. The current entry level--often referred to as Level 1--avalanche curriculum focuses on the practical application of basic avalanche skills and knowledge. This study attempts to determine what avalanche information the learner can recall a week after and a year after completion of a Level 1 Avalanche course and to determine which skills learned are routinely put into praxis by the learner. A tertiary goal of this study is to offer a reflection on current Level 1 Avalanche curriculum and delivery. Students completing a Level 1 Avalanche course were surveyed one week and one year after course completion. Two hundred and ten students completed the week-after survey and one hundred and eighteen completed the year-after survey. In the week-after survey 45% of students reported they had a beginner level of avalanche knowledge, this decreased to 33% in the year-after survey. Conversely, in the week-after survey 50% of students reported they had an intermediate level of avalanche knowledge, this increased to 61% in the year after survey. Respondents on the second survey scored 10% lower overall on the factual questions than the first survey; this is a decrease from 88% correct on the first survey to 77% correct on the second survey. The percentage of students that always carried a beacon in backcountry avalanche terrain increased from 47% to 79%. Similar increases were seen in students carrying a probe and a shovel. Many students increased the frequency of using safe travel techniques such as traveling one at a time, grouping up in safe areas, and doing avalanche transceiver checks prior to entering the backcountry. Many other knowledge, behavioral, and action oriented outcomes are explored in this report.
Language of Article: English
Presenters: Unknown
Keywords: avalanche education, avalanche curriculum, learning outcomes, outcomes assessment, information retention
Page Number(s): 264-273
Subjects: avalanche education courses backcountry skiers avalanche safety
-
Digital Abstract Not Available
-