Item: Backcountry Ascender’ Avalanche Educator Case Study - Leveraging Incentive Based Learning and Peer Accountability to Drive Avalanche Education
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Title: Backcountry Ascender’ Avalanche Educator Case Study - Leveraging Incentive Based Learning and Peer Accountability to Drive Avalanche Education
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2018, Innsbruck, Austria
Authors:
- Christopher W. Mayer [ Backcountry Ascender, Snohomish, WA, USA ] [ International Snowmobile Manufactures Association, Haslett, MI, USA ] [ Backcountry Access Inc., Boulder, CO, USA ]
Date: 2018-10-07
Abstract: There is a growing divide between snowmobile technological capabilities and backcountry management skills. At the same time, the hashtag culture among snowmobilers is creating confusion in priorities while preying on already vulnerable human factors. Training is reactionary, not proactive, and annual proficiency is not the norm. Developed in 2016, Backcountry Ascender (https://BackcountryAscender.com) is an incentive-based learning platform using an Avalanche Training Pedagogy. It was developed with support of the International Snowmobile Manufactures Association using a curriculum reviewed by The American Avalanche Association and Avalanche Canada. It had a purpose of three overlying goals: • Reach the most unaware demographic - those who travel once or twice a year from flatland areas without the necessary gear, experience or proficiency to safely navigate a dynamic avalanche environment. • Ignite and motivate the avalanche education cycle - provide seed information while coaching that more education is necessary, create a desire and advancement path to take on-snow courses, and establish a culture of annual/recurring proficiency. • Peer Accountability - create transparency among social circles as to who has what level of training and foster positive pressure for lagging individuals to advance. The results have been promising. In the two seasons of operation, thousands of participants have advanced their education, regions of focus have created an un-precedented demand for on-snow courses, clubs/associations are competing to be the most educated, and corporate sponsors and Avalanche Centers around North America are becoming involved.
Object ID: ISSW2018_O16.5.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: Avalanche Education, Gamification, Social Learning Theory, Predictive Learning
Page Number(s): 1389-1393
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