EASTOVER, S.C. - Experienced instructors know the more engaged and confident students feel in the classroom, the greater their chances will be in understanding the material and having success.
To meet the U.S. Army's goal of maintaining a highly trained and combat-ready force, the Training and Doctrine Command states that their mission priorities include being adaptive and seeking ways to improve, as they change the Army for the future. A recent example of this can be found in the updated content in the Common Faculty Development Instructor Course (CFD-IC), the initial training course for instructors.
The South Carolina National Guard's 4th Battalion, 218th Regiment (Leadership) completed its first session of the 80-hour CFD-IC on June 14, 2018, at the McCrady Training Center in Eastover, South Carolina. The course was developed from the outcomes of the Army Basic Instructor Course (ABIC), the Small Group Instructor Training Course (SGITC), and the Faculty Development Program Phase 1 (FDP1).
"The Common Faculty Development Instructor Course combines all three instructor courses to provide the material in a more effective manner," said U.S. Army Master Sgt. Tim Adams, Chief Instructor, 4th Battalion, 218th Regiment (Leadership). "There is a strong emphasis on facilitating group instruction and group activities."
The purpose of the course is to train enlisted, officer and civilian instructors to deliver basic instructional and facilitation techniques and methods for adult learners. The overall goal is for students to feel confident while providing instruction using different types of learning strategies.
"There are practical exercises that involve group discussion and problem solving," said Adams. "For seasoned instructors, it does provide a different aspect to understanding what is expected in learning models, classroom management and effective communication techniques."
The course is specifically designed for personnel assigned as an instructor, instructor/writer, writer/instructor, or training developer. Thirteen students attended the first session of CFD-IC hosted by 4th Battalion, 218th Regiment (Leadership). The course is scheduled to be taught once a quarter and is available for registration in the Army Training Requirements and Resource System (ATRRS).
"The course and the final presentations by the students went very well," said Adams. "The knowledge they gained and their new self-awareness being on the platform provided them a solid foundation as they begin to interact in their classrooms and continue to develop their personal teaching styles."