The Safety through SCUBA program has been established around the Experiential Learning Model (sometimes called the action-learning model).  People learn best by being involved in the learning process, thinking about what was learned and then how to apply that learning to real life situations. This "doing" method is usually more successful than "showing" or "telling" learners how to do something.

To help participants get the most out of of the Safety through SCUBA learning experiences we follow these steps:

1. Experience - do an activity
2. Share - discuss the experience by describing what happened.
3. Process - discuss the experience to identify common themes.
4. Generalise - identify principles that can be applied in real-life situations.
5. Apply - use the principles to apply to what was learned to another situation.

Completing this entire process helps participants gain meaning from what they learn and do.

How Safety through SCUBA participants learn

Here are some basic principles that apply to all learning situations. First of all, people learn in an atmosphere of warmth and acceptance. All Safety through SCUBA participants ultimately self select their involvement. Safety through SCUBA trainers are specialists in their field with both formal adult education qualifications and specialised PADI Instructor ratings

At the introductory session all participants identify and record clear self-determined goals for their learning. If they understand the purpose of learning, they can make these goals relevant and meaningful.

Each Safety through SCUBA participant will have different abilities. The same learning method will not be equally successful with all of them. Adequate learning requires motivation. Self-motivation comes from basic needs, personal preferences, feelings of self-worth and belonging. The environment of the Safety though SCUBA program is both novel and challenging with a formal PADI qualification at its conclusion. Such an environment maximises the motivational aspect of the learning environment; hence retention of the associated safety related thinking skills and lifelong application is maximised.

Several traditional teaching techniques add variety and excitement to the learning process:

Demonstrations

Demonstrations are showing and telling how to do something. Safety through SCUBA trainers present demonstrations to help participants learn. Participants in turn can reinforce this learning by giving their own demonstration for the group. Often this is done at the next session meeting for review.

A demonstration has four parts:

1. Introduction - what the person is demonstrating and why.
2. Body - the steps of the skill and how to do them.
3. Summary - review of the steps.
4. Questions and answers - the demonstrator answers questions the audience may have.

The value of being able to demonstrate safety aware concepts across dimensions is reinforced throughout the Safety through SCUBA program.

Demonstrations help participants:

1. Develop a positive self-concept;
2. Acquire more self-confidence;
3. Express their ideas clearly;
4. Spontaneously respond to questions;

5. Acquire subject matter knowledge.  

Judging

Skillathon

Field trips and tours