L3 Assessment Standard and Competencies: Overview: The following L3 Standards and Competencies in conjunction with the ACA L3 Instructor Criteria is what the instructional staff will look for during your ICE. During the IDW it is useful for candidates use this section for self-assessment and guide them during their reflective process and to assist with peer-assessment. Bear in mind that while candidates assessing for L3 must meet all of the L3 Standards they only need to demonstrate competencies appropriate to the learner, environment and scope of the session. Therefore, the competencies should not be viewed as a "check” list. L3 Standard: • The candidate maneuvers and conducts rescues in the L3 Coastal environment with unconscious competency. • The candidate has the knowledge, understanding and ability to teach and lead beginner and novice learners in a variety of L3 Coastal environments autonomously. • The candidate is able to develop and implement an effective on-water session for up to 5 learners. • The candidate is able to navigate effectively in the L3 Coastal environment. Competencies: Personal Paddling*: • Maneuvers effectively and efficiently. • Applies appropriate skill/s in specific environments. • Conducts effective and efficient rescues. • Demonstrates appropriate and effective use of personal equipment and tools. • Manages incidents appropriately, efficiently and effectively. *Personal Paddling will be assessed in the prescribed ACA L3 Coastal Venue: 1-2 Foot Seas, 10-15 Knots of Wind, 1-2 Foot Breaking Waves and 1-2 Knots of Current. On-Water Session Management/Leadership: • Selects environment/s appropriate to session objectives within the L3 Coastal Kayak Instructor Venue. • Demonstrates awareness and understanding of environmental factors on learning and group management. • Ensures students possess equipment/tools appropriate to the content and environment. • Establishes clear parameters and session objectives. • Develops a clear communication plan to facilitate group/session management in the environment. • Modifies session to accommodate changes in the environment and to mitigate emergent risk. Session Planning: • Conducts themselves in a professional manner. • Gathers information about individual students experience and interests. • Develops session objectives based on information gathered. L3 Assessment Standard and Competencies (continued): On-Water Teaching/Coaching: • Conducts themselves in a professional manner. • Develops relationship/rapport with individual learners. • Is able to use structured delivery methods such as I.D.E.A.S. to deliver content. • Uses a variety of activities to challenge learners and increase understanding and ability. • Provides timely and accurate feedback. • Is receptive to student feedback. • Monitors learner enthusiasm, understanding, fatigue and emotional state and modifies session/activity accordingly. • Provides proficient demonstrations. • Maintains an appropriate talk to action ratio. • Conducts an end of session debrief. Navigation: • Demonstrates an understanding of the impact on tide, current and weather on session/journey planning. • Demonstrates proficiency using basic navigational tools, compass, deck compass and chart and/or map. • Demonstrates proficiency using resources such as tide and current table. • Is able to navigate in the L3 Coastal environment (including low visibility). ACA Knowledge and Understanding: • Understands how to register and report courses. • Understands how the ACA Insurance Program works. • Understands the ACA Waiver and Release of Liability. • Understands how to maintain their certification. • Knows where to find addition information pertaining to the ACA . Level 4 Assessment Standard and Competencies: Overview: The following L4 Standards and Competencies in conjunction with the ACA L4 Instructor Criteria is what the instructional staff will look for during your ICE. During the IDW it is useful for candidates use this section for self-assessment and guide them during their reflective process and to assist with peer-assessment. Bear in mind that while candidates assessing for L4 must meet all of the L4 Standards they only need to demonstrate competencies appropriate to the learner, environment and scope of the session. Therefore, the competencies should not be viewed as a "check” list. L4 Standard: • The candidate maneuvers and conducts rescues in the L4 Open Water environment with unconscious competency. • The candidate has the knowledge, understanding and ability to teach and lead learners of various levels of readiness in L4 Open Water Coastal environments autonomously. • The candidate is able to develop and implement a student centered, contextualized on-water session for up to 5 learners. • The candidate is able to both navigate in the L4 Open Water environment and able to teach open water navigation. Competencies: Personal Paddling*: • Maneuvers effectively and efficiently. • Applies appropriate skill/s in specific environments. • Conducts effective and efficient rescues. • Demonstrates appropriate and effective use of personal equipment and tools. • Manages incidents appropriately, efficiently and effectively. • Demonstrates the ability to navigate in the L4 environment. *Personal Paddling will be assessed in the prescribed ACA L4 OW Venue: 15-20 knots of wind, 3-5 foot seas, 2-4 foot surf, and 2-4 knots of current. On-Water Session Management/Leadership: • Selects environment/s appropriate to content, learner readiness and instructor competency. • Demonstrates awareness and understanding of environmental factors on learning and group management. • Ensures students possess equipment/tools appropriate to the content and environment. • Establishes clear parameters and session objectives. • Develops a clear communication plan to facilitate group/session management in the environment. • Modifies session to accommodate changes in the environment and to mitigate emergent risk. Session Planning: • Conducts themselves in a professional manner. • Develops relationship/rapport with individual learners. • Gathers information about individual learning profiles, individual interest and individual level of readiness. • Develops a session plan based on information gathered. • Selects a venue/s appropriate to session objectives, learner readiness and instructor competency. Level 4 Assessment Standard and Competencies (continued): On-Water Teaching/Coaching: • Conducts themselves in a professional manner. • Develops relationship/rapport with individual learners. • Uses the environment to create learning opportunities. • Uses a variety of instructional/teaching methods that address different learning preferences. • Uses a variety of activities to challenge learners and increase understanding and ability. • Provides timely and accurate in situ feedback to enhance the learner’s performance/understanding. • Is receptive to student feedback. • Monitors learner enthusiasm, understanding, fatigue and emotional state and modifies session/activity accordingly. • Provides technically proficient demonstrations and/or accurate explanations. • Maintains an appropriate talk to action ratio. • Conducts an end of session debrief. Teaching Navigation: • Demonstrates the ability to develop a navigation activity that emphasizes skills required for paddling in open water environments. • The activity incorporates resources and tools that coastal paddlers may encounter. • The activity has clearly defined objectives. • Content is accurate. ACA/Paddlesports Knowledge and Understanding: • Understands how to register and report courses. • Understands how the ACA Insurance Program works. • Understands the ACA Waiver and Release of Liability. • Understands how to maintain their certification. • Knows where to find addition information pertaining to the ACA. • Demonstrates the ability to plan a progression for teaching rolling. • Possesses an understanding of other disciplines and types of paddlescraft. • Possesses knowledge of coastal kayaking and the coastal environment commensurate with L4 OW. Instructional Staff: Carl Ladd-Osprey Sea Kayak Adventures • ACA L5 Instructor • ACA L4 CK OW Instructor Trainer • ACA L4 Surf Kayak Instructor Trainer • Wilderness First Aid Todd A Johnstone-Wright-Saint Michael's College Wilderness Program • ACA L5 CK AOW Instructor Trainer • BCU Level 5 Coach Sea • ACA L4 CK OW Instructor Trainer Educator • ACA L4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor • ACA L4 Surf Kayak Instructor • Wilderness EMT/Educator • Registered Maine Guide Additional Information/Registration: For additional information or registration materials please contact Carl or Samantha Ladd at Osprey Sea Kayak Adventures at westport@ospreyseakayak.com or call (508) 636-0300.