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ACA Trainer Manual

 
The process of becoming an ACA Instructor Trainer is a challenging but well worth it. The SEIC has rigorous procedures to ensure all trainers are seasoned instructors and well versed in ACA policies and procedures. The ACA does a great job in documenting student skills and assessment classes. They also do a wonderful job documenting instructor criteria. When you jump to the IT level, the documentation is much more sparse and relies more on a 1:1 mentoring process with an ITE in your discipline. The goal of this Trainers Manual is to provide some consistent guidance to both ITs and ITEs.

Demonstrate knowledge of ACA Policies & Procedures


How to register & report a course (with and without insurance)
Understanding of the ACA Waiver & Release of Liability & Medical Disclosure
Instructor Maintenance Requirements
Instructor Trainer Elligibility
How to register & report an ICW or Update Course
Instructor Candidate Outcomes: Pass, Continue, Fail
Instructor Update Outcomes: Pass, Completion at a lower level, Unsuccessful Completion
ACA, SEI, and SEIC Organizations

Waivers To SEIC Policies

The Waiver Process

Steps for becoming a Trainer

First Time Trainer
Second Discipline
Upgrading Levels
New Discipline Procedures

Types of Trainer Classes

Instructor Developer Workshop (IDW)
Instructor Certification Exam (ICE)
Instructor Certification Workshop (ICW)
Instructor Update Class
Instructor Certification Challenge Process

Know Your Discipline

As a trainer, you need to know every skill in your discipline and stay current. The various discipline committees update their skills and assessment classes on a frequent basis, it pays to review all of the suggested class topics once a year to ensure you know each and every skill. If anything is unclear, contact an ITE or the discipline chair: List of SEIC Contacts. All ACA Skills Class outlines are on the following link: ACA Skills Course Outlines. There is a drop down box for each discipline.

Demonstrate knowledge of teaching and learning theory:

Characteristics of different types of learners
Effective teaching methods
Effective prepared and impromtu presentations
Evaluate and provide feedback
Effective documentation of skill assessments

Demonstrate the following:

Positive interpersonal skills
Appropriate group management skills (including leadership and judgment)
Ability to choose an appropriate venue / class site

Class Management

Collect and administer all appropriate course paperwork
Establish an appropriate learning environment
Lesson Plans / Outlines
The 6 P's

ACA Overview

The ACA (American Canoe Association) is a non-profit organization that along with the SEIC (Safety Education Instruction Council) were founded to promote paddle sports via education, stewardship, and support of events/programs for paddle sport recreation. The ACA is well accepted as a leader for instructor certification. Many outfitters, organizations, and canoe clubs require ACA certified instructors to run their education programs.

ACA History
ACA Partnerships
ACA Instructor Offerings
How many instructors are there?
Stewardship
Recreation
Instructor Requirements
No Guarantees!