Instructor Development

The Instructor Development (ID) program operates primarily at the Regional level.  The best way to find an Instructor Development course is to locate available events on your Regional event calendar.  Contact the Regional ID Advisor listed on your region’s website if no courses are being advertised.

Many regions occasionally advertise and present old-fashioned ID courses set in a classroom. However, the hybrid E-COURSE style of learning has proliferated across the division.  Any Patroller seeking to become an NSP Instructor can begin this process on their own by following the steps outlined below.  It is important to keep in mind that until your HYBRID E-COURSE is completed with a short “in-person” learning session at the Regional level, NSP credit will not be provided.  ID course credit requires a face-to-face teaching session with an ID Instructor.  Each region has a different way of connecting with its students for these in-person sessions.  Contact your local Regional ID Advisor to schedule course completion and credit.

The ID E-Course Completion Process

STEP ONE:  ID students can get started on their own by using the resources available from NSP.  Download the textbook “Instructor Development, Training the Adult Learner.”  Reading the text is recommended in preparation for the upcoming steps.

STEP TWO:  The next step consists of ONLINE E-COURSE study using NSP’s Learning Center.  Follow this link to the Instructor Development E-Course, enroll yourself, and begin the video lectures and quizzes.

STEP THREE:  After completing the final exam, please print the “Certificate of Completion.”  You should print a copy and download a PDF file version of the certificate.  A copy of the certificate needs to go to the ID Instructor that your local region will assign to teach the face-to-face portion of the course.

STEP FOUR:  This is the Regional portion of the course where under the guidance of an ID Instructor, students will explore a few Learning Activities to develop their skills for:

1. 1. 1. Lesson Planning
      2. Teaching
      3. Monitoring students for understanding
      4. Positive immediate student feedback
      5. and learn about the Mentoring Process

To locate the Regional ID offerings, please click this link and locate your nearest Region.  Use the regional event calendars or the contact info provided for the Instructor Development RA to set up a local in-person course.  Many regions will teach this face-to-face portion of the course using a combination of email correspondence, Zoom sessions, and a meeting at a local ski area.

STEP FIVE:  Students using ID as a Senior Elective are done.  Successful students wishing to become NSP Instructors will be placed in a regional mentoring program to develop their teaching credentials further.

Any Patroller having difficulty locating an opportunity to complete the in-person portion of an Instructor Development e-Course should contact Eastern Division’s ID Supervisor by using the Contact Us page on this website. Please select ID Supervisor…