Search Snowboard Manual
Table of Contents
Effective Communication explores the building of relationships and interacting with guests, a variety of different styles in which you can teach your students, and some important considerations for the feedback process. We will also look at the more advanced technique of question-based learning.
Talk-Show-Feel Communication Modes
Every individual likes to give and receive information in different ways. When communicating new information to students, we can simplify the process by focusing on three main communication modes: talking, showing and feeling.
This is a simple theory based on sensory input. It can help us to order and present information in three different ways, so we cover three main methods of giving and receiving information. Put simply, first we talk about what we’re doing, then we show what it should look like, then we offer opportunities for students to try it whilst indicating some feelings they may experience.
Talk
This communication mode focuses on listening and hearing. A clear and concise verbal explanation is important here. The information should also be presented in a way that is easy to understand and appropriate to the student’s age. A student who enjoys receiving information in this form might ask a lot of questions or repeat instructions back in their own words. They are often the last ones to practise something, as they will be processing the information in their heads.
Show
This communication mode focuses on watching, observing and demonstrating. Accurate demonstrations showing the task or skill from different angles or perspectives are just as important as the verbal description. Highlighting the part of the body that students should be watching will help them to focus on the right thing. Drawing diagrams in the snow or watching other riders and giving visual reference points in terrain can also help here. Students who enjoy receiving information in this form will often watch the instructor very closely or may choose to hang back and watch others in the group.
Feel
This communication mode focuses on increasing awareness of the mechanics of the body and encourages experimentation and experience through movement. When communicating using this method, indicate pressure points that may be felt within the boots and tension in specific muscles. Analogies to similar movement patterns from other sports and day-to-day skills may help here, as will manipulating body parts into the desired position while stationary. Students who enjoy this form of communication will often attempt movements during the instructor’s explanation or may practise the movement whilst standing still before implementing it into their riding.
When presenting information, always try to include all three communication modes. It is natural to begin with talking (unless you choose to say nothing which can make it challenging to teach). It is also very natural to follow this by showing a visual demonstration, unless you choose to present the task with an alternative method. Feeling is often the communication mode that is focused on the least.
Example
You are teaching your student to use their front leg more to steer through their turns. In a stationary position, talk about the leg movement that you are going to try, explaining how the movement works and why it is useful. Show them how they should move, drawing an arc around the nose of the board as a guide. Get the student to make the movement and explain what they may feel, or better still, ask them what they actually feel themselves. Then show them the full task using a moving demonstration (but remember to stop talking during the demonstration).
In previous SBINZ literature and courses, Talk-Show-Feel was presented as V-A-K (visual, audio, kinesthetic), which indicated three different learning styles. The concept that all individuals have one dominant learning style has been debunked in recent years; however, there is still a lot of value in presenting using all three of these “communication modes”: talking, showing and feeling.