Table of Contents
In total, over 3,000 subject matter experts and recreational boaters from around the country were involved in the process to produce the standards, with ABYC leading the final stage of the process. The overall process resulted in the development, testing and consensus on 98 entry-level skills and over 1,100 specific safety-related behaviors associated with entry-level recreational boat operation, across the three domains of Powerboating, Human-propelled boating, and Sailing. It also produced 14 characteristics and 42 criteria for developing and assessing the quality of an approach to on-water instruction designed to deliver those skills. Additionally, it resulted in assessment tools and resources education providers can use to help ensure the quality of on-water instruction.
For more information about the process used to develop the NOWS ANSs, visit
www.onwaterstandards.org.
Developing proficient entry-level recreational boat operators toward the goal of safer boating requires consideration of several different factors, including: • Ensuring the right people are involved including both instructors and students appropriate for the program.
• Using instructional methods to engage students in hands-on experience with practice and feedback that takes place while on a boat.
• Establishing an environment that encourages students and instructors to learn, grow, and develop as they engage in a safe learning context.
• Having among the key players a clear and shared understanding of the learning outcomes targeted for the experience.
To make boating instruction most effective, best practices for on-water, skills-based instruction needs to include standards associated with this entire system of people, methods, context, and outcomes.
Four ANSs have been developed to address on-water, skills-based instruction for safer boating associated with this system. ABYC EDU-4 On-Water Recreational Boating Skills–Instruction serves as the “umbrella” ANS. It identifies the characteristics and qualities associated with all parts of the system and is applicable across the three recreational boating education domains of Power, Human-propelled, and Sail. The three domain-specific skills ANSs identify the learning outcomes of instruction associated with each domain of recreational boating. They are:
• ABYC EDU-1 On-Water Recreational Boating Skills–Power (EDU-1; described in this TSD) • ABYC EDU-2 On-Water Recreational Boating Skills–Human-propelled (EDU-2) • ABYC EDU-3 On-Water Recreational Boating Skills–Sail (EDU-3)
The skills-based standards represent a consensus of recreational boating experts from across the country as to what skills should be included within an entry-level curriculum of instruction. More specifically, they identify the skills recreational boat operators should be able to demonstrate after participating in an on-water skills-based instructional program.
To learn more about these standards and their accompanying TSDs, visit
www.usnows.org.
What does the American National Standard ABYC EDU-1 On-Water Recreational Boating Skills–Power do?
EDU-1 identifies entry-level, performance-focused recreational boating skills. While EDU-1 describes outcome-based skills (the “what”), it does not address the process used to teach or acquire them (the “how”), since that is a decision best made by the education provider.
EDU-1 includes a fundamental set of on-water skills for the operator to be considered safe at an entry-level. Some instructional programs may contain additional elements not listed in EDU-1. Other programs may contain a subset of the powerboating skills elements identified in EDU-1. Additionally, many instructional programs may contain knowledge components in addition to on-water skills.
Rather than being prerequisites for entering an instructional program, the skills contained in EDU-1 would typically be learned as a result of participating in a beginner-level on-water boating course, although they may have been obtained in other ways, such as personal experience.
EDU-1 contains entry-level skills for the operation of the boat from the point it is in the water and ready for pre-trip inspection. The standard does not include launching or retrieving the boat with a trailer or hoist. Other than required items (e.g., life jackets, distress signals, etc.) to be carried aboard, it does not include the use of recommended items such as navigation charts, or a VHF radio, compass, anchor, etc.
This Technical Support Document was produced in part through USCG grant funds to develop National On-Water Skills Standards. 2 ©2022 United States Sailing Association. Facilitated by Think First Serve.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86
