Table of Contents Alignment of Knowledge with Skills
The primary focus of the skills-based ANSs is the preparation and delivery of an approach to on-water skills development associated with entry-level recreational boat operation. However, safer boating also requires knowledge as well as good judgment and a positive attitude. Like the ANSs for skills, ANSs also exist that identify the basic boating knowledge necessary to help safely operate a recreational boat at the entry level.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators’ (NASBLA) Education Standards Panel (ESP) is the organization responsible for knowledge-based ANSs for recreational boating. These knowledge standards form the basis for mandatory boater education in most of the states and territories of the USA and are primarily concerned with risk management.
Although different groups developed the knowledge and skills standards at different times, the two sets of standards are complimentary. Knowledge standard elements can be appropriate topics for a non-classroom setting as part of an on-water, skills-based course, particularly at the entry level. Course developers and instructors can choose if, when, and how to integrate teaching basic knowledge in their on-water instructional approach.
Separate Technical Reports9 are available for the knowledge standards. For more information, visit
https://www.nasbla.org/education/national-ed-standards.
Q&A: Designing or Updating an On-water Instructional Approach Does a course need to be certified that it meets American National Standards?
Although not required, following EDU-4 and the relevant domain-specific skills ANS in the design and implementation of on-water instruction is highly encouraged. Education providers should be deliberate about their use of the standards in the design and implementation of their on-water instructional program.
This can involve completing a thorough self-assessment and verification process of the extent to which any existing instructional approach complies with the ANSs for on-water instruction. The NOWS Program has developed Self- Assessment Checklists for this purpose, one for each domain of recreational boating instruction.
To learn more about NOWS Self-Assessment Checklists, visit:
www.usnows.org. What if an instructional approach already follows a different standard?
EDU-4 and the other skills-based ANSs set the national foundation for best practices in entry-level, on-water, skills- based recreational boating instruction. If the instructional approach under consideration already follows a standard, check the extent to which that standard follows EDU-4. If the standard meets or exceeds EDU-4, no change to the instructional approach is necessary. If the standard is set lower than EDU-4, make alterations to ensure the instructional approach meets or exceeds the standard identified by EDU-4.
If a different organization--such as a parent organization or national association--developed the instructional approach under consideration, contact the program owner and inquire whether the course was designed to follow EDU-4 and the skills-based ANSs.
If the instructional approach is designed to follow EDU-4, check to ensure implementation of the approach locally is taking place according to EDU-4. If it does not follow EDU-4, work with the course owner to update the approach so that it does.
Do instructors have to be certified to use EDU-4 or the other ANSs?
A non-certified instructor could theoretically use EDU-4 to design an instructional approach for delivering courses that include content from the domain-specific skills ANSs. However, instructors should have appropriate experience, training, and certification required by the organization providing the education. If the instructional approach includes delivering a course with skills identified by a skills-based standard and that course requires certification, then all necessary procedures and protocols need to be followed to acquire the appropriate certification to include that course in the instructional approach.
9. A ‘Technical Report’ and a ‘Technical Support Document’ are essentially the same type of document used to provide additional information in support of an American National Standard.
11 This Technical Support Document was produced in part through USCG grant funds to develop National On-Water Skills Standards. ©2022 United States Sailing Association. Facilitated by Think First Serve.
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