Theory Test
Apps have become a readily available item at the tips of everyone's fingers nowadays, but are they beneficial?
I believe they have a place in learning the theory, but do they actually make your pupils actually learn they theory correctly?
Without a doubt, the ability to pop out your mobile phone, practice a few questions or even take a mock test is a great way to continue learning the theory, but does it really get a learner into the full understanding of it?
Processing information takes time, and apps and the way that they tend to get used don't allow for that information to get fully processed and taken in. The uses on the whole are learning by rote, this just allows them to remember things in the same way we used to learn the alphabet or times tables. The users when questioned can't truly give a full explanation as to why the answer is the answer.
Just a simple example would be a mandatory speed limit sign.
Ask a pupil why is it mandatory and a vast majority of them will give a reply something like "well...because it is"
They haven't broken down the fact that the sign is round for starters, that the sign has a red ring around it.
Understanding that round signs GIVE ORDERS and the red ring around it makes it mandatory is how they should be learning the theory behind driving.
This will mean that should they see a round sign in the distance when out driving they will know they have to do something, as they get closer they will be able to work out whether what they need to do is mandatory or advisory, and then work out what is the symbol or instruction on that sign.
Any product that is endorsed by the DVSA has to be taken seriously. And by seriously I mean, these are the people making the rules, which means that whatever is written in them is factual and not created by joe soap down the road, or a hearsay from a mate.
Obviously the book itself has been designed to give information with the purpose of taking the theory test at some stage, so should get a pupil train of thought working in the right direction right from the start.
It may look a little daunting initially but no different to operating a car for the first time.
The book is substantially easier once they get their teeth into it.
The Highway Code, an awesome book once read two or three times, it could pretty much answer the vast majority of the theory test questions if you have read and understood the book properly. But there are missing sections that will come up during the theory test.
Maybe as the Highway code gets updated again (whenever that may be), sections that are in the theory test will be added to it to reflect more of the subject that are not covered.
Since the introduction of the theory test in 1996 if appears that Driving Instructors in a vast majority have left their pupils to their own devices to learn the theory themselves.
This appears to have increased tenfold since the introduction to apps.
But are we letting our pupils down by not engaging with on theory items during their lessons?
Do you feel as an instructor that doing theory during a lesson isn't giving your pupil value for money?
Does it feel like your pupils don't want to do theory?
Do you give your pupils homework to do outside of their lessons?
If your pupils don't fully understand the theory of driving fully, how are they meant to become safe drivers.
How many of you now take on pupils once they have passed their theory test due to the waiting times to get a practical test?
The figure is probably very high. But once you have that pupil who has passed the theory test in your car and you ask them about what you might consider a very simple theory question, they haven't got a clue, they don't remember what road signs mean, couldn't tell you how to understand what road markings mean and how they can gain lots of information from them to assist with their driving.
They only ever purchased an app, practiced the same questions 10 or so times because they were not aware there was more than 50 questions, and then took 4 or more attempts to pass the theory test.
The only reason they passed is because they got a lucky 50 questions.
If i was paid £1 for every pupil that told me they failed by 1 mark, I would be a very rich man.
In truth though, they didn't fail by 1 mark they failed by 8 marks, there were 7 other questions that they could have got right to enable a pass.
If they failed at 42 out of 50 it means that they have a 16% missing of their knowledge in the theory. They didn't just miss out by 1 mark.
Yes they could have passed at 43 marks out of 50 but is still shows that they have a 14% lack of knowledge.
In my opinion the theory test results sheets should reflect FULLY the answer/s that learners get wrong, so that instructors can assist them in their understanding of said wrong answers.
If you are unsure of literature to recommend to your pupils for learning the theory, please take a look in our shop.
You could also subscribe to our curriculum packs to supply to your pupils during their training program that helps assist them in understanding parts of the theory.
