Students taking Quebec’s new driving course will now learn proper driving behaviour by watching English language videos that use miles an hour. That is what emerges from the training document put forward by the Minister of Transport and of which AUTO123.com got a copy.
These videos are just one of the facets of the new-style course, which focus on a psychological approach to learning rather than a practical one. At least that’s what we heard from a few driving school operators who have to integrate these new teaching methods.
In actuality, like the teaching reform in Quebec’s schools, this new method puts the emphasis on team work and reviewing major principles, while leaving little room for learning basic rules such as the highway safety code.
Remember, this new course will be mandatory for all new drivers in 2010 (even if a request has been made to postpone its implementation). Its goals are to establish the profile of a safe, cooperative and responsible driver while teaching students how to manoeuvre a passenger vehicle.
The Soft Approach
The new strategy applies mainly a soft approach to teaching. Even before obtaining their learner’s permit, enrolled students will have to sit in on a total of five hours of classes to acquire basic knowledge before they can present themselves at the offices of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).
They will then alternate between theory lessons (7 extra hours) and practical lessons (15 hours) to develop better driving techniques. But the concepts themselves are sometimes abstract.
In the theory lessons, for instance, students will have to participate in physical activities. In groups of three, because learning in teams is the new order, they will have to improvise a scene of their choice on the topic of school buses where one of them must play the driver.
And parents are invited to join their teens for the first hour of the theory lessons. Every hour of theory is then followed by two hours of practice on the road. However, the students also have homework to do, as parents will now have to supervise at least 30 hours of driving over the course of the training period and will have to sign a form attesting to it. Driving school representatives are worried. “People protest that parents aren’t good enough drivers to teach their children, but we’re counting on them to make sure the students practice their skills. Most will simply sign the form without really monitoring the new drivers.”
These videos are just one of the facets of the new-style course, which focus on a psychological approach to learning rather than a practical one. At least that’s what we heard from a few driving school operators who have to integrate these new teaching methods.
In actuality, like the teaching reform in Quebec’s schools, this new method puts the emphasis on team work and reviewing major principles, while leaving little room for learning basic rules such as the highway safety code.
Remember, this new course will be mandatory for all new drivers in 2010 (even if a request has been made to postpone its implementation). Its goals are to establish the profile of a safe, cooperative and responsible driver while teaching students how to manoeuvre a passenger vehicle.
The Soft Approach
The new strategy applies mainly a soft approach to teaching. Even before obtaining their learner’s permit, enrolled students will have to sit in on a total of five hours of classes to acquire basic knowledge before they can present themselves at the offices of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).
They will then alternate between theory lessons (7 extra hours) and practical lessons (15 hours) to develop better driving techniques. But the concepts themselves are sometimes abstract.
In the theory lessons, for instance, students will have to participate in physical activities. In groups of three, because learning in teams is the new order, they will have to improvise a scene of their choice on the topic of school buses where one of them must play the driver.
And parents are invited to join their teens for the first hour of the theory lessons. Every hour of theory is then followed by two hours of practice on the road. However, the students also have homework to do, as parents will now have to supervise at least 30 hours of driving over the course of the training period and will have to sign a form attesting to it. Driving school representatives are worried. “People protest that parents aren’t good enough drivers to teach their children, but we’re counting on them to make sure the students practice their skills. Most will simply sign the form without really monitoring the new drivers.”