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DESIGNING INSERVICE TRAINING - A BETTER APPROACH

NCJ Number
57237
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 48 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1979) Pages: 18-23
Author(s)
M B HALVERSON; J C LEDOUX
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
EDUCATIONAL TECHNIQUES FOR POLICE INSERVICE TRAINING ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF MOTIVATIONAL AND LEARNING CHARACTERISTICS OF POLICE OFFICERS.
Abstract
THERE ARE FOUR IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DESIGNING POLICE TRAINING. THE FIRST IS BASED ON THE SELF-IMAGE AN ADULT BRINGS TO THE LEARNING SITUATION. UNLIKE CHILDREN, ADULTS ARE USED TO DEALING WITH VARIOUS PROBLEMS AND ARE NEITHER DESIROUS OF, NOR COMFORTABLE WITH, A SUBMISSIVE, DEPENDENT ROLE. ADULTS PREFER TO EXAMINE THE OBJECTIVES OF A CLASS AND DETERMINE FOR THEMSELVES THEIR WEAKNESSES IN THE SUBJECT AREA. AS SUCH, POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMS SHOULD AVOID RIGIDLY FORMAL SETTINGS IN WHICH THE INSTRUCTOR IS 'THE AUTHORITY.' ADULT LEARNERS ALSO TEND TO WANT TO MAKE IMMEDIATE USE OF THE MATERIAL OR KNOWLEDGE PRESENTED TO THEM, AND ALTHOUGH POLICE INSERVICE TRAINING IS NOT LIKELY TO DEAL WITH SUBJECTS THAT DO NOT HAVE IMMEDIATE APPLICATION, OFFICERS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO SUGGEST NEW AREAS OF STUDY SINCE THEY ARE USUALLY ACUTELY AWARE OF PROBLEMS TO BE FACED ON THE STREETS. THE THIRD CONSIDERATION INVOLVES THE ADULT'S GREATER EXPERIENCE, WHICH SHOULD BE BOTH RESPECTED AND TAPPED AS A SOURCE OF COURSE MATERIAL. THIS SEEMS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO INSERVICE POLICE TRAINING, SINCE SUCH CLASSES OFTEN HAVE A NUMBER OF PERSONS KNOWLEDGEABLE OF A GIVEN TOPIC. THE FOURTH CONSIDERATION IS STUDENT MOTIVATION. THE ADULT LEARNER IS NOT AS OFTEN MOTIVATED BY EXTERNAL REWARDS, SUCH AS GRADES, AS BY INTERNAL INCENTIVES, SUCH AS THE SELF-SATISFACTION OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. THEREFORE, MOTIVATION IS MOST LIKELY HIGHER IF THE CLASSES ARE PRESENTED AS A MEANS OF INCREASING THE OFFICER'S PROFESSIONAL ABILITY. IF A TRAINING PROGRAM IS DEVELOPED WHICH HAS A SUPPORTIVE CLASS CLIMATE, RELEVANT SUBJECT MATERIAL, AND OFFICER INPUT INTO THE PLANNING AND TRAINING PROCESS, THE OFFICER'S MOTIVATION AND LEVEL OF LEARNING SHOULD INCREASE. BESIDES THESE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, THERE ARE SEVERAL SPECIFIC METHODS INSTRUCTORS MAY EMPLOY TO INCREASE LEARNING, INCLUDING ROLE PLAYING AND STUDENT PARTICIPATION. PHOTOS ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)

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