Observation Process

We will be doing Staff Observations this season with a goal of observing all of our staff members on the hill teaching. There are several items that we are observing. That Criteria is below:


SKI & RIDE SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR OBSERVATIONS

BASIC INFORMATION

Date*

Observer's Name*

Observer's Job Title*

Resort*

Time Observation Started*

Time Observation Finished*

Instructor's First Name*

Instructor's Last Name*

Lesson Type*

Class Level*

Location Of Observation*

QUESTIONS

1. TERRAIN MANAGEMENT*

Is the instructor following terrain management guidelines?

2. CLASS MANAGEMENT*

Is the instructor using good class control techniques (line, speed, turn shape) in order to maintain safe space between themselves, guests and public?

3. LOOKING UPHILL*

Is the instructor looking up hill when merging onto a trail, starting from a stop or traversing a run?

4. SKIING/RIDING FOR WORK*

Is the instructor modelling safe and appropriate skiing/riding?

5. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS*

Is the instructor using the appropriate task given the terrain, traffic, timing and snow surface?

6. LIFT RIDING*

Is the instructor following and demonstrating safe lift riding protocols?

7. PHYSICAL CONTACT*

Is the instructor avoiding physically assisting their guests whenever possible and only using safe and appropriate teaching tactics?

8. COMFORTABLE ON TERRAIN*

Is instructor in control of their speed and turn shape?

9. SKIING BACKWARDS*

Is the instructor avoiding using skiing/riding backwards as a teaching tool?

10. SAFETY COMMUNICATION*

Did the instructor demonstrate clear safety communication with their students?

COMMENTS*

Please comment on your observations especially those questions that were answered 'no'. Make sure to include any clinics, or educational material recommendations that may benefit the instructor.

FOLLOW UP PLAN*

You must have a conversation with the instructor following any observation. They need to know where they have done well, if there was a reason for a question being answered 'no' and what they need to do to be as safe as possible.

How do you plan to follow up with the instructor?

DOES THE INSTRUCTOR NEED TO BE OBSERVED AGAIN?*

Please choose 'Yes' if the instructor received 3 or more ‘No’ observations OR if you observed reason to believe the instructor would benefit from a second observation.

Observations

Observations are to be done by Managers, Supervisors and Trainers only. There should be no one else on our staff doing these.

HEre are some examples of what we want to see:

  • On a warmup run, Cooper had his group starting to feel out the terrain and the variable conditions. He engaged different students and had them determine a safe time to proceed down the hill and where a safe spot to stop was.

  • Teaching students to move skis parallel across the hill, Hannah did a great job pulling one student from the group and giving the student a little extra attention. The rest of the group had no idea and no one felt excluded! Great job!

  • Sean did a great job keeping student engaged in the lesson and having a great learning environment. He made a fun game out of the movement of traversing across the hill.

  • Hannah did an excellent job communicating with her entire group to keep them engaged and organized. From the lift line to the hill, she provided a safe and fun atmosphere. Great theme of dinosaurs and unicorns to keep all the kids engaged.

ProConnect Feedback-SBI MOdel

The information entered in the observation form is designed to assist with performance reviews. The information will be entered into Pro Connect and it is extremely important. It should not be a generic statement or a piece that the Pro needs to work on, but instead should follow this model:

  • Situation- What lesson/level was the Pro Teaching, and Where were they teaching?

  • Behavior- What choices has the Pro made to engage/teach their guests. What are they doing well?

  • Impact- How did that affect the learning environment for the positive?

The language should be factual, accurate and not judgmental or subjective.

Here are some Examples that could be improved:

  • Strong Timing with lesson plan.

  • Effective pacing for the group.

  • Needs feedback based more in movement analysis.  Otherwise, great job.

  • Needs a few more tricks to accomplish goals w/ kids, but did has good ideas.