Plan and deliver personal training

Instruct clients in fitness activities

Instructional methods set 1 is selected

You have selected the instructional methods in set 1 to lead the program with the group at Barrymores. These methods are:

Giving verbal explanation of the activities.
Getting the clients to demonstrate the technique involved in the activities to each other.
Getting the clients to practice the techniques before they start the activity.
Giving each of the clients a written set of instructions for each of the activities.
Getting the clients to pair up and asking them to tell each other what they are doing right and wrong in the activities.
Providing a musical background to each of the activities.
Asking questions of each of the client to see if they understand what is involved in each of the activities.

You ask the group how they feel about the ways you are leading the program.

Susie responds:

"I really don't feel comfortable having someone else tell me if I am doing the exercise properly unless it is the instructor. I don't even like having to demonstrate the activities in front of the others. The other methods you are using are OK. If you continue to ask me to do things in front of the others I may drop out of the program."

Points to consider

Forcing a person to learn in a way that they really do not feel comfortable with can lead to their dropping out of the program. People can learn in ways other than their preferred style but should not be forced to learn in ways that they do not like. You need to consider the range of instructional methods that are available to you and how they match the clients' preferred learning styles. Remember that, although a person may have a preferred learning style, they will be able to relate to a number of different instructional methods.

Tutorial hints

Have a look at the learning resources that describe the different types of instructional methods that can be used in teaching people how to participate in a fitness program. Make sure you understand the relationships between each instructional technique and the learning style to which it most relates.

It is obvious that you will need to change some of the instructional methods you are using to lead the group or Susie may drop out.

Instructional methods
Set 2	Set 3
Verbal explanation of the activities	Verbal explanation of the activities
Instructor demonstration	Get clients to demonstrate the technique to each other
Client practice of techniques	Client practice of techniques
Use a written set of instruction for activities	Use a written set of instruction for activities
Use a written schedule of sets and reps	Use a written schedule of sets and reps
Provide a musical background to activity	Provide a musical background to activity
Instructor led questions of the client to show they understand	Show a video of the activities

Which set of instructional methods, described above, would you use instead of the methods you are currently using?

	Select set 3 of the instructional methods.
	Select set 2 of the instructional methods.