Guidelines History
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Purpose & Need:
Prior education guidelines were created in 1999 with the intent for re-evaluation and updating as new avalanche information and education emerged. Spring of 2006, the Education Committee began a process to update the guidelines with a path of progressions and outcomes/objectives for each level. In 2007 the updated guidelines were finalized and approved.
Summary:
The updated guidelines serve to:
- Recognize and facilitate awareness programs, introductory programs, multiple user groups and identify ongoing education opportunities such as L1 refresher/prep for L2 programs and rescue clinics.
- Accommodate a variety of programs and course providers. University and intensive training programs may incorporate more time than the recommended guidelines. However, we feel that independent field experience between progressive levels of educational programs is essential. Through active experience, students are able to practice and integrate knowledge and skills learned.
- Strongly recommend backcountry first aid and winter survival skills. Although outside the scope of most avalanche programs, A3 feels it is important enough to make a recommendation for any backcountry traveler to obtain this training or experience.
- Provide outcomes for L1 & L2 programs and list L1, L2 content in a manner to support outcomes. Note: Pre-existing L1 and L2 guidelines fit the updated guidelines. Course providers who have offered programs meeting prior L1 and L2 guidelines do not need to make significant changes, but should review the new guidelines and make any needed adjustments.
- Note the recommended format for L1 requires 24 hours or 3 days, the L2 content mandates a 32 hour or 4 day program. We feel this time frame is essential to cover the course content and for the student to gain a level of comprehension and application of skills that meets the desired outcomes. The intent is to facilitate consistency of content and quality of L1 and L2 programs among course providers nationwide.
- Recognize upper level programs. Note- general not specific guidelines are listed for L3’s. L3’s are identified as offering advanced topics with a specific focus such as guiding or operational concerns. Content is at the jurisdiction and expertise of the course providers. Further refinement of guidelines for L3 programs will be a priority for the education committee working with course providers.
- Emphasize the need for continuing education.
- Recommended Guidelines are presented as:
a) A table format addressing specifics of title, audience, outcomes, content, pre requisites, format, performance measures, instructor qualifications and student:instructor ratios
b) A graphic of progressions depicted by a flow chart and a conceptual illustration. The education committee developed two different graphic formats in recognition that we absorb and process information in different ways.
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Course Content & Quality
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The guidelines are provided only as a framework for avalanche instruction. They are not comprehensive or exhaustive. Instructors can, and must, fill in the blanks with their own experience and knowledge of general avalanche phenomena, as well as local expertise. The guidelines will not make a novice an effective avalanche educator.
In addition, students may find the guidelines valuable as a template for evaluating courses. Students can compare the guidelines with advertised course outlines to ensure they will receive a comprehensive course. They can also use the guidelines to evaluate their courses after completion to confirm their course covered the necessary material.
Note: The National Avalanche School classroom phase 1 and field session phase 2 is comparable to attending an intensive Level 1 and a L1 Refresher/L2 Prep (ASAW) and is seen as meeting prerequisites for AV Pro. A minimum of a full field season of applied practice and experience is required before attending a Level 2 program, so L2 graduates are expected to be more advanced in their education and experience than a NAS phase 1 & 2 graduate. Thus, completing the NAS phase 1 & phase 2 is not exactly the same as completing a Level 2.
Conclusion:
These guidelines are provided for the avalanche community as a tool. This tool needs improvement, refinement and continual updating as new material and information becomes available. We invite feedback from instructors and students at any time. Please contact the Education Committee chairs, a committee member, or your AAA representative with comments.
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