Fundies - provisional pass

[nic_the_greek]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Tricky)

Besides, I know Rich prefers divers who've not been practising, so maybe that puts me in a better position...

Who said anything about practising? As Sterny suggested in the DIRF thread I will be focusing on getting comfortable with my kit and improving trim & bouyancy. :p

Cheers/Nic

[gecko3s]

I went into Fundies with pretty much the same attitude: I'll do my best, and I'll be happy with a provisional.. I knew as a new diver I wouldn't have the task-loading while maintaining buoyancy thing down, and I didn't, but I kept up a good attitude, always tried to improve, did improve, and had fun, which were the requirements for the prov.

[LCF]

I just want to say something brief about "grades" from Fundies.

I did not expect to pass the class, and only hoped at best for a provisional. Two of my classmates did not pass. A friend of mine was shocked at that, because it was her impression that the ONLY way you "failed" was to have a bad attitude. That is not true.

As far as I can tell, you get a provisional if the instructor thinks that you can, WITHOUT more formal instruction, bring the things that were unacceptable up to standards within six months. If he feels that you cannot do that, you will get a fail. It does not mean you are hopeless, or unteachable, or resistant; it simply means that, realistically, you are not going to be there in six months without further instruction. I think that's an important thing for people going into the class to know, so they are not heartbroken if they fail.

I got a provisional, but it required a bit of discussion with my instructor with regards to what resources I had available to me to work on the things that were inadequate, because frankly, I was quite weak.

[Tricky]

I've just seen a post by Phill on YD that says the new DIRF format will be pass or fail only, no provisional. Is this the case?

[Divingniknaks]

Hope you dont mean me ?

If you do someone just hijacked my account.

[QBU]

A provisional in a place where we have had to fly in GUE instructors from out of country, might as well have been a fail since no one can afford $3,000 just to fly one out again to reevaluate their skills.

Sorry, I'm just ticked about the whole pass/fail change to begin with. We've had divers decide not to sign up just because they are afraid to fail. Even when we know they have good enough skills to pass.

[EBT]

If courses exist to prove you've achieved a common standard, how do you handle someone who doesnt meet the standard, unless you can fail them?

Of course, allowing mystique to buildup around a course that suggests you need to sacrifice a virgin (hard to find nowadays) and wrestle a dragon (look to your nearest traffic warden) in order to pass, is plain daft.

You know divers though, all bullshit and bluster, we love to boast about our achievements.... which builds up mystique

[Tricky]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Divingniknaks)

Hope you dont mean me ?

If you do someone just hijacked my account.

Yes I mean you, see here.

[Sterny]

Quote: (Originally Posted by Tricky)

Yes I mean you, see here.

Hi Tricky, I'm sure Phill will confirm or correct me (or perhaps Rich or one of the other instructors will), but I haven't heard anything about this changing with the introduction of the revised 4-day version of DIR-F course this year. AFAIK it's still going to be pass/provisional/fail as it has been for quite a while.

I think he meant that you now get a result (pass/fail/provisional) at the end of the course, rather than the earlier format (several years ago?!) where it was 'just' (!) a skills workshop with no 'result'.

The provisional pass is, in my view, a pretty important tool, as it allows the instructors to defer awarding the certification to candidates who've met most of the criteria to pass, but just have one or two weak areas that need more work, and who would not need to go to the trouble and expense of taking the whole course again. Doing away with it would leave a 'fail' as the only alternative, and for someone who was almost at the required standard but not quite, this could be pretty demoralising. I've been wrong lots of times before, but this would come as a pretty huge surprise!

Anyone know better?

[Tricky]

I'd like to think I'd pass, but I'm fully prepared to not do so. I agree that the provisional pass is a great idea, for exactly the same reasons. So, while I'll be aiming for a pass, I'd be happy with a provisional. If I failed outright, I'd feel that I'd let myself down. The possible introduction of "only pass or only fail" is a scary thought.