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USCG Auxiliary Instructor PQS Questions
and Correct Answers
List characteristics of an effective instructor Ans: Content and
Auxiliary expertise;
Experience;
A professional appearance;
Organizational skills;
Professionalism
State credibility challenges facing instructors of adult learners and
ways to overcome the challenges. Ans: Adult learners do not
automatically grant credibility to individuals simply because they
are in positions of authority or responsibility. The time and care
invested in preparing for each lesson will influence the instructor's
credibility with the audience.
Of the 14 Instructor Competencies, discuss your two strongest
competencies, why you chose those, and how to implement them.
Ans: Demonstrate effective communication skills - keep
discussion to age appropriateness of learners, avoid acronyms and
long explanations not relevant to the objective.
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Analyze course material and learner information - Prepare well by
familiarizing oneself with topics, PowerPoints and teaching aids
prior to conducting the lesson. Know the type of student that will
be addressed
Of the 14 Instructor Competencies, discuss your two weakest
competencies, why you chose those, and how to strengthen your
implementation of them. Ans: Evaluate delivery of instruction -
gain feedback of positives and areas for improvement.
Report evaluation information - complete summary forms and
submit all required paperwork. Analyze course material and
learner information.
Recite at least two mnemonics from your experience and describe
how you apply those to your instruction. Ans: ROYGBIV,
TV Makes Dull Children: true variation magnetic deviation
compass
Discuss how you would approach each of the three types of
learning, using Auxiliary examples. Ans: Meaningful Learning -
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involves an interrelated body of information requiring
understanding rather than memorization. New material is related
to what a student already knows.
Rote Learning - memorization is one way to learn. Remembering
terms requires repetition and is often called rote learning.
Memorization is one way to learn this type of material, but merely
repeating terms with no apparent relevance is not efficient. Using
mnemonics and distributing the practice over days are ways to
make this type of learning easier.
Skill Learning - many skills are involved in operating a boat, from
tying knots to securing a line to docking a boat in windy weather.
Learning the steps involved in tying a bowline by reading a book is
very different from tying the knot on the dock. Learning the steps
in class involves the two types of learning just described. Gaining
proficiency in actually tying the knot in the line involves skill
learning.
List some techniques that the instructor can leverage to maximize
the effectiveness of two-way communication. Ans: When a student
or trainee speaks, the instructor should pay attention not only to
the content of the message but also to to the speaker's tone of
© 2025 All rights reserved
USCG Auxiliary Instructor PQS Questions
and Correct Answers
List characteristics of an effective instructor Ans: Content and
Auxiliary expertise;
Experience;
A professional appearance;
Organizational skills;
Professionalism
State credibility challenges facing instructors of adult learners and
ways to overcome the challenges. Ans: Adult learners do not
automatically grant credibility to individuals simply because they
are in positions of authority or responsibility. The time and care
invested in preparing for each lesson will influence the instructor's
credibility with the audience.
Of the 14 Instructor Competencies, discuss your two strongest
competencies, why you chose those, and how to implement them.
Ans: Demonstrate effective communication skills - keep
discussion to age appropriateness of learners, avoid acronyms and
long explanations not relevant to the objective.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Analyze course material and learner information - Prepare well by
familiarizing oneself with topics, PowerPoints and teaching aids
prior to conducting the lesson. Know the type of student that will
be addressed
Of the 14 Instructor Competencies, discuss your two weakest
competencies, why you chose those, and how to strengthen your
implementation of them. Ans: Evaluate delivery of instruction -
gain feedback of positives and areas for improvement.
Report evaluation information - complete summary forms and
submit all required paperwork. Analyze course material and
learner information.
Recite at least two mnemonics from your experience and describe
how you apply those to your instruction. Ans: ROYGBIV,
TV Makes Dull Children: true variation magnetic deviation
compass
Discuss how you would approach each of the three types of
learning, using Auxiliary examples. Ans: Meaningful Learning -
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
involves an interrelated body of information requiring
understanding rather than memorization. New material is related
to what a student already knows.
Rote Learning - memorization is one way to learn. Remembering
terms requires repetition and is often called rote learning.
Memorization is one way to learn this type of material, but merely
repeating terms with no apparent relevance is not efficient. Using
mnemonics and distributing the practice over days are ways to
make this type of learning easier.
Skill Learning - many skills are involved in operating a boat, from
tying knots to securing a line to docking a boat in windy weather.
Learning the steps involved in tying a bowline by reading a book is
very different from tying the knot on the dock. Learning the steps
in class involves the two types of learning just described. Gaining
proficiency in actually tying the knot in the line involves skill
learning.
List some techniques that the instructor can leverage to maximize
the effectiveness of two-way communication. Ans: When a student
or trainee speaks, the instructor should pay attention not only to
the content of the message but also to to the speaker's tone of
© 2025 All rights reserved
