Practice Under Supervision

DOE-HDBK-1206-98

should stress safety and compliance with facility procedures. An effective way to do this is by

his/her own personal actions. Since the trainee generally imitates the instructor's performance,

the instructor should demonstrate the task exactly the way it should be performed. The

instructor should ask the trainee frequent questions and explain or demonstrate task elements

again as necessary. The instructor should proceed slowly and continue the demonstration

only after it is clear that the trainee understands.

The instructor should closely supervise the trainee's initial practice to ensure safe and correct

task performance. An effective method of conducting the practice step is to have the trainee

talk through the key points and demonstrate the main steps of the task. During the practice

session, the instructor should ask the trainee questions regarding what is being done, why it is

done, and what indications to look for. The trainee should practice at his/her own pace without

unnecessary interruption or too much instructor assistance. As the trainee gains proficiency,

the instructor should reduce or fade his/her coaching. However, the instructor should never

hesitate to stop the trainee if a mistake can be prevented or has been made. The instructor

should correct improper actions promptly and without belittling the individual. The trainee will

usually know what he/she did wrong, and very little correction should be necessary. The

instructor should be patient and provide positive comments on the trainee's initial efforts.

Sufficient time should be scheduled to allow for trainee practice. Depending on the difficulty a

trainee is having performing a task, the instructor may have to schedule additional training and

practice at a later date. The time to identify and correct errors is during the training rather than

during the performance test.

The OJT guide (or equivalent) should specify the degree of supervision that is required when

the trainee practices under supervision. Facility procedures and the hazard or complexity of

the task should be the overriding factor in this requirement. In both of the following cases the

instructor supervises the trainee, but the degree of supervision is different:

Controlled--The instructor closely supervises the trainee. The trainee works at

his/her own pace but the instructor is always ready to stop him/her to prevent or

correct mistakes.

Independent--The instructor allows the trainee to practice the task at his/her

own pace following the demonstration. This method has limited usefulness for

facility operators but may work quite well in a shop or laboratory environment.

The instructor closely supervises the trainee the first time he/she practices the

task and then allows the trainee to practice independently, periodically checking

and coaching as necessary.

Regardless of the method used, the end result should be sufficient trainee practice to develop

proficiency in task performance (i.e., performance satisfies the learning objectives).