Portsmouth, R.I. (August 5, 2015) – The National On-Water Skills Standard Grant Management Team is pleased to announce the establishment of a national recognition program for On-Water Skills Standard Evaluators recognized by the US Coast Guard. On-Water Skills Standard Evaluators who complete a targeted skills training program and meet minimum boating safety instruction educational experience will be nationally recognized as domain specific (SAIL, POWER, HUMAN) standards Subject Matter Experts (SME).
This pool of qualified SME Standards Evaluators will be available to assist recreational boating community course designers in using the On-Water Skills Standards under development, ultimately enhancing the level of boating safety education to individual boaters nationwide.
This On-Water Skills Standards Evaluator Recognition Program was developed as part of the US Coast Guard’s priority strategy to finish, organize and ensure use of the National Recreational Boating Knowledge and Skills standards in the field. Recognized Standards Evaluators, who have a detailed understanding of applying the National On-Water Skills Standards in the field, will support the expansion of the National System of Standards for Recreational Boat Operation by using their unique knowledge and experience to:
- Review existing entry-level recreational boating instructional program content in parallel to observing course participant demonstration of the On-Water skills contained within the standards;
- Identify potential gaps and make recommendations to develop the full profile of skills contained in the On-Water Skills Standards;
- Advise on the level of course participant knowledge acquired through instruction by observing demonstration of a recreational boating skills; and
- Advise on the level of knowledge and skills integration within the course, through direct observation of a course participant operating a boat underway.
Trained On-Water Standard Evaluators are currently available to advise and assist the community in the POWER and HUMAN-propelled domains of recreational boating. Their names will soon be included in a National Registry Database of National On-Water Skills Standards Evaluators. Please visit www.onwaterstandards.org for further information.
The SAIL Standard Evaluator training programs will commence in September 2015 as part of the National On-Water Skills Standards SAIL Validation Program. Individuals with instructor-level sailing credentials interested in volunteering for the SAIL National Validation Program will be eligible to be trained as Recognized Standard Evaluators.
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THE NATIONAL ON-WATER STANDARDS PROJECT
This effort is part of the US Coast Guard’s (USCG) vision of a National System of Standards for Recreational Boat Operation – that will organize both in-classroom and On-Water standards within a comprehensive system of recreational boating education. US Sailing, the grantee, has hired an impartial professional facilitator to spearhead the project so that all recreational boating constituencies are equally represented in the organization of this system. A core team of 44 Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) are developing On-Water Standards and Rubrics for SAIL, POWER and HUMAN-propelled domains of recreational boating. More information can be found at www.onwaterstandards.org.
For more information related to the On-Water Standards Grant, the SME Team members, their role with the program, and other details about the National On-Water Standards project, please contact National On-Water Skills Standards Facilitator K. Brian Dorval at 716-994-2842 or grantfacilitator@gmail.com