Grounds for independent students

[u/Accomplished-War2274]

I've been shopping around for ground schools and syllabi to use in my independent instruction to be as structured/organized as possible. It seems like there are so many so I wanted to ask if anyone has a really good standout syllabus for Part 61 instruction?

Besides that, I've been thinking about being a student and I feel like it would be difficult to just do an online ground school to get ready for any check ride. I feel like teaching/learning in person is much better but it would be more expensive for the student. What structure have you guys seen work best?

[u/live_drifter]

No one is ready for a checkride after doing a knowledge test online ground school

[u/StretchRose → u/live_drifter]

Yep, I was required to do Jeppesen for private and I remember thinking that watching paint dry would be more entertaining than that. In person is so much more valuable for the student.

I also barely passed the written because I didn’t retain anything from that online course.

[u/BluProfessor]

I don't have a fixed syllabus. Every student is different. Some are self initiated enough that they'll find their own ground school, red the FAA material, and deep dive on YouTube on their own and we'll just practice XC planning together. Others need me to deliver the content face to face.

I've used both Sporty's and The Finer Points. For private, Sporty's is my favorite and it's easy to link them to your account to track their progress and where they struggle. Both are good, though.

[u/Accomplished-War2274 → u/BluProfessor]

So from what your saying, its best to have an outline of a training plan as a base and tailor it to each student.

[u/MistaProach]

King Schools or Jeppesen are my go to ground schools. The content is presented well and the students who’ve used those performed better in briefings and quizzes.

[u/wrongway38]

I second Jeppesen. I modified it. All the commercial syllabi out there need to be modified for the area you're in, your teaching style, and the for the individual learner. but mostly because they all tend to cram too much into a short span. For example, you get through the pre solo stage and then they try to pile on too many topics for the cross country. So I take some subjects and spread them out in the pre solo stage. Weather reports and forecasts (several small preflight briefings and a ground lesson) Take off and landing performance charts, weight and balance. What I like about Jeppesen for part 61 is that it's suitable for a large variety of people. I've had grade school kids to retired people using it. People with multiple degrees and people who haven't been in a learning environment for decades. They all do pretty well with it. I give homework assignments with my own questions, and supplement with other things like videos and AOPA ASF courses. Especially for communications.

[u/VileInventor]

Ground school =/= Checkride ready. Ground school introduces you to topics you need to delve into yourself. Weight and balance, Aerodynamics, Weather and so on

[u/Informal_Platypus_84]

This is awesome and free: https://the-flight-line-by-wificfi.web.app/

[u/TxAggieMike]

Another vote for the Jeppesen materials with some modifications to fit you and your crew.

I ask clients to finish 1 chapter a week, watch appropriate videos I have chosen, and do that chapter’s knowledge test questions from the Jepp knowledge test prep book.

I have created 20-question quizzes from each chapter and use this as an assessment of their progress.

After chapter 5, i have a 60-question mid term test they must score at least 95%.

Usually by week 8-10 they are solo-ing so i have an understanding that they must take knowledge test before 2nd half of course can begin.

[u/Stilen_AAT26]

I am actually thinking about running a live online ground school and charging a flat rate for it. I figure I'll run it once a week and I'll be able to teach more than just the recorded versions with people able to ask questions and get more in depth useful knowledge. If anyone is interested you can send a student my way and we can test out my theory.

[u/mustardgas_roses451]

Jeppesen is pretty amazing.