ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
Read below to discover more information about Laurie Lawrence’s swimming teacher courses.
How does the online training work?
The interactive learning products have a number of stages that make up the entire program. Each stage is broken down into a number of sections. Once you view one section of a stage you will be prompted to move to the next section of that stage, until you have viewed every section within the particular stage.
The program will remember how many sections and stages that you have completed successfully. Therefore next time you go to view your product, you will be able to click on the section or stage that you finished with the last time you viewed your product.
WWSS strongly suggests that users download and read the user guide on the login page. This will enable you to interact with your product quickly and easily and will answer any additional questions that you may have.
How do I log in?
Once you have signed up to the Professional Development Academy swimming teacher courses, you can view your product by logging in via the home page www.worldwideswimschool.com or you can log in via the link sent to you by email when you purchase your product.
How do I log off?
Users can log off by clicking on the log out button at the top of the dashboard. Alternatively, users can simply exit the window automatically logging off.
What if I am having problems with my product?
If you are having any difficulties at all using, viewing or progressing with your product or swimming teacher courses online please contact the WWSS team directly via email at [email protected] or go to the HELP tab in your dashboard and check out the more FAQ, instructional videos, help pages and a help desk and we will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.
Can I watch the videos on an iPad?
You can view all the content in the WWSS Hub and any other mobile device, but you may need to allow Pop Ups, in the iPad, go to Settings, then Safari and allow Pop Ups.
What if I cannot open and view the PDF or links in Resources?
The reason you can not view some resources may be that you have Pop-ups disabled in the browser you are using.
To see our resources you will need to allow pop-ups for our site.
How can I get copies of my past invoices?
You can get all of your invoices from the shop account on the website (this is not your Hub sign-in), you should have received an email when you first subscribed for the World Wide Swim School shop account.
- Go to the website –> www.worldwideswimschool.com
- Members (top right) –> Your Shop Account –> Login (If you have forgotten your password there is a link here)
- Once in your shop account, you will see a list of recent orders, that you can view and download
What if I haven’t received my registration details?
If you are receiving the monthly resources emails but have not yet registered your product key to gain access to the World Wide Swim School Professional Development Hub, look for an email titled “New Order” from [email protected] in your junk mail or deleted files.
How do I cancel my subscription?
You may cancel a recurring payment (subscription) at any time up to 3 business days prior to the date the payment is scheduled to take place. To cancel your subscription:
- Log into your Pay Pal account and access the “Profile” tab and click the “My Money” tab
- Then, go to “My Pre-Approved payments” link and select the relevant merchant.
- Follow the instructions to cancel the payment.
Please note that cancelling recurring payments does not cancel the current subscription period but it does cancel all the future periods.
TEACHING TECHNIQUES
What is the purpose of coloured rings in a lesson?
Rings are great to incorporate into the swimming lesson. We use these to maintain baby’s grasp reflex, build strength and enhance their general physical development.
Why do I need a rubber floating mat?
Up until five or six months, babies love to lie on their back in the water. Once babies can sit up they seem to want to discard this skill. A floating mat gives baby the opportunity to lie and relax on their backs. Most babies even love to crawl along the mat to mum. This fosters independence and adventure.
What are the important elements of a lesson plan?
A good lesson plan should consist of:
- Warm up
- The main body of skills
- Any new skills
- A conclusion or final activity
What is the best position for a teacher in a class?
The teacher remains central to the class to ensure they can see all children whilst keeping the class moving. The teacher moves from individual to individual keeping them moving, correcting and encouraging both the children and the parents.
What if I don’t have a ledge?
A ledge can be made out of many things. Try using;
- Steps
- Someone’s body
- Ramp
- Deck level pool
Be creative – use what you can to make the child’s swimming experience interesting and fun. Ledges are a great way to encourage independence so try to improvise if you do not have access to one.
When should a baby master turns?
Ideally, we want the children to be able to turn unaided by 18 months. If children are just joining your program it may take some time for baby to turn without assistance. Remind the parents to not force or hurry the baby. With time, practice and patience the child will soon learn.
What teaching equipment do I need for baby lessons?
Although we regard water as the main stimulant, it is important that you as a teacher are well equipped with other items to make your swimming lesson stimulating and fun. Keep in mind we want to continue educating the children via their senses- specifically sight, sound and touch.
You need a:
- T-shirt
- Coloured cup
- Large, colourful, appropriate toys
- Rings
- Floating rubber mat
Why should I wear a t-shirt in lessons?
Wearing a loose t-shirt in the water will give the baby something to grip and hold on to. This is very important for encouraging independence in the child. It is important to maintain the baby’s natural grasp reflex and build their independence and self-confidence. Independence may one day save a baby’s life. Explain this to the parents.
What qualifications do I need and what swimming teacher courses do I need to do to become a swimming teacher?
In Australia, swimming teachers should hold a Statement of Attainment with the following Units of Competency from the Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package.
- SISCCRO302A Apply legal and ethical instructional skills
- SISCAQU308A Instruct water familiarisation, buoyancy and mobility skills
- SISCAQU309A Instruct clients on water safety and survival skills
- SISCAQU310A Instruct swimming strokes
- SISCAQU202A Perform basic water rescues
These units of competency are delivered during the AUSTSWIM swimming teacher courses. The AUSTSWIM teacher license is recognised by the industry as the minimum requirement to be a swimming and water safety teacher.
Similarly, the Swim Australia Teacher course gives a Statement of Attainment with the competencies required to deliver GST free, water related, personal safety and survival lessons.
Furthermore, swimming teachers must maintain a current CPR qualification prior to the swimming teacher courses offered online.
WWSS recommends swimming teachers hold professional memberships with both ASCTA and AUSTSWIM.
WWSS also recommends that swimming teachers hold the relevant extensions courses for teaching specialist groups. For example babies and toddlers, and competitive stokes. We offer swimming teacher courses to uphold your skills and knowledge.
When teaching submersion to children one to two years, do you lift up and down face first or go from the side and place the child’s ear in the water first? What is the reason for teaching either way?
This will be covered in more detail in swimming teacher courses.
When performing any submersion or free floating activity where the teacher or parent initiates the underwater work, we use a double trigger to prepare the child. The 1st is our verbal trigger (ready go) followed by the 2nd which is a kinaesthetic lifting trigger. This lifting trigger also gives children an opportunity to react and hold their breath on the verbal trigger. First submersions are performed in a horizontal position and therefore when performing the underwater work the child is lifted, tipped slightly and moved horizontally through the water. We are aiming for the water to break and flow smoothly and evenly over the head. Vertical submersion can easily force water up the child’s nose particularly if they don’t have good breath control so we hold off on these until floating patterns are established and mastered. Vertical submersion will also follow with use the double trigger. As the child grows with age they will even become so familiar with the lifting trigger that they will hold their breath without the verbal instruction and simply hold it if you lift them.
As the child grows with age our verbal cue becomes more about the child learning water safety rules and to swim when they are invited into the water rather than a cue to hold their breath.
I am not familiar with submersions which require the ear being submerged first. I assume this is to try to give the child time to react and hold their breath, or stimulate a breath holding response.