The Children’s Specialist 1 (CS1) is the entry-level children’s education assessment program for PSIA-AASI members. The CS1 program is intended for instructors embarking on the journey toward mastery of the art of children’s snowsport instruction. Instructors are encouraged to take the CS1 course once they’ve achieved a PSIA-AASI Level I certification in any discipline.
The assessment event will involve skiing/riding and teaching scenarios, movement analysis scenarios and technical discussions regarding how children/young students learn and progress from the Beginner/Novice to Intermediate Zones.
This is a multi-disciplinary event although cross country skiing events are separate due to that discipline’s unique terrain requirements.
Assessments of those taking the CS1 event reflect the participants’ knowledge of teaching children and individuals as well as communication with parents/guardians.
Upon successful completion of the event, the instructor will receive a certificate and pin that signifies that they have met the PSIA-AASI Children’s Specialist Standards. The certificate and pin provide professional recognition of the instructor’s education, experience, expertise, and professionalism in teaching children snowsports.
Participants’ achievement will be relayed via verbal feedback from the education staff member throughout the course and at its end.
Criteria for Successful Completion:
- Must complete the online CS1 course a minimum of 48 hours prior to attending the CS1 on-snow clinic.
- Must be an active participant in course.
- Must receive a passing score from children’s regional education staff based on the participant’s demonstrated knowledge, understanding, teaching and movement analysis.
It is highly recommended that instructors review and understand the Children’s Specialist Performance Guide. This document gives examples of successful and unsuccessful performance for each of the Assessment Criteria (AC) used by the event’s assessor(s). The guide relates the Assessment Form and the ACs to a expected performance by the instructor.
NOTE: Instructors must have a PSIA-AASI Level I certification in any discipline in order to register for and take the CS1 event.
Children’s Specialist 2 (CS2) assessment-based certificate program continues building on the instructor’s knowledge and skills developed since receiving their the Children’s Specialist 1 certificate. The program focuses on the specifics of child development for young learners as they progress through the Beginner/Novice to Advanced Zones.
The assessment event will involve skiing/riding and teaching scenarios, movement analysis scenarios and technical discussions regarding how children/young students learn and progress from the Beginner/Novice to Advanced Zones. Participants will demonstrate the integration of their technical understanding of the CAP model with movement analysis and teaching activities for children in the Intermediate and Advanced Zones. Demonstration of their people skills in interacting with their students and parents/guardians will also be assessed.
This is a multi-disciplinary event although cross country skiing events are separate due to that discipline’s unique terrain requirements.
Assessment of those taking the CS2 event reflect the participants’ knowledge of teaching children as well as communication with parents/guardians.
Upon successful completion of the assessment, the instructor will receive a certificate and pin that signifies that they have met the PSIA-AASI Children’s Specialist Standards. The certificate and pin provide professional recognition of the instructor’s education, experience, expertise and professionalism in teaching children snowsports.
Criteria for Successful Completion:
- Must complete the CS2 workbook and quiz a minimum of 48 hours prior to attending the on-snow clinic.
- Must be an active participant in course.
- Must receive a passing score from children’s regional education staff based on the participant’s demonstrated knowledge, understanding, teaching and movement analysis.
It is highly recommended that instructors review and understand the Children’s Specialist Performance Guide. This document gives examples of successful and unsuccessful performance for each of the Assessment Criteria (AC) used by the event’s assessor(s). The guide relates the Assessment Form and the ACs to a expected performance by the instructor.
NOTE: You must have a Children’s Specialist 1 certificate and a PSIA-AASI Level II certification in any discipline (Adaptive, Alpine, Cross Country, Snowboard or Telemark) in order to register for and take the CS2 event.
