Robserver wrote:I have been doing one session a week rather than fortnightly because it keeps the associate moving along and maintains their interest although not usually a problem. The problem with fortnightly drives is that if a drive is missed going a month can prove 'costly' and the associate can disappear.
In the 10+ years and 80+ associates I've been observing on a 4 weekly basis for each associate, I have never had an associate 'disappear'
The change in their driving is very prominent if they have been practicing, which is the method that is recommended by the IAM - after all, that is why this is not an 'instructional' course but a self taught one with 'help & advise' from observers.
The IAM observer guide suggests about 6 runs on average and to have those runs spread apart so that it give the associate time to practice.
I'm glad you system has the end result but I honestly feel that your time could be better used to advise more associates within the same timeframe.
I sometimes have over 10 associates but the 4 weekly drive method allows me to do this very comfortably.
Our group also has triplicate self carbonating run sheets - one for associate, one for observer & one for the group observer co-ordinator. This means that if an observer is unable to do the runs for whatever reason, all the info can be passed onto another observer.
We did a trial a couple of years ago where we tried the two week method but the results were not as good.