Best way to self study for CFI

Benji86

Benji86

New Member
Well I have been studying for the CFI, and well, its hard not to get overwhelmed at times. My method of study lately has been creating an outline. For example, I read the FOI, then went through each chapter, outlined it in MS word, then studied that outline until I knew everything important.
It seemed to help me retain the info.
I have tried this approach with the Pilots handbook of Aeronautical knowledge and it seems to take a lot longer to do it this way. I wonder if I am creating more work for myself in the long run.

Basically my question is, in trying to retain the information that is pertinent to the CFI rating, does anyone think that I am creating more work than is necessary? I wonder if there is a more efficient way to study this massive amount of material? Any suggestions on this matter would be greatly appreciated!
 
i don't think that just because it is taking you long that it is a waste of time. Personally I feel that the longer you spend with the material the better you will come to know it.

Funny, there's a lot of good information in those books, no matter what people say. I think about the levels of understanding all the time outside of aviation - when I see a child, or my wife doesn't get it, or when I'm thinking about why someone seems really stupid.

Take your time to learn it in whatever manner helps you. At this point of the economy, there really is no reason you should feel rushed to be unemployed.
 
I agree with you moxiepilot, I have started incorporating those ideas into my life concerning the FOI, its actually pretty cool to see it happening!. As for the unemployed thing, well I am unemployed right now and I guess its good b/c it gives me all the free time to study!
But I love efficiency, and firmly believe in finding better ways to do things. Unfortunately, I only have my viewpoint to go by and right now, all I see is the outline format. It works but very time consuming!
 
I am also slowly working on CFI. I have completed the FOI written and now working on the knowledge portion. My big concern is being able to retain all the info and eventually get ready for the check ride. (possibly over a four month period).I hear all the stories about all the high fail rates for first time check rides in our area.
 
agpilot 13 said:
I am also slowly working on CFI. I have completed the FOI written and now working on the knowledge portion. My big concern is being able to retain all the info and eventually get ready for the check ride. (possibly over a four month period).I hear all the stories about all the high fail rates for first time check rides in our area.
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So tell me, what is your method of study? How well has it worked for you?
 
ASA dvd's. Worked great for the FOI part. Not far enough along on the next part to know. Like the post above, It can be overwhelming in the beginning. So far I am studing solo. Plan is to complete the written portions first then get with an instructor and learn to fly right seat. Just hope I don't loose too much of the knowledge part by the check ride.
 
Benji86 said:
I wonder if there is a more efficient way to study this massive amount of material?
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I created close to 100 note cards and read through them each night before bed for about 2 months on the FOI/FAR information. I found that worked great for remembering all that stuff. Then to help retention try to apply it to everyday experiences, much of the FOI is psychological information and does a great deal to teach you how people work, not just learn.

You can apply it to just about anything from trying to understand why someone gets mad about something you say (communication/defense mechanisms). Doing simple tasks like that keep you thinking about and analyzing the information in your everyday life and will drastically improve your retention.

Remember the highest level is correlation: the note cards will give you understanding and through application you will give yourself the opportunity to correlate.

Good luck.
 
I did it the self-study way to save money on the ground instruction. I studied for the FOI the way Benji86 did, by reading outlining and studying it, and got 100!! For the FIA knowledge test I used the gleim book to prepare and got a 96 on that!! I would also recommend taking the AGI test as well, as it is the same as the FIA. I am now studying for the oral as it is getting closer (next week). Basically what I did is I downloaded the CFI PTS, and made notes off of it. The PTS contains all the stuff you need to know for the FOI and the technical subjects. The PTS also tells you what the examiner has to, at the very minimum, test you on (like logbook enteries, and instructor responsibilities) so make sure you know those cold. If you go through the technical subjects, you will be surprised to see that you know most of it. I made an outline for all the technical subjects the PTS has. There is no need to outline the pilots handbook of aeronautical knowledge, although by time you are done with the training you will probably have read the whole thing. The ASA oral exam guide is also a must have, and does it the same way. I was talking to a DPE the other day and he told me to remember that I don't have to know everything, but I should now how to find it. The PTS also says that you must have "instructional knowledge" of the technical subjects, so memorization (rote learning ;P) isnt good enough. My instructor recommended i practice teaching it to myself or mom or sister or something, and that has helped a lot. Developing lesson plans also help a lot, it forces you to do a lot of research and think of the best way to present the material. You don't have to teach everything from memory, and can use instructional aids, but dont be fumbling through the book trying to find the answer to questions they give you.

My final words of advice: Try to teach this stuff as much as possible, I got my ground instructor certificate before hand so I could start teaching a bit on the ground. I have learned more from trying to present the material then actually studying it.
This should be a no brainer but study a little bit at a time everyday, and just keep reviewing the material. Cramming will not work for the CFI oral.

Good luck, and PM me if you have any questions!!:)
 
agpilot 13 said:
I hear all the stories about all the high fail rates for first time check rides in our area.
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Me too. Prepare the best you can and if it goes bad the first time just get back up again and try again. Don't sweat it.
 
Thanks shdw and flyman. Excellent advice. I also am self study to save on the ground costs. I am 51 and find it much harder to retain what I am studying than in years past. I did practice the online ASA test before doing the real FOI. First 100 I have made in my life. The part about applying it to everyday life is great. I will try that with the folks at work.
 
I like the idea of the flash cards, I also think I should get the PTS and use that as a reference. That seems to be the predominant way of studying for the CFI. I also have a difficult time with the lesson plans, I am not sure where to start on those!
 
Benji86 said:
I also think I should get the PTS and use that as a reference.
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Here's the technique I use:

First, acknowledge to yourself that you have ran with the masses and gotten certificated thus far with little or no reference training with the PTS. You didn't did you?

OK, so now, as a CFI-trainee, your first objective is to know the PTS from cover-to-cover.

...and not just the CFI PTS, but also the Private and Commercial PTS.

The CFI PTS does not give objective and tolerances on maneuvers; it only outlines the knowledge objectives.

The Private and Commercial PTS outlines all the points of each maneuver or procedure to be tested, and the first line that begins each task is.."demonstrates knowledge of (task)".

Then you go to the CFI PTS under that task and it says "demonstrates (instructional) knowledge of (task)".

In all the PTS's, under each task is the FAA reference that has the knowledge required for that task.

So...start at the beginning and read the front part to become knowledgeable about the Practical Test. For instance, the front part explains that "instructional knowledge" is being able to reference the FAA references listed under each task.

Then, go through each task in the Private and Commercial PTS and look at the knowledge line, then cross-reference the CFI PTS for a more detailed reference to the knowledge items and look them up in the references listed for that task.

I write (in pencil) the page # of the FAA reference in the margins of the PTS for easy reference.

When your hands and eyes know just where to go to reference anything in any PTS with the sames skill and confidence that you now have in flying the airplane, and you can confidently present this information to another person, then you are ready.
 
Know the PTS and put notes on it where to find info on an area.

Also the ASA oral guide is outlined like the PTS but with all the answers so really that oral guide should be with you day and night, at work or at the library, next to your bed. Probably the best 10 dollars you will spend for CFI training.

Read the FAA publications because the examiner is going to want to see that you've read them when you talk about subjects in the Oral.

DVDs can be good as well to copy some presentation techniques. I actually only used the KING schools CFI practical DVD. Where John takes a mock CFI checkride with a DE. It doesn't cover all the PTS task, just what is required of the DE to go over so it wasn't as in depth as I would have liked but John was really good and the way he explains things is exactly like the way the FAA wants you to explain so that was useful.

Good luck.
 
The outline method is exactly what I used, especially for the FOI stuff. As said before, just use the PTS as a master outline and fillin the blanks. As far as too much work, there is no such thing for the CFI
 
I may be a little off topic here but, lol.

Is there any CFI out there willing to sign me off (send a sticker) for the CFI check ride so I can continue my self study without having to pay over $3,000 to a flight school proving to them I'm ready to take the darn ride. Well, it kinda relates to the term "self study" really. No sign off to take the writtens but need one to take the darn ride...I don't understand.
 
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