Ground school or DVD kit?

Slugger

Slugger

Well-Known Member
After I get my PPL, I am going to dive right in to my instrument training. I am trying to decide between the Sporty's instrument course and my flight school's instrument ground course. Which do you think is more beneficial? I think that ground school would be, but I'm not sure.
Ground school course price-$325
Sporty's DVD kit price-$249
 
I think it's personal preference. Both have pros and cons to them.

DVD course:
Cons
-can be extremely boring
-can't answer specific questions that you may have at the moment

Pros
-you keep the dvds which means you can watch them again for a refresher
-can do them at your own pace (not have to worry about missing a class)


Ground School:
Pros
-probably makes learning a little more interesting with more students and instructors
-get your questions answered as they arise
-meet other students that can study with you later on down the road

Cons
-only only have your notes to reference when you feel you need a refresher
-must attend specific dates, if you miss a class, it's up to you to make it up

Either way you go, the instrument rating is a lot of fun but can be overwhelming at the same time. Enjoy it, and make the most of it. Train hard, test easy.
 
IslandFlyer said:
I think it's personal preference. Both have pros and cons to them.

DVD course:
Cons
-can be extremely boring
-can't answer specific questions that you may have at the moment

Pros
-you keep the dvds which means you can watch them again for a refresher
-can do them at your own pace (not have to worry about missing a class)


Ground School:
Pros
-probably makes learning a little more interesting with more students and instructors
-get your questions answered as they arise
-meet other students that can study with you later on down the road

Cons
-only only have your notes to reference when you feel you need a refresher
-must attend specific dates, if you miss a class, it's up to you to make it up

Either way you go, the instrument rating is a lot of fun but can be overwhelming at the same time. Enjoy it, and make the most of it. Train hard, test easy.
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Thanks, I'll ask my flight instructor about it. Any other opinions?
 
I think you'll retain the all the information better in a ground school setting not to mention getting it finished quicker. Ive learned that the DVD courses tend make some students procrastinate.
 
SeanD said:
I think you'll retain the all the information better in a ground school setting not to mention getting it finished quicker. Ive learned that the DVD courses tend make some students procrastinate.
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I have been procrastinating with my private pilot DVD course, and sometimes I get distracted while watching it. I think I'll go with the ground school.
 
Even though it looks like you made your decision, I'll still throw my .02 in...

I've found that going the DVD route for ground school has been very beneficial for me...as long as you can get through the corny jokes that whatshisname from Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire cracks. Even though I do find that I procrastinate some lately as I'm working through the Instrument ground school, I'm going to be paying FAR less than having the same number of hours sitting in a ground school environment. Plus, when I have specific questions, I can still ask my instructor. Also, if I don't pick up a concept right away, I can watch the video again and again until I get it without feeling like an idiot. :) Most of all, though, I like the fact that I can do it at my own pace and on my own schedule. It just requires that I keep up the motivation.

I did my Private ground school using the DVDs and scored a 93 on my Written, so no one can say that the DVDs don't work. :)
 
I'd say both. It's nice to compliment one-on-one instruction with a dvd if possible. I'd say go with a King Schools dvd rather than sportys, and try not to pay full price, go e-bay or something.
Sportys typically has a info-mercial feel to it. They are ALWAYS trying to sell you something, do yourself a favor and don't let them have your info! i.e. address or #, they are ruthless.
 
hack1982 said:
Sportys typically has a info-mercial feel to it. They are ALWAYS trying to sell you something, do yourself a favor and don't let them have your info! i.e. address or #, they are ruthless.
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Ouch! :) We do have a 2 or 3 minutes section in our private course about our E6B, but that's about all I can recall. I usually try to stay out of these discussions, but I just wanted to clear that part up.
 
firebirdswm said:
Ouch! :) We do have a 2 or 3 minutes section in our private course about our E6B, but that's about all I can recall. I usually try to stay out of these discussions, but I just wanted to clear that part up.
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Yeah, I remember that. I got the deluxe kit so the ad was worthless anyways (since I already had it), haha.

Another thing I am thinking about: DVDs have a resale value, ground school doesn't.
 
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