FAA Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI)Assessment and CritiqueMedium
During a stage check, an instructor asks: 'A Cessna 172 burns 8.5 gallons per hour, has 40 gallons usable fuel, and flies at 110 knots TAS with a 15-knot headwind. How many nautical miles can it fly before reaching a 45-minute fuel reserve?' This is an example of which ineffective type of question?
- AIrrelevant question
- BToss-up question
- CPuzzle question
- DOversize question
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Puzzle question
A puzzle question requires elaborate mental computation or deduction that tests math/logic skill more than actual aeronautical knowledge, making it an ineffective instructional question. Simpler, direct questions better assess understanding of the concept being taught.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The question is related to fuel planning, so it is not irrelevant to flying.
- B. A toss-up question has more than one equally correct answer, which is not the issue here.
- D. An oversize question is too broad/general, not overly computational.
Puzzle Question (Ineffective Questioning)
A question requiring elaborate calculation or deduction that tests problem-solving skill more than the intended lesson content.
- Overly complex, multi-step reasoning required
- Distracts from the actual learning objective
- One of several ineffective questioning techniques instructors should avoid
Memory trick: 'POTBI': Puzzle, Oversize, Toss-up, Bewilderment, Irrelevant, trIck.