America's Boating Course - 3rd Edition
Course
Tips
These course tips are being provided to help educational officers, course chairs, and instructors in conducting ABC3 courses. If you have a favorite tip, feel free to let us know using this form.
Tip - Printing ABC3 Course Completion Wallet Cards
When printing fewer than all 10 of the cards on the wallet card sheet, start at the bottom of the sheet which allows the printing to remain aligned. If you start from the top there is not enough paper to keep the sheet aligned. I’ve used this system several times and have great results. (04 Nov 12)
Tip - Use 2012 Edition Material
If it does not say 2012 on the cover or first page, you are probably using out of date material. The NASBLA approved student materials, with the exception of the bonus ABC3 Courseware CD which is a 2010 product, all have 2012 readily apparent. Most recognize that the ABC3 Student Kit material cost set forth in the USPS materials catalog includes answer sheets (ED-26), registration forms (ED-46), completion certificates, wallet cards, float plans, and promotional materials—a good deal for squadrons.
This Student Kit, as well as the Instructor Kit and On-Line course, has been approved by NASBLA to meet NASBLA 2012 standards and most state requirements for required recreational boater education. USPS instructors are obligated to teach using these NASBLA approved materials, all dated 2012, to satisfy educational requirements before the Squadron Commander signs the certificate and wallet card signifying satisfactory course completion. The ABC3 InstructorKit materials are all labeled 2012, including the assessment examinations. The Instructor Kit, which includes all instructor materials and student materials, is a great bargain too, so take advantage of using the "latest and greatest". (28 Oct 12)
Tip - ABC3 Bonus Courseware CD
The ABC3 bonus courseware CD aids the student in post-course review and pre-course study. It assists the on-line student when preparing for Federal regulatory and safety questions in the final examination. It is not intended to aid classroom instruction and does not include any required state laws and regulations material. It is up to instructors to add these topics and questions. State questions are available from the protected State-Specific and ABC3 Chapter 5 Exam Questions web page. (28 Oct 12)
Tip - Your State Boating Law Administrator and Memorandum of Understanding
The recognized document for a USPS—State education agreement is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In accordance with these MOU, electronic dissemination of course schedules when listed in HQ-800 occurs to the respective state, followed by course completions including names and student characteristics when agreed to, and provides collective student numbers at year end. It behooves all SEOs and DEOs to visit the EdDept home page, pull up the respective state information from the State Boating Information web page, and then review it with your state Boating Law Administrator (BLA). The DEO would be lead in states with many squadrons. Keep the BLA or his/her designated representative in your sphere of those important to state relationships. This is a critical step to validate that the person and email address listed as the BLA representative to receive USPS data transmissions is correct. The EdDept home page also includes a pull-down menu item under "State Boating Info" to the web page for existing MOUs. Many MOUs are dated a decade ago, but usually still valid. Review them and advise BPECom of needed corrections. The connection from USPS and individual districts and squadrons to their respective state is vital to smooth operations and a positive relationship. (28 Oct 12)
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