Teaching Aids

Each year the Instructor Development Committee provides an opportunity for all Districts to share their best teaching aids with other USPS instructors at the Teaching Aids Exhibit during the Annual Meeting.

All District Best in Show awards are eligible to earn an award in the annual competition. Districts are encouraged to hold a Teaching Aids competition at their Fall Conference and submit their winning aid for National recognition.

Changes in the Teaching Aids Award Program

With the advent of PowerPoint, interest in the use of mechanical or manual teaching aids has diminished. The annual Teaching Aids Exhibit that was held as part of the USPS Annual Meeting was billed as a showcase of innovative talent, showing off the various manual and electronic teaching aids developed and used by instructors throughout the country to help them convey their educational message. Teaching aids were entered in each one of the (12) USPS courses, both Advanced Grades and Elective Courses, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners being selected in each category. Electronic Teaching Aids (ETA) were given separate 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards.

The following specific awards were also presented:

• the TAC Award (Teaching Aids Competition), which was limited to squadron aids judged as “best in show” at the last District Fall Conference;
• the All Courses Award, which was given to each squadron exhibiting at least one aid in each of the twelve educational categories;
• the Morse-Dreher Award, given to those Districts having at least one aid entered from each of their squadrons; and
• the Bell or Best in Show Award given to the squadron exhibiting the outstanding teaching aid of the show.

Entries in the Annual Exhibit and Competition declined steadily from 2005 until the Exhibit was cancelled after the 2008 Annual Meeting. 

This hiatus has given the ID Committee members who managed and conducted the Exhibit and Competition an opportunity to review all aspects of the program and to make specific recommendations to improve and revitalize the program. The goal of our review was three pronged: (1) to encourage the development and sharing of manual teaching aids within squadrons and districts; (2) to recognize the efforts of instructors in their development and use of manual teaching aids; and (3) to provide access to teaching aids recognized at the annual exhibit to all USPS instructors and members. We feel that the following recommendations and changes are in keeping with the above goal and will streamline the administration and management of the exhibit.

Districts will be encouraged to continue to hold teaching aids exhibits and competitions at their Fall Conferences. The manual or electronic teaching aid selected, as “Best in Show” at the District level will be eligible for submission to the Annual Exhibit and Competition. Only one entry will be judged as “Best in Show” at the National level, however all entries will be categorized by subject and featured on the ID Committee web site and accessible to all members and instructors. A 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner will also be judged. At most, 33 aids will be submitted, exhibited and judged. They will represent the best of the best and the small number will be very manageable by the Exhibit Committee. The previous separate electronic teaching aids award is being eliminated and electronic aids, if submitted, will be included with the manual aids.

The number of awards will be reduced from a potential of fifty plus to three, again very manageable from the Committee’s perspective. The smaller number of aids will allow them to be placed on the web site with ease and easier to sort through by viewers. The Exhibit can be held in a smaller space, thus saving on cost for space and display tables.

Return to Top

Teaching Aid Award Description

The Teaching Aid Award competition is limited to only those aids that have received their District Best in Show Award at their last District Fall Conference. Aids that are used in any USPS course or seminar are eligible for consideration. There is only one award presented to the outstanding teaching aid selected from the District Best in Show entries. The Best in Show Award will be awarded to the squadron exhibiting the outstanding teaching aid. Second and third place awards will also be presented.

Return to Top

Teaching Aids Submittal Guidelines

1. Each District may enter one aid that was judged “Best-in-Show” at their last District Fall Conference.
2. The teaching aid must be accompanied by the following three pieces of paperwork where applicable: (a) a statement of purpose; (b) construction plans; and (c) operating instructions.
3. A completed registration form must be hand delivered to the Teaching Aids Exhibit Registration Desk. Form may be completed and printed on-line.
4. Any District shipping a teaching aid to the exhibit at the Annual Meeting must send it to the Annual Meeting hotel marked: “Hold For (Your District Representative)”, probably your DEO.
5. Shipped aids must arrive by the Tuesday prior to the Annual Meeting.
6. The Instructor Development Committee will neither accept nor re-ship any teaching aid that was sent to the Annual Meeting site.
7. Teaching Aids must be registered on Thursday between 0900 and 1600; judging will begin at 1630 on Thursday.
8. The exhibitor is responsible for placing the teaching aid and the numbered exhibit card as directed by an ID Committee Member.
9. Teaching aids may remain on display until 1500 Friday and must be removed by 1700 on Friday.
10. A teaching aid that has won Best in Show at the Annual Meeting Exhibit is not eligible in ensuing years.

A printable PDF copy is also available.

Return to Top