For homeschooling parents, the thought of finding electives during the high school years is often intimidating. With online access we have resources and options for our children to study courses like Aviation History from Doctor Aviation. Ever since he was a little tyke, our son Gabe has been intrigued by anything mechanical, including airplanes. When I asked him if he’d like the opportunity to work through a high school level aviation course he said, “Yes indeed!”
Doctor Aviation (Daryl Smith) is a veteran Air Force pilot with over 24 years experience and more than 2,000 hours flight time. He is currently a college professor with impressive credentials. The course he’s created is geared for high school age to adult, although younger children could gain much if this is an area in which they have a passion to learn. It could make for an interesting family study as well. The material provided can easily fulfill a half credit for your student’s high school transcript. If they dig deeper and complete the Additional Resources Doctor Aviation recommends for each lesson I can see how it could easily make a full year’s credit.
There are 15 lessons – each includes a 45-60 minute online training video. They are divided into 3 sections:
- The Technical Trivia is not really trivial at all, or just a group of random facts but the meaty portion of the lesson. The video provided is a lecture format, with Doctor Aviation himself presenting the lesson with slides and close ups to illustrate his points.
- Notable Innovators is the second section of each lesson. People like the Wright Brothers, Chuck Yeager, Amelia Earhart are some of those used as examples.
- Wrapping up each lesson is a mention of Legendary Events that helped move the aviation industry forward, bringing it to what we know today. Gabe found the information on breaking the sound barrier very interesting.
For each lesson a PDF file of “Guided Notes” is provided. These were easy to download and print. They give my son an outline of sorts with places to take notes and jot down important information. As he watches the lessons he picks up on cues as to what is essential, pauses the video and makes his notes.
There is also an Additional Resources PDF file for each session. They list extra readings, hands-on activities, YouTube videos, movies, research and writing assignments, etc. There are tests included as well. After every 3 or so lessons there is a practice test. It’s more than just a quiz – your child needs to pay attention to the lessons presented in order to complete these. There is a full exam following Sessions 5, 11, and 15.
Currently, my son is working through 1-2 sessions per week. Each day he views one or more sections of the session is currently working on, then is able to log in and pick up where he left off. When Gabe completes a lesson/session he clicks the “completed” tab. I was pleased to find out we can go back and watch the videos again. There have been times when he will mention something he learned or something he wasn’t sure about and we’ve been able to go back in and watch to get more detail.
Now, for a little something unexpected – what do you see in this photo that may seem a bit out of place? (Leave a comment to tell me what you found) Gabe found it and now looks forward to searching every session video for it!
I have been very happy with this online Aviation Education course. It is straight forward and does not use gimmicks, bells and whistle to draw people in. It’s been good for my son to sit and focus in on the material presented, learn to take better notes and to share what he’s learned both in discussion and on an exam.
Gabe says:
“Taking the Doctor Aviation course I have learned about the mechanics of aircraft – how they fly, turn, information about people who made history, things like that. I’m learning things like what Mach I is and about how the density of the air affects how a plane flies. This is a good course for high school students, or anyone interested in aviation and airplances. Great information and I like the way each lesson covers technical information, a famous person and a legendary event. I do wish I could rewind the video. Distractions happen and that can make taking notes harder. Sometimes, when I’m reviewing just one section I wish I could fast forward, too.”
To celebrate the completion of this course later this summer, Gabe will have the opportunity to take a flight in a small aircraft at a nearby airfield. That will be an amazing field trip and the perfect way to bring all together everything he’s studied!
Many of my fellow Homeschool Review Crew members are reviewing Doctor Aviation. Click on the image below to see what their experiences have been.
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