The form and function of the Private Pilot Study System and the Instrument Pilot Study System are identical. The differences lie in the question and answer databanks and the material included in the Aviation Library. Each software package contains the appropriate FAA knowledge test databank plus additional databanks designed by Powerful Learning. The books and other materials found in the library are appropriate to the rating or certificate being sought.
Each software package has three Modes that questions and answers can be delivered in: a Learning Mode, a Test Mode and a Flashcard Mode.
When using the software, the first step is to choose which test database you would like to use. The Private Pilot Study System includes the FAA knowledge test plus 13 additional tests grouped by subject area. The Instrument Pilot Study System includes the FAA knowledge test plus nine additional tests to choose from.
In the Learning Mode, the question and answer databanks are highly customizable. Once a user chooses a test, he or she can further specify the category of questions delivered. For example, in the Private Pilot Study System, users can choose the ‘Lighting and Visual Aids’ test which consists of 52 questions. They can then choose from seven subcategories such as runway lighting, pilot controlled lighting, runway markings, etc. The Learning Mode includes a number of different tools to promote learning, with all of the buttons to access these learning tools arranged around the question and answer window. The result is an uncluttered screen that makes it easy to focus on what’s important; the question and answer.
The buttons arranged around the screen are as follows: Mark Question - allows a user to mark a question for later review; Show Answer - the correct answer is checked or filled in for the user; Explanation – a concise explanation is displayed for that question; LEARN – one of the most important buttons in this software. The LEARN button will retrieve the book from the library that is appropriate for that particular question. The book will be opened to the correct page and the section that contains relevant information for that question will be highlighted in yellow. The software is not simply displaying a section of the book, it is actually taking the user inside the library. This means that a user can not only read the immediate section that is displayed, but can navigate the entire library from this point, including reading information on the topic at hand from other documents in the library. The ability to easily cross-reference information from multiple documents on a single topic means that the student will gain a better understanding of the material. When the library window is closed, the student will be returned to the question and answer window.
In addition, there are Print, Help, and Users Manual buttons located on top of the question window. When a test is completed in the Learning Mode, a comprehensive end-of-test report is automatically generated. This report includes overall grade and grades by category, and displays all of the questions that were answered incorrectly along with the correct answer, and an explanation. Of course, this report can be printed.
The Test Mode is designed to emulate the testing environment the student will experience when taking the FAA knowledge test. When the knowledge test is loaded in the Test Mode, 60 random questions are selected from the FAA databank, loaded into the test window, and a 2 ½ hour timer is started. At the end of the allotted time, the test is automatically ended and graded. All question and answer databanks can be launched in the Test Mode. When delivered in the Test Mode, all of the “help” buttons are disabled (i.e. the Show Answer button, Explanation button, Learn button, etc.). The student can truly test his or her knowledge using any of the test databanks!
The Flashcard Mode uses an entirely different method of question delivery and learning style. This mode emulates the time-tested method of studying using flashcards. In effect, questions are loaded onto an electronic flashcard at the top of the screen. This means that the question is displayed, but no answer choices are visible. When the user flips the card over (i.e. clicks the lower card), the answer and an explanation are revealed. There are a number of advantages to this method of study. When preparing to take the FAA knowledge test, the Flashcard Mode can be used to review questions and associate the correct answer with those questions – a great tool during the final stages of preparing for the knowledge test! The Flashcard mode is also more challenging than the multiple choice style. Displaying a question with no multiple choice answers removes the ‘guessing’ factor. This learning method will really test a student’s understanding of the required material.
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