Definition
A teaching method in which the instructor first demonstrates a skill or procedure and then has the student perform the same skill, with the instructor observing and correcting until the student can perform it correctly and consistently. The method follows five phases: explanation, demonstration, student performance, instructor supervision, and evaluation.
Plain English
The instructor shows the student how to do something, then watches the student do it themselves, giving feedback until the student can do it on their own.
Context Anchor
Seen in instructor training and lesson planning, especially when teaching hands-on flying or ground tasks such as a preflight inspection, a radio call, or an aircraft control action.
Derivation
Two plain English words joined: 'demonstration' (showing how) and 'performance' (doing it). The hyphen signals that the two halves are linked steps in one teaching method, not two separate activities.
Why Pilots Care
Gives students a clear model of correct technique before they attempt the maneuver themselves, reducing errors and building proper habits from the start.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as a simple show-and-tell. In this FAA training context, the student’s coached performance is just as important as the instructor’s demonstration.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor used the demonstration-performance method to teach steep turns, flying one first and then coaching the student through several attempts.
Example Sentence 2
Using demonstration-performance, the CFI first flew the traffic pattern, then had the student fly it under supervision.