Definition
The first phase of the demonstration-performance teaching method, in which the instructor clearly states the objective of the lesson, describes the skill to be learned, and explains the procedures and underlying knowledge the student will need before attempting the task. It precedes the demonstration, student performance, and evaluation phases.
Plain English
The part of a lesson where the instructor tells the student what they are about to learn, why it matters, and how it will be done — before showing them or letting them try.
Context Anchor
Used in instructor training and lesson planning, especially when teaching a maneuver, cockpit procedure, or ground task step by step.
Derivation
Explanation comes from the Latin explanare, meaning 'to make plain' or 'to flatten out.' The idea is laying the subject out clearly so the student can see it before working with it. Phase simply means a stage in a sequence.
Why Pilots Care
If the explanation phase is rushed or skipped, the student attempts the task without a clear mental picture of what they are doing or why. That leads to wasted flight time, ingrained errors, and weaker retention.
Intuition Check
Do not read explanation phase as just “the instructor talks for a while.” In this FAA teaching context, it means the specific first stage where the task, reason, method, standards, and safety points are made clear before demonstration or practice.
Example Sentence 1
During the explanation phase of the steep turns lesson, the instructor described the aerodynamic forces involved and outlined the entry procedure before flying the manoeuvre.
Example Sentence 2
During the explanation phase the student learned the performance standards that would be used to evaluate the upcoming steep-turn demonstration.