Definition 1 of 2
Definition
In aviation instruction, the personal aims a learner is trying to achieve and the underlying beliefs they hold about what is important. Goals and values act as a filter on perception: a learner notices, accepts, and remembers information that aligns with what they want and what they consider worthwhile, and tends to overlook or resist information that does not.
Plain English
What the learner is trying to accomplish, and what they believe matters. These shape what they pay attention to and how they interpret what the instructor says.
Context Anchor
Used in aviation instructor training when explaining why two students may see or interpret the same flight situation differently.
Derivation
Goal originally referred to an endpoint or finishing place. Value comes from a word meaning strength or worth. Together, the phrase points to what a person is trying to reach and what they consider important along the way.
Why Pilots Care
Instructors who recognize a student’s goals and values can frame explanations so the material feels relevant, reducing confusion and improving retention.
Analogy
Goals and values work like a filter. The situation may be the same, but the student may focus on different parts of it depending on what matters most to them.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as general life advice only. In this FAA instructor context, goals and values are a practical factor that can change how a student perceives training events.
Example Sentence 1
Before starting ground school, the instructor asked about the student's goals and values so the training could be tailored toward an eventual airline career.
Example Sentence 2
When a student’s goals and values emphasize speed over thoroughness, critical checklist items can be overlooked.