Definition
A critique method in which the instructor leads a discussion about the learner's performance and invites the learner to take part, offering observations, asking questions, and exploring the strengths and weaknesses of what was just done. The instructor guides the conversation while the learner contributes actively rather than only listening.
Plain English
A two-way talk after a lesson where the instructor leads, but the learner also speaks up about how the flight or task went. It is a shared review, not a one-sided report.
Context Anchor
You see this term in aviation instructor training and in real post-lesson reviews after a flight, simulator session, or ground lesson.
Derivation
Critique comes from the Greek 'kritikē', meaning the act of judging or analyzing. The slash in 'instructor/learner' simply signals that both parties take part in the judging, rather than the instructor doing it alone.
Why Pilots Care
Encourages the learner to actively participate in assessing their own performance, which improves retention and reduces future errors.
Intuition Check
Critique does not mean simply criticizing the learner. In this FAA context, it means a constructive review shared by the instructor and learner to improve performance.
Example Sentence 1
After the cross-country lesson, the CFI used an instructor/learner critique to walk through the diversion decision, asking the student what cues prompted the turn.
Example Sentence 2
The learner identified their own altitude deviation during the instructor/learner critique and suggested a fix for the next flight.