Definition
An assessment method in which the learner first evaluates their own performance, and the instructor then provides their evaluation, with the two perspectives compared and discussed to guide further training. It is commonly used to assess Single-Pilot Resource Management (SRM) skills, where judgment and decision-making cannot be graded by a simple right/wrong standard.
Plain English
The student grades themselves first, then the instructor gives their grade, and the two talk through any differences. It puts the learner in the driver's seat of figuring out how they did.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight training debriefs, especially after scenarios where the student had to make decisions, manage risk, or explain a choice.
Derivation
"Learner centered" means the process is built around the learner's own self-evaluation rather than the instructor's verdict alone. The grading is shared, not handed down.
Why Pilots Care
Develops accurate self-assessment skills that pilots need for safe decision-making when flying alone.
Intuition Check
Do not read “learner centered grading” as “the student gets to choose their own grade.” It means the student takes an active part in judging performance against real standards, with the instructor still guiding and correcting the result.
Example Sentence 1
After the cross-country flight, the instructor used learner centered grading to debrief the student's go/no-go decision in deteriorating weather.
Example Sentence 2
Learner centered grading during the lesson debrief helped the student recognize they had rushed the checklist.