Definition
A method of post-performance review in which the instructor asks the learner to lead the assessment of their own performance, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement before the instructor adds their own observations.
Plain English
After a flight or training task, the student talks first. They walk through how they think it went, what they did well, and what they need to fix. The instructor listens, then adds their own feedback at the end.
Context Anchor
Used after a flight lesson, ground lesson, or practice task when the instructor is helping the learner review performance.
Derivation
Critique comes from the Greek 'kritikē', meaning the act of judging or evaluating. 'Learner-led' simply signals who runs the discussion. Putting the learner in the lead changes the critique from something delivered to them into something they actively work through.
Why Pilots Care
It encourages self-assessment skills and active participation, leading to better retention and understanding of lessons.
Intuition Check
Do not read “critique” as “being criticized.” In this context, it means a guided review of performance. Do not read “learner-led” as “the instructor does nothing.” The learner starts and leads the review, while the instructor keeps it accurate and useful.
Example Sentence 1
After the cross-country flight, the instructor began with a learner-led critique, asking the student to walk through the flight and identify what they would do differently next time.
Example Sentence 2
In a learner-led critique, the student identifies their own errors before the instructor adds observations.