Definition
An instructional technique in which the instructor acknowledges and reinforces a learner's correct performance, effort, or progress in order to strengthen motivation, build confidence, and increase the likelihood that the desired behavior will be repeated.
Plain English
When a student does something well, the instructor recognizes it. That recognition makes the student more motivated to keep learning and more likely to repeat what they did right.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation instructor training when discussing how instructors build motivation, confidence, and good habits during flight or ground instruction.
Derivation
Reward' comes from Old French 'regarder,' meaning to regard or take notice of. Rewarding success literally means taking notice of what the learner got right — not necessarily giving a prize, but giving recognition.
Why Pilots Care
Student pilots learn faster and stay in training longer when their progress is acknowledged. Instructors who only point out errors tend to produce discouraged learners; instructors who recognize success build confident, capable pilots.
Intuition Check
Rewarding success does not mean praising everything or giving prizes. It means recognizing a specific correct or improved action so the learner connects that action with the good result.
Example Sentence 1
After the student nailed a smooth crosswind landing, the instructor practiced rewarding success by clearly pointing out exactly what the student had done right.
Example Sentence 2
By rewarding success on each coordinated turn, the CFI built the student's confidence before introducing stalls.