Definition
An instructional technique in which the instructor uses brief verbal or written cues to prompt the learner to recall information, perform a procedure, or notice something they have overlooked, without giving them the full answer. Reminders are used to support memory and self-correction during training rather than to provide new instruction.
Plain English
A small nudge from the instructor that helps the learner remember or notice something on their own, instead of being told the answer outright.
Context Anchor
Used in flight and ground instruction when helping students remember procedures, safety habits, cockpit flows, or key points from a lesson.
Derivation
Reminder comes from remind, built from re-, meaning “again,” and mind. The idea is to bring something back into the learner’s mind when it is needed.
Why Pilots Care
Stronger retention of safety-critical procedures reduces the chance of forgetting important steps during flight.
Intuition Check
Do not treat reminders as a substitute for understanding or skill. A reminder is a cue to recall and apply something the learner is expected to know or is learning to do reliably.
Example Sentence 1
When the student forgot to set the heading bug before takeoff, the instructor used a reminder by simply asking, "Anything left on your before-takeoff flow?"
Example Sentence 2
She placed a small placard on the panel as a reminder for the student to check the fuel selector before takeoff.