18 | Akwa | March / April / May 2023 Regardless of how long you have been teaching, new and creative choreog- raphy and cues are something most instructors struggle with at some point. Getting to other instructors’ classes can be tough due to the time con- straints, so we often rely on instructor forums, workshops, and websites to spark the ol’ engine. Afterall, learning from one another is one of the greatest ways to expand our own toolkit. But once we have the ideas, simply showing up and teaching the chore- ography may not always feel aligned with your style. Or, maybe someone asks for modifications and you are not quite sure what the modification would look like, or what cues you should use to help participants get the most out of the experience. It looked sooo easy when you read/watched it. Here is a little secret, with a little bit of work on the front end, you can make every cho- reography segment pop. Lesson plans, or class notes, are the secret sauce for every class. Within these notes, you have not just what you are going to do, but when you do it, where you would stand, plus what equipment you need and where it should be positioned at the pool. You can also dial in setup, follow through, and motivational cues, as well as pro- gressions and regressions. Further- more, scripting those essential cues into your lesson plan prepares you to deliver just the right amount of infor- mation, at just the right time. Cueing is defined in the AEA seventh edition manual as “the act of commu- nicating information to initiate action” (Aquatic Exercise Association 2017). Oftentimes, when setting up an exer- cise or combination, it is tempting to overwhelm the learner with informa- tion – anatomical, motivational, and everything in between. After all, you have spent a lot of time investing in your education. But when we give too much information, we may lose the learner along the way. One technique, often used in physi- cal education and coaching, is called the funnel format. Essentially, this technique allows the teacher/coach to break down the movement pattern into the most critical elements and deliver those cues in the initial set up (Shimon 2022). Let’s look at what the funnel format looks like (see below): Additionally, do not be afraid to define what that technique looks like when you are reviewing your class notes. When you know what you are looking for, your cues will blossom, and your demonstrations will reflect the time and effort you have put into the class preparation. Remember, the key to good cueing is consistency and clarity as this will allow your participants to connect to your vocabulary as well as understand what you want from them. Finally, identifying essential cues spe- cific to the class design ensures that not only will participants feel success- ful, but you will be comfortable and confident in your presentation. RESOURCES Email [email protected] for a listing of ar- ticle resources. AUTHOR Melissa Plumeau is one of AEA’s amazing IAFTC 2023 Presenters. Click here to find out more about Melissa and the sessions she is offering. From Planning to Performance: Cueing for Success By Melissa Plumeau, BS
