One of my students asked me How to Study for OFAI Stage 3. This is for him:
Background
As part of the Ontario Fire Administration Inc. (OFAI) Stage 3 Firefighter Technical Skills Assessment, firefighter candidates will be asked to complete the proper forming of five knots and to explain the fundamental purpose of each knot to the evaluator.
To pass the OFAI Skills Assessment, firefighter candidates must study the content in the IFSTA Essentials of Firefighting, 7th edition text. This tutorial will help you with that.
5 Study Strategies for the OFAI Stage 3 Skills Assessment
1. Group or Chunk Information
Use this strategy to memorize sentences!
Chunk information into groups of 3-4 to help you break-down longer pieces of material.
EXAMPLE
“The foundation knot for an entire family of figure-eight knots is the figure-eight.”
t, F, K, / f, a, E, F, / o, F8, K, / i, t, F8
Make flash cards. Number the cards to keep them in order.
Review the flash cards often and assess whether you remember the information.
2. Visualize the Content
In your mind, create pictures of the material you need to remember.
EXAMPLE
“A rope is divided into three parts: working end, running part, standing part.”
3. Make a Mnemonic or Formula
Create a rhyme, use abbreviations (like S.M.A.R.T. Tutoring), or make a formula to assist your memory.
EXAMPLE
“A rope is divided into three parts: working end, running part, standing part.”
4. Engrain It
Read it.
Write it.
Say it.
REPEAT.
5. Test Yourself
Practice verbalizing (saying it out loud) the content you need to remember while practicing the skill.
Try this activity:
1. Write each piece of content you need to remember on poster board.
2. Tape or pin the poster board onto a wall.
3.Read the content on the poster board out loud:
“The figure-eight can be used as a stopper knot so that the rope will not pass through a rescue pulley or the grommet of a rope bag.”
4. Using a rope, tie a figure-eight knot.
5. Repeat steps 3-5.
BONUS:
Put your posters in areas of your home that you’ll see often:
• bedroom
• in front of treadmill
• sticky notes on a bathroom mirror.
The more you work with the content, the more you will remember it.
Learn. More. Now.
Related OFAI Test Preparation Tutorials:
• OFAI Stage 1 Writing Ability
• How to Pass the Firefighter Aptitude Test
