Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 430; Flight Crew Type 200
Situational Awareness; Confusion
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
We were approaching EWB for night landing practice. I heard Tower say; 'enter right downwind Runway 34'. After 2 minutes; my student asked where the runway [was]; which runway he was approaching. He pointed [to] the airport diagram. He said we should use Runway 23 and enter right downwind; because the wind was from 250. I suddenly got confused and tried to go right downwind Runway 23. Tower asked why we went there. I answered we entered it accidentally. I was totally disoriented. Traffic is clear. I tried to find where Runway 34 to enter left downwind. Tower cleared [us] to do right traffic then back to left; but I was unable to do that because I was disoriented. My student tried to fly back to left downwind before I figured [out] where we were. This was why we deviated [from] ATC's assignment. We need to study more about EWB (unfamiliar airport) before we go. I; as a CFI; should take control back to fly ATC assignment immediately.
Instructor pilot entering the EWB traffic pattern was questioned by ATC regarding positioning for the downwind; the reporter acknowledging unfamiliarity with the airport.