Last month we gave you an overview
of how Oberg Industries (Freeport, PA) is
using the online instructional modules from
Tooling University (www.toolingu/ntma) to enhance their in-house apprenticeship
program. This month continues that
discussion with a look at the online instruction
project at Gateway Community College
in Phoenix, Arizona.
Gateway has an Associate in Applied
Science degree program in Manufacturing
Technology and also offers several modular
machining technology certificate options
(see www.gwc.maricopa.edu for more details).
Through a partnership with the
NTMA Arizona Chapter they have built their
curriculum around the industry standards
and credentialing system developed by the
National Institute for Metalworking Skills
(NIMS). Their program is accredited by NIMS
in eight areas for Machining Levels I and II.
In Fall 2003, Gateway began a beta test
of the Tooling U concept with eight students
enrolled in a class aligned with the
NIMS Level I Measurement, Materials, and
Safety performance outcomes. According
to course instructor Carl Wargula who is
Gateway’s Program Director for Manufacturing
Technology, this initial pilot was very
successful and is being expanded to include
5-6 other courses. Twenty students are enrolled
in Tooling U classes during the Winter
Semester, and this should increase for
Spring as the implementation process gains
momentum.
“Our instructors like the online approach
because it saves time on introductory
discussion of basic topics like
interpretation of drawings and operational
math,” says Wargula. He also noted that
Gateway’s approach uses online experiences
blended with instructor-led classes.
This combination maintains personal contact
with each student and brings everyone
to a common point of understanding faster.
Another aspect of Tooling U that appeals
to instructors is added flexibility to accommodate
different student needs. Some
people may need to repeat material or want
extra review to prepare for a NIMS test. The
online environment addresses these issues
easily and also matches the time schedule
better than traditional classes for many
working adults.
How will the use of online instruction
evolve at Gateway? In the near term they will
continue to explore ways to utilize the format
more completely for basic concepts and introductory
content. Their instructors are just
beginning to accept the online option as a
dependable method of working with students.
Further along the process there are interesting
opportunities for applications to
more sophisticated content, but this will
require a much higher level of interactivity
and simulation capability. “We saw some
great instructional demos for technicians in
the health care and telecommunications
fields at a recent conference,” said Wargula.
“Tooling U is working to upgrade their software
to include this kind of enhanced presentation.
We want to be one of the pilot
sites for that initiative.”
So there are the highlights from two
different situations that have made the move
to Internet based distance learning using
Tooling U. Maybe this is something that
would work in your situation too. For more
information contact NTMA Education Director
Dick Walker (email: dick@ntma.org)
or visit the Tooling U website at
(www.toolingu/ntma).