It is definitely enjoyable to talk about a recognizable learning experience which you have gone through and analyze its effect on your personality, beliefs, teaching/learning methods, and behaviors.
The company which I was working for; decided to send me to the US, Oh, Cleveland to visit the Lincoln Electric Co. for a training seminar on their products of Welding machines and equipment. They wanted me to become the technical advisor for their clients in the oil fields.
The first day of the seminar was unforgettable. The International marketing manager of Lincoln electrics was in the hotel at 6:00 AM calling all participants to wake up and be ready within 30 minutes of time.
Without having a shower, I quickly shaved and put on my suit and tie and grabbed my bag in which I had arranged all my papers and rushed down to the lobby. I could recognize him immediately as he was standing there with a wide smile and holding a paper on which he hand-wrote the name of the company.
Nice meeting you Mr. Larry, I said
Finally I got to know you Sam, please call me Larry, and, please go back your room and put on your jeans with some other shirt. We will be welding all the day, Larry said.
No problem Larry, please give me 15 minutes, I answered.
You’ve got 10 minutes, he replied.
The first positive impression I got about Larry is his eagerness to achieve his schedule with immediate action.
It was 7:30 AM when we reached the company and not exaggerating, I found myself in a town with roads and buildings around. We walked from the parking lot to the workshop through a corridor of around 100 m distance and then we climbed a stair of around 30 stairs up. Hundreds of machines were there. We’ve been guided into a room to put on the Chamois leather jackets, helmets, shoes and cloves.
Being ready, Larry guided us to the instructors’ room where they split us into groups of 5 each and I was appointed with Mr. Gerry.
Within 10 minutes, I’ve been placed beside a machine of 90 cm height and around 10 control buttons. The welding gun was already attached to the machine and a packet of welding rods was placed on a large metal table with four pieces of metal sheets of different dimensions.
Soon, Gerry got by and put in front of me a paper with a figure drawn on it and said, Sam, you may start to build up your own box!
I said, would you show me where and how to start.
He said, you are here to join the metal sheets without burning them and by using this machine. You gonn’a try it yourself and do some mistakes. Just be careful not to burn your eyes or fingers. Then he continued his way and left me alone!!!….
I did not have a choice but to figure out a way to do something about it. I waved my neck to drop the helmet down, it was completely dark, and so I decided to open it up and start by putting the welding rod in the gun and then starting the machine. So I did. Then I brought the gun slowly to the metal sheet. An electric arc flashed and scare fully I pulled my hand off away. I could see nothing around for a moment or so. Then I decided to drop the helmet to cover my eyes while my hand is a bit closer to the metal sheet so I can establish the arc and then I can see well. Hey it works; I could start the arc and see the metal sheet. Yes the rod got glued to the sheet hundred times but I kept repeating the attempt until I was able to do it much better.
Gerry came back and said, Sam, you doing well but you need to make the rod’s angle acute and not right vertical.. and he left again.
In 24 training days, and in the same manner, Gerry made me learn using all the machines in the workshop effectively and successfully.
At the end of the seminar, Lincoln Electrics granted me a membership in the American Welding Society.
A very vivid description of your very successful learning experience. Expectations were set and an ambiance for learning was created. Trainees were left alone to do their bit with periodic evaluations and feedback. A simple but effective mantra to successful learning/teaching.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the course had all trainees met the objectives? Was the membership granted to all?
Hi Sam,
ReplyDeleteI think what is interesting for me from your story is the extent of how learning to weld is a practical endeavour. It's not really possible to learn this through listening to a lecture, you have to try it. A second issue is how your teacher provides 'just-in-time' instruction. He doesn't tell you beforehand that you need to use an acute angle, but lets you discover the error and then corrects you when you need that knowledge. For me this is one aspect of effective teaching - the teacher's ability to see when knowledge or help is required.
A very experiential, student centered and authentic learning experience Sam. The best learning is to try, make mistakes and then learn from them. Too often we produce students who are afraid of making mistakes because we punish them for making them, so they are afraid to try and to take risks. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDelete