Training Aids and their Value for Learning

Wheel Alignment Training Aid 

 Good instructional aids also can help solve certain language barrier problems. Consider the continued expansion of technical terminology in everyday usage. This, coupled with culturally diverse backgrounds of today's students, makes it necessary for instructors to be precise in their choice of terminology. Words or terms used in an instructional aid should be carefully selected to convey the same meaning for the student as they do for the instructor. They should provide an accurate visual image and make learning easier for the student.

Donor car from GM to be dismantled for training Aids 

Instructional aids should appeal to the student and be based on sound principles of instructional design. When practical, they should encourage student participation. They also should be meaningful to the student, lead to the desired behavioural or learning objectives, and provide appropriate reinforcement. Aids that involve learning a physical skill should guide students toward mastery of the skill or task specified in the lesson objective.

My First Car - Posted for all those students that always ask!

First Car - 1967 Galaxie 500

Ah, the summer of 1986… Expo was in Vancouver, Honeymoon Suite was the hot band on the radio and it was time for my first set of wheels. After selling the dirt bike, taking a hammer to my piggy bank and working Saturdays at my old man’s truck shop in Cloverdale I scrapped up a whopping $600 to buy my first car. With just 32,436 miles on the odometer this 1967 Galaxie 500 was all mine. 4 wheel drum manual brakes, no power steering and only lap seat belts… but I didn't care, it was my first ride, the sun was shining and I had a smile on my face. J

Coolant Leak? You be the Judge!

Mazda 3

In this video was one of the last vehicles that I serviced before leaving Mazda. Customer drove this vehicle without coolant in the engine until it would not go any further! When this vehicle finally entered the dealership on a tow truck it was cold, I added coolant and pressure test cooling system, but found no external leaks! (pressure tester is on coolant bottle as seen in video) I then removed spark plugs and cranked engine over to find this! Cylinder head was warped beyond servicing and in the end the cheapest method was to replace the motor. Lesson learned here, do not drive vehicle without coolant.

Interesting Article on Responsibility or Lack of it.

Every so often I read an article on the web that I find really hits home in this face paced world where lack of common sense fails and people look to lay blame elsewhere. A colleague of mine and my former Mazda Instructor wrote about the hot potato GM is dealing with now on their ignition switches. It is a good read and makes you look at a different side than you would commonly find in the news.

Living in the age of Irresponsibility

Consulab Trainers

Song demonstrates the effect temperature has on pressure to his peers

 The ConsuLab Air Conditioning trainer is a complete A/C system with unique features designed to enhance the instruction of air conditioning physics. The trainer uses the orifice tube design of refrigerant flow control. The trainer uses common automotive components and can be used in both classroom and shop environments.
It accomplishes what the lecture and vehicle itself fall short of. Student has the ability to see the refrigerant change from a liquid to a vapour in a clear tube and then back to a liquid again while monitoring pressures on gauges and feeling the temperature change on either side of the orifice tube!

Fabrication a higher level of Blooms Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomy in its various forms represents the process of learning, creating is the highest level of that process in the cognitive domain. Equally important is how to visualize the process while fabricating raw materials to gap the needs assessment for the given task. A zealous student in my class was faced with the predicament of servicing an older vehicle without any replacement parts available. To my amazement he fabricated an exhaust system that exceeded my expectations and convinced me that his learning journey is now more outcomes based over competency. 

Song fabricates new parts in place of  obsolete replacements

RX-7 Body Kit

!993 RX-7 JDM last day as a street car

Rx-7 after students remove front clip

Students car finally begins the highly anticipated conversion to a modified track car. The car started out as a 1993 Mazda RX-7 JDM but will soon receive a new wrapped body kit, 18” wheels and drivetrain. Excitement builds in the shop as students remove the original front clip from this once red RX-7. Body kit  is receiving final custom touches before installation in the very near future! Stay tuned for developments on this exciting project!