Any Welding Instructors Here?

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I'm getting laid off next month since the United States space program is being destroyed by the current administration and have applied for a position as a welding instructor at a Technical Institute.The classes will have between 14-20 students and the lab is well equiped.  The last instructor is retiring and has let the place get all nasty and disorganized.  The students have been pretty much turned loose to come and go at will. When I was being shown around by the administrators they told me that they needed new blood and a firm hand in this position.That kind of sounds like they want someone to come in as a hardass to straighten out the existing students and keep future students in line. I'm not sure if I am up to that. My opinion on adults is that they are expected to act like adults even when they are students.The pay is less than half of what I make now and I am dreading having to learn how to teach at this late stage of my career. Sure did want to retire from an aerospace job.I don't know the first thing about teaching.Two turn tables and a microphone.
Reply:Well, first off, you are intelligent enough to recognize what a floundering failure this current administration is, so I think all else should fall into place.I have never been a teacher of anything, but I have been, and am, a student of several things.and I have always just wanted a teacher to be firm but understanding and have the ability to transfer his knowledge.I think that, if you know what you are doing, you will have no problem teaching others.  If you can let it go, that some just refuse to learn and are not going to learn, then you can focus on the ones that do have an interest in learning.If I were heading into what you describe, I believe I would start by showing some pride and have the students, side by side with yourself, cleaning up and organizing the place to look professional.  This, in my opinion, will start a bond between you and the students and showing that you care and take pride in your work area goes a long way with me anyway.Last edited by MWalden; 06-08-2011 at 10:19 PM.
Reply:I think you're selling yourself short here. You come from a very small pool of some of the most skilled welders out there and are going to settle for a job. Though a relocation may be in order, I have no doubts you could stay in the aerospace field. What about becoming GS or a contractor to work welding on military aircraft. Don't settle for something you don't want to do. If you had a passion for it that's one thing, but I really don't see this getting you where you see yourself later on in life from what you've described. On the other side this could of course open all new doors for you but it just seems that you will just be settling for the convenience.On a side note, while pre flighting my T6 yesterday I couldn't help but notice the poor quality of welds in the fuel system around the filter bowl and the lines leading into and out of it. Starts and stops every 3 beads with a crater. Luckily, the engine mounts looked like they had much more attention and detail. However those welds are the least of my concern if that engine doesn't stay running. O well, rant over, good luck on what you decide. however, where I in your shoes, I'd relocate for the right job and stay in the government sector
Reply:Having taught adult students, I can say that community college campuses change when the day students leave and the evening students arrive.  Many i of the day students are there to satisfy their parents orders to "get a job or go to  school".  Going to school is easier than working, so spending the day with other kids is more attractive than holding a job.  The evening students, I found, were at school because they wanted to learn.  Their jobs took up their days, so the available time was when they attended classes.  They were eager to learn tbe material, because it was important to them.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:I personally have been a military instructor for16 years everything from the shuttle fleet to aircraft to subs. the most important thing I found out to be the dedication to the professional craft of welding ans it's many processes. I have always stressed to the students that what you do may be simple to you in nature and pass all x-ray and military specifications, but even a tack weld could cause you the pilot or sailor his or her life on what you do. Emphasize the importance of proper techinque and process as this is not a Game take pride in what you do because this is America the best damn country on the planet!!! we will not accept anything but the best, after all to get to Aberdeen Proving Grounds school of welders you have have to be the best of the best I have never accepted anything else. Demand the best and accept no substitutes our country depends on [email protected]
Reply:I would have the day classes.  The old instructor will keep the three night classes per week.As far as relocating, I think that I could start at Space Ex next week if I wanted to.  They recruit heavily from my pool of experience and three of my co-workers will likely go to Hawthorn very soon.  I have a grand daughter now and she needs us real bad.  We; my wife and I, are the only stability in her life and I'd work three crap jobs to stay here if I had to.Boeing has been making inquiries about me and one of my engineers but money talks and bullsh** walks.Two turn tables and a microphone.
Reply:Here is my advice. You will need to be very staight forward, open and honest. Set expectations, hold everyone to those expectations and immediately correct any behaviors not consistent with your expectations. This will set the tone with the students. You leave my tools out, I take all your tools away and we spend the next class time cleaning all the equipment by hand. Don't follow the rules, next class we have a pop quiz. Test peoples knowledge up front. Grade tough to sift out stale students. It's a million times easier to step backwards from a reputation then it is to build one up from an poor existing one. Do the work up front and it will pay dividends in the end.When I took over as the supervisor for my production line I made it obvious that I would not tolerate the manner in which the shop currently functioned. Utter disarray is how I would best describe it. The ones that rocked the boat got all the attention. I went after these few to send a message that this is how things are going to be. This meant standing at the doors turing people around going to break early, standing in workstations waiting for people to return, asking a lot of rediculous questions...now I sit at my desk and watch from afar. When the time arises, I get up and rectify a situation, but my life is a lot better then it was 8 months ago.Teaching is a lot like supervision with the exception being that some people realize they are paying you to learn. Others just show up to kill time between the weekends. You can't correct them all, but you can make a few of them much better.
Reply:A lot of good advice here already.  I taught welding and related courses, (blueprint reading, basic pipe fitting, layout, tools and uses, etc.) for a couple of summers about 5 years ago.As was said, set the standards high, keep them there and treat everyone fairly and with respect.  Do not accept infractions of safety rules!  They will have to learn to function with all required PPE on the job, might as well drill that into their heads right from the start.  NO EXCEPTIONS!  There WILL be students who will try your patience and one or two who may try pushing your buttons, just to test your resolve.  Some will learn after seeing something done and/or explained once, others may take days to learn the same thing.You'll learn very quickly to spot a snow job a mile away.  And just as quickly to tell when the hard luck story you're being told is really true.  There will be students who you wish would quit immediately and a few who you wish you could teach them everything you know about the trade.Don't let them get you down or get the best of you.  Be fair, respectful, demanding and patient at all times.  I know, easier said than done.  Never cave on safety infractions and walk the walk.  You didn't get into the aerospace trade by settling for good enough.  Let them know that mediocrity in the trade is never an option.  Remember, every weld you make is just like your signature.  I'm sure that you have learned from others on the job and in turn taught others as well.  This will be very similar, just a school setting instead of a factory but a job setting none the less.  Instead of a new hire to take under your wing and show the ropes to, you'll have a whole flock.  In retrospect, the word "challenging" comes to mind, but it's no hill for a climber!  Good luck, Bob."The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:I would go to the faa.gov's library and download the Aviation Instructors Handbook.  A very good reference on the teaching and learning process.
Reply:i suspect the other guy at night will be a problem..i took a ten session night welding course..our instructor never stopped noticing  about what a mess the day instructor's   classes left..
Reply:I was a welding school equipment guy/adjunct until our funds got axed recently.It's different, but you have automatic cred as the instructor so just establish yourself as the boss and emphasize the training is for WORK and structure the class like a job site/shop,Vo-tech is often a dumping ground for idiots, ex-cons,etc, so keeping them firmly in-line means keeping them BUSY and ENFORCING SAFETY. That way you can watch them all and help those willing to learn. Our instructor was an old-school pipeliner and built the program.Highlights:If you weren't on-time, you went back to the house. You got one set of basic safety gear. Lose or break it, you replace it. Don't have it?Go get it.No smoking except on breaks in designated areas, no cell phones, just like a job site.First day was safety and intro, with afternoon spent OA cutting. (Get good with a torch and you save time on the grinder.)The rest of the course was welding, helmet down in the booth.Tool Control is big. We did our tool crib USAF style and it paid off. Your life will be easier if you do that because controlling grinders, torches, TIG rigs etc takes time.We got student IDs when they signed out tools so they had to turn them in or a loss could be billed to them. We briefed them to stay attached to their gear.Consumables are expensive and can walk if not watched, so locking storage with easy access is a must.We had main consumable storage with SEPARATE cabinets for day and night shift so nights didn't use up our stuff and we were ready to go each day.A spreadsheet of all consumables makes reorders easy, and if you have to get someone else to approve them they can just bless the product.Use the spreadsheet to check your bench stock. PM if you want a copy of mine as an example. (Radnor part numbers since we dealt with Airgas.)I would call our LWS referencing a copy of the sheet in my hand, they'd fill in quantities on their end based on what was IN STOCK so each purchase wouldn't generate backorders and all items would be "bought in one shot". They'd email me an invoice, I'd get it approved, and we'd be good to go. Any "backorders" would be by LWS to restock for my next order, no tracking on my end.Last edited by farmall; 06-09-2011 at 08:37 AM.
Reply:Well.... I figure I'll throw my perspective in, coming from a recent student at a tech college, not a teacher.As a student, the most important thing in an instructor to me was that he/she genuinely cared about the students. Admittedly, some of the students in the class were, to put it nicely, stupid. But a lot of us really took it seriously, and the personal interaction with the instructors really was important. All four of my instructors there were skilled welders, and they were always willing to give advice, and watch us/help us if we were struggling with something. That really was invaluable to me, as a student. Not to mention that my instructors really helped me find a job,  and I feel I can come back to them if I need career advice even if I'm not still a student at the school, that's just the "relationship" some of the students formed with them.The pay may not be what you're used to, but honestly it seems like it could be an incredibly rewarding job, to me anyway. The students would certainly benefit from your experienceGive me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire.
Reply:Looks like I wont get the chance to corrupt the future welders of America after all. I am considering an offer from Boeing that is basically the same job that I'm doing now for the N.A.S.A.,. If everything looks good, I'll get laid off on July 30th, get my severance pay, then start on the following Monday for the new job. Five weeks worth of pay all in one lump. Maybe I'll build that new shop after all!Two turn tables and a microphone.
Reply:Originally Posted by PangeaI'm getting laid off next month since the United States space program is being destroyed by the current administration and have applied for a position as a welding instructor at a Technical Institute.The classes will have between 14-20 students and the lab is well equiped.  The last instructor is retiring and has let the place get all nasty and disorganized.  The students have been pretty much turned loose to come and go at will. When I was being shown around by the administrators they told me that they needed new blood and a firm hand in this position.That kind of sounds like they want someone to come in as a hardass to straighten out the existing students and keep future students in line. I'm not sure if I am up to that. My opinion on adults is that they are expected to act like adults even when they are students.The pay is less than half of what I make now and I am dreading having to learn how to teach at this late stage of my career. Sure did want to retire from an aerospace job.I don't know the first thing about teaching.