Page 6 - Fall 2014 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

LEARNING TO WELD WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY

By Biazzio Giordano, Jr.
Welding education is changing Welding simulators cost less and will have a higher number of

in America’s public schools. simulators to student ratio, as opposed to the virtual welders
Older employees are retiring. which have four times the cost. This will keep many more

Infrastructure requires repair. students engaged and exposed to welding, which will hopefully
America needs a workforce increase the number entering into the trade or attending trade
to keep the nation strong and schools. At this time, it should be apparent that cost will be a
healthy. Who will be willing to major factor in the purchase of welding equipment, whereas
step up and lay the bricks and the quality of equipment will be also considered possibly to a
blocks…run the wire to turn on lesser degree.
the lights…and weld together
the skeletons that are the core of Personally, in my opinion, I feel that these machines have
every high rise structure? a place in the recruitment of welders and exposing them to
welding. This equipment will allow me to visit multiple schools
Today we have access to a variety and students, which in return should increase enrollment at the
of welding training, which allows local community college, which is the goal of every guidance
us to expose many students to counselor in high school.
the trade, while not having to
experience the smells, sparks and burns associated with the Fortunately for America and the future of welders, schools like
actual welding lab. I have invited some of these students into Hobart Institute of Welding Technology still exist that have the
our weld lab at Parkside High School to begin the transition reputation of turning out world class welders. Not everyone
from a welding program designed to produce welders qualified wants or needs to attend a two year community college with
in basic arc processes, to a program that will expose many the associated debt and uncertainty of employment. Many are
more students to the trade. I was faced with a challenge that interested in going to a trade school and entering the workforce.
would allow a large number of students to actively and safely Many high school students do not have the finances to attend a
see what welding is about and possibly directing them to the school out of the local area, but the training and qualifications
trades, while meeting the new scheduling requirements for that they received from those programs that utilize the Hobart
mandated testing. curriculum assist them with making that entry level first job.
While it has been stated in this publication before, only one
While in Kansas City for the National SkillsUSA competition of three will actually graduate college, but as I like to say we
this past year, I had the opportunity to take a look at a variety should all go to work.
of equipment and I quickly learned that there is a definite
difference between welding simulators and virtual weld Am I saying college is unnecessary? Absolutely not! I am
trainers and the cost associated with them. One that caught my a college graduate with an associate in welding science and
eye, from a major manufacturer of welding equipment, looked continued my education to obtain what my state considers
exactly like a real welder. You set it up, adjusted and changed a Masters Equivalency in trade and industry, so education
variables, to create the desired weld. When the student put is essential for many jobs. The point is that not everyone is
on the welding helmet, the weld would appear in the screen ready to pursue education at the same time.
display where the filter lens would normally be located. Upon
completion of the task, the machine sends an immediate I was out of school eight years and had served in the U.S.
feedback to the student and also sends the results to the person Navy and worked nationally in in nuclear construction before
responsible for the class. You can teach students to a variety I returned to education. I utilize the Hobart curriculum in my
of processes with one piece of equipment and save the cost program with excellent results. My students are ready to get
of the shop operation. Now a class can expose 20 students that first job or attend trade school and some do attend college
to the trade as opposed to 12 that graduate with welder specializing in welding. However, to be honest, the majority
qualifications and enter the trade or continue their education at of students I see in my program go to work or trade school not
a post secondary training facility. Naturally by exposing more college. Hopefully the new direction will direct more students
to the trade the chances of getting someone to enter into a post into the trades by exposing them safely to a semi-real welding
secondary institution is greater. environment, while increasing the enrollment in schools like
HIWT. Could this possibly be the shot in the arm our trade
needs? (Continued on page 21)

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