Hello,
Last Friday, students received their midterm report card.
I will explain how the Grade 9, Exploring Technology; Grade 10, 11, 12, Transportation Technology marks are evaluated.
This report card only covers semester work this far. The semester work is worth 70% and will continue to be adjusted as the semester continues. The semester work is divided into two main categories.
1. Knowledge and Understanding and Communication, 35%
DAILY NOTES & LOG: Almost every day the students will copy a note from the blackboard on the sheet provided. This note will be under the category of Safety, Tools & Equipment, and Theory. I require that all students print their full name and the date (mm,dd,yy) on the line provided. I also require proper spelling, complete (some students only copy a portion of the note), and neat printing. I encourage and remind all students to develop their own consistent and professional printing style that is easy to read. To pursue a career in the trades, you need the ability to communicate clearly with your manager, employer, and customer. How else can you properly bill, charge, record, pay, and warranty your work. I remind the students that a messy and unreadable job application is the difference between employment and unemployment. The work-order is still an everyday part of the trades.
In the Log portion, I require the student to include the year, make, and model of the vehicle they are working on. If it is not available or they are working on a project that is not a vehicle, than I require printing N/A in the yr/mk/mdl blanks, everyday. In a large shop where there are many employees, the service writer requires the work-orders filled out entirely and does not have time to hunt down every employee to find out what they missed. I also require the student print details and explain what they have been doing during the period. They should include step by step of the work they did, tools they used, and if they used equipment, they need to print one fact about the use of the equipment. I also require proper terminology. The student needs to ask me if they do-not know. How else can I evaluate what the student knows?
2. Thinking and Application, 35%
Practical in the shop: I try to portray the shop as a real working garage. Thus, the students are encouraged to behave like an employee. They need to keep busy, by participating with the projects and customer vehicle repairs. The students come with a very wide and varied background, skills, abilities, interests, and even fears. I only expect students to do what they are comfortable with doing. I expect the student will get to the point they will be willing to try to do new things, eventually. In the mean time I expect the student to observe, get and return tools, clean up and ask questions to other students and myself. I cannot force any student to work in the shop, the risk of injury to the student(s) and potential of damage to vehicles, tools, and equipment is too high. I am always watching and circulating around to the different student groups. I ask the students to identify the components by their proper terminology and explain what they know and understand of what the component is for and how and why. I will correct when they are wrong and explain what they do not know.
Thus, like a real job, the student does not receive pay but marks. Out of 10 everyday. The student's attendance, punctuality, attitude, participation, cleanup all effect my assessment and final evaluation.
If the student wishes to make up lost marks due to being absent for any reason. The student needs to copy the missed Daily Notes from a willing student's notes. The student needs to come in to make up missed time in the practical in the shop. The student is encouraged to work during lunch, spares (cannot skip regular classes), and after school ( I am always in the shop everyday till a minimum of 4:30pm). Like an apprenticeship, it is time working in the environment. I will allow the students to work on any project that interests them without instruction. I find the student will eventually get stuck and will require my input. At this point the student is willing to listen and try out my suggestions to carry the project forward. Usually the student will eventually get around to every opportunity in our shop by the end of the semester.
I encourage the student and the parent/guardian to talk to me about any concerns, after school.
I will post in the shop and from the board, soon.
