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NEW
WORLD-CLASS GTAW COURSEWARE HITS THE MARK, HELPS INSTRUCTORS
BRIDGE SKILLS GAP
By
Stephen
V. Houston
Director
Curriculum Materials Development
For
all of you who have been waiting so patiently, the new Gas
Tungsten Arc Welding courseware is now available and getting
rave reviews. This new, world-class, 33-module curriculum is
based on 70 years of welding training experience and is aligned
with AWS QC10 and EG2.0, the entry-level standard and curriculum
guideline for the S.E.N.S.E.
Program
(Schools Excelling through National Skill Standards Education).
A
big thank you goes out to HIWT instructor Ernie Jones who did
such an excellent job on the skill demonstrations, and who was
such a good sport throughout the more than 30 days it took to
capture all the close-up footage of the arc.
Thanks
also to all the welding instructors across the country who have
taken the time to share their thoughts over the phone, in
e-mails and at state and national conferences. I value your
input, and I have tried to incorporate as many of your ideas as
possible.
The
new curriculum features a brief course overview that serves as a
road map and motivator for students. There are 9 modules
covering essential theory and 23 skill modules. The video
modules feature male and female narration to maintain interest
and highlight key points.
Theory
modules include: an introduction to GTAW; Safety; Equipment
Setup, Adjustment & Shutdown; The Essentials of GTAW; The
Metallurgy & Weldability of Carbon steel; Introduction to
GTAW with Pulsed Power; The Welding Characteristics of Stainless
Steel; The Welding Characteristics of Aluminum; and The Effect
of Process Variables on the Welding Arc.
Theory
topics take a practical approach and feature animated graphics,
compelling visuals and clear explanations designed to
communicate essential concepts so students can apply the
information to the work environment. Each theory module is
summarized briefly in the student workbook with plenty of
visuals to improve retention.
Each
skill module features a graphic of the workpiece and
corresponding weld symbol so students develop their blueprint
reading skills as they work through the course. Skill modules
feature work and travel angles, dramatic close-ups of the
welding arc and puddle showing proper manipulation, wide shots
showing welder stance, and close-ups of finished welds.
The
arc shots provide clearer views of the puddle than you can get
from under the helmet. For example, the arc shots in the new TIG
program provide a clear view of both sides of the puddle—front
and back—so students can see how filler addition and torch
manipulation affect the formation of the weld.
The
curriculum encompasses exercises involving fillet welds and
square-groove welds on 16-gauge and 11-gauge mild steel in all
positions, as well as modules on 16-gauge stainless steel and
0.125 inch aluminum in the flat, horizontal and vertical
positions as specified in AWS EG2.0 (Guide for The Training and
Qualification of Welding Personnel).
The
course includes standard AWS visual inspection criteria and a
standard AWS destructive test on 11-gauge carbon steel in the 1G
(flat) position, as well as exercises involving the visual
inspection of fillet welds and square-groove welds on stainless
steel and aluminum.
Welding
educators will love the new material on metallurgy featuring 3D
animations of the changes that take place in carbon steel during
heating and cooling.
For
the first time, you'll have a module on the metallurgy and
weldability of carbon steel that's designed specifically for
welding students. We concentrate on what welders need to know
about metallurgy in order produce quality welds free of cracks
and distortion. We build on the concepts developed in the
Metallurgy of Carbon Steel to explore the weldability of
stainless steel and aluminum.
We
discuss the evolution of power sources from conventional AC
through to the latest inverter technology, and demonstrate how
welder controlled process variables such as electrode and filler
rod angles, arc length and torch manipulation, combined with
machine adjustments like balance, amperage and postflow, work
together to produce quality welds.
The
student workbook (EW369 GTAW) matches the video topic-for-topic.
Each skill module features the same graphic and weld symbol that
appears at the beginning of each video topic. The workbook
guides the student through the process of recreating the welds
demonstrated on video in “recipe” fashion. Visuals of
electrode angles and finished welds are taken directly from the
video to facilitate skill transfer.
The
complete course includes testing instruments, answer keys and a
comprehensive Instructor’s Guide. For each module, the
Instructor’s Guide provides: the performance objective;
recommended practice time; a complete list of required materials
and machine settings; testing methods; and a complete script for
the instructor to follow, with helpful hints to facilitate
implementation.
Whether
you’re aligning your welding curriculum with the AWS S.E.N.S.E.
program, dealing with the challenges of open entry/open exit, or
whether you're trying to bridge the skills gap created by new
technology and higher quality standards, you’ll want to take
advantage of this world-class courseware.
The new GTAW curriculum
is available on 7 videotapes or 4 DVDs. For pricing,
availability and upgrade information call 800 332-9448 ext.
5433, or email Linda.Greulich@welding.org.
Ask for a catalog and a preview of the new GTAW curriculum or
check the web site at http://www.welding.org.
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