Need Help From the Pros, Students and in Between!

[Boomer63]

Hello to everyone! These are some serious questions, not a joke! I really need input from the long time pros, and from those of you who are currently students or who just graduated from some welding program.

This is my question for the pros:

Question #1). Is it important that a welding instructor be able to actually weld the welding the process they are teaching, that they can do effective demonstrations of the right and wrong ways to do a weld? Or is it OK if the instructor does no demonstrations. If it is important why?

Question #2). Is it important that an instructor spend time in the welding booth watching students weld, so they can critique and correct improper techniques? Or is it acceptable for the instructor to not be engaged and observe students welding. If you agree it is important, why?

The following question is for the students, or those who have recently completed a program!
Question #3). Is it important that the instructor be available to the class, in the booth watching welding taking place, to offer critique of welds? Or does it matter if the instructor is not particularly engaged with the students; on a lap top, phone or Kindle? If it is important to be engaged, why?


Just to clarify! I am not trying to pursue a law suit against some school because I feel like I have not been treated ‘fairly’. I am currently working as a Welding Instructor. I need data to present to administrators at my community college to support changes that I feel are necessary to create a quality program.

[aametalmaster]

Do you weld? I have seen some instructors that don't...Bob

[Boomer63]

Do you weld? I have seen some instructors that don't...Bob

Hi Bob, that is a great question. I have been welding structural iron since the 1970's. I have a structural and pipe background; more emphasis on structural than pipe. SMAW, GMAW (LOTS of area to cover in GMAW which is why I refer to the entire package as 'wire feed processes')! GTAW; all in steel, stainless, aluminum. I have experience doing multi-processes in multiple environments; field work, manufacturing and custom fabrication. I am NOT a know it all! I learn constantly! I fell into teaching when the back, knee and shoulder all more or less failed at about the same time. I love to weld but prefer fabrication! This is what I try to teach the students, that welding is great, but the guys who are really employable are the guys who can do the fit up, layout and who understand how to interpret prints and drawings.

[aametalmaster]

Great. I agree about fitting. There are so many kids coming out of schools that just weld. Can't fit and can't read drawings. I would rather fit myself and my boss used to say just fit it i can get anyone to weld it...Bob

[Boomer63]

[QUOTE=aametalmaster;n573307]Great. I agree about fitting. There are so many kids coming out of schools that just weld. Can't fit and can't read drawings. I would rather fit myself and my boss used to say just fit it i can get anyone to weld it...Bob[/QUOTE

I don't want to sound like a snob or know it all, but the fact is that "welding" doesn't impress me as much as it used to. NOW! I respect any guy who can lay down a decent bead and I would never, never take anything away from a professional who is striking an arc for a living. But as I get older, what really motivates me is the building part; the layout. Doing a K joint with 36" to 24" pipe in the field; doing all the layout and cutting by hand, etc. Shoot, I would be lucky to get something like that right! But I know that I have to teach the crew some fit up, layout and fab skills.

[Oldgrandad]

I've been a welder/fabricator since 1972. I have taken several welding and machining courses over the years and been coned into teaching in some of those classes to help out the instructor. I feel it is very important for the instructor to be involved with the students in all aspects of the class and critique the students style and method of welding. Welding /fabricating for me is a lot of fun building things and learning new things all the time I absolutely do not know it all and never will. I am always looking for a better way to build IT. Whatever IT may be.

[ryanjones2150]

Without the technical or practical abilities to perform the skill, be it welding or brain surgery, I don't see how any instructor can have the credibility required to instruct something, regardless of the topic. An "instructor" is expected to be a subject matter expert in that discipline. In addition, it's always the little things that you learn in your scope of day to day practice leading up to the critical tasks that makes you good at your job, especially a trade like welding.