The Last Pass: Teaching hand tools and patience

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As the fall semester winds down, I would like to take a minute to reflect on students. Teachers can be quick to hold the belief that students today do not come with the skill sets they used to have.

To be 100% honest with all of you, when I started in education, I never thought the day would come when I would send a student to get a Phillips-head screwdriver, only to be asked if I wanted the “plus sign” or “minus sign” type of screwdriver. I remember one student who was super proud of the tools he bought, including a brand-new, shiny Estwing 28-oz. waffle-faced framing hammer. I also remember the crushed look on his face when I took him to the shop and showed him the style of hammers we used. The next day, however, he was just as excited to show me his new ball-peen hammer and small hand sledgehammer.

When I was growing up, I had people in my life who taught me about hand tools in informal settings. Since then, I’ve realized that I took those opportunities for granted. Indeed, it never crossed my mind that I would have to teach students the differences between screwdrivers, hammers, and the basics of tool usage.

Writing this column has caused me to personally reflect on the times that I have gotten frustrated after sending a student to get a tool, only to get a blank stare in return. I have to remind myself that it is not because they don’t care, it’s because they don’t know. Some students may not have had an interest in a technical career field in high school, or maybe they didn’t have the chance to take an introductory shop class. For that matter, maybe they didn’t have someone in their life who gave them opportunities to spend time in the shop. Maybe they’ve never have had the opportunity to build anything.

Yes, we have had to adjust our teaching styles over the last few years. The metaphorical fishbowl is overflowing with things we need to teach our students to get them caught up on the skills they lack while also helping them to keep pace with technology. However, as instructors, we have the opportunity to introduce not only the vast array of hand tools and specialty tools being developed for the industry but also how they might be applied elsewhere, like in the application of math skills.

Instructors’ opportunities to make a difference are endless; now is the time to reflect on the stumbling blocks of previous semesters and prepare some new lessons. By embracing these items and building out our offerings, we can further prepare students for the future.

If you have a minute, ask yourself these questions: What do students need? How have I addressed the skills that students lack? How am I preparing the next generation of individuals for this incredible industry? Feel free to share with me your answers.