You may have read the Classroom Corner article last week that discussed Grant Union’s agriculture students developing their public speaking skills. This was a successful venture, but the students also were happy that we are changing pace in class.

Recently we started our welding unit, which is one of my favorite to teach as well as one of the student’s favorite to learn. We started by covering safety procedures and their importance. Students are asked to pass a safety exam with 100 percent accuracy before they are allowed to weld. It is so fun to see how excited and nervous students get about learning a new skill.

We moved into the shop after that, and students started their eight-week course on welding. Freshman and sophomores are learning the technique of Oxyacetylene welding and Arc welding. Our juniors, seniors, and some sophomores are doing a short refresher course on both, and then get to work on the skill of MIG (wire feed) welding.

We also ask our advanced classes to fabricate a small project, and the choices range from a saddle rack to a garbage can. These students spent week drawing up plans and filling out a bill of material order, (the needed metal for their projects).

The assignment of drawing plans allows the student to incorporate many of their math skills such as slope and fractions into something practical. We know that by allowing students to apply what they have learned in other subjects will help them retain that information for a longer period of time.

I assign knowledgeable students to peer teach in this unit. The learning experience that is provided for my TAs (teacher’s assistants) is phenomenal. I have several senior TAs who get to demonstrate their knowledge and skill of welding to younger students. When students teach a skill, it helps them to improve their technique, skill level and their communications skills.

I enjoy the few minutes after class with them, hearing them talk about how rewarding it is to see a freshman finally light their arc for the first time.

In our Ag classes, we are allowing our students to enjoy and develop a very broad range of skills. This is probably one of the aspects of teaching agriculture that I enjoy the most. Not only do the kids enjoy the change of pace, but so do I.