Dave Leja

Dave Leja CHEP

Discussion Comment

How do you motivate a student that already knows it all?

I will try what you suggest. It's not that they DO know it all, they THINK they do and often blurt out answers to try to impress the others. Our students seem to be different then they used to be. I've taken other classes through CEE for younger students to try to achieve some understanding of them. These are a mixture of young and old. A classroom may have students that are 19 to 30 years old with some 40 some things tossed in. We have students that have always been interested in working on cars and students that just… >>>

Dave Leja CHEP

Discussion Comment

How do you motivate a student that already knows it all?

We have a curious quandary in our field, Automotive/Truck Instruction. Some of the students while coming here have been working in the field for a very short period of time, perhaps 2 to 6 months. The fact that they are already working in their chosen field makes them feel that they have made it and theyâ€™re above the other students and in some cases equal to the instructors. This makes for some interesting days. The students can become arrogant, lazy and unmotivated.

Dave Leja CHEP

Discussion Comment

A Boomer and a Yâ€™er walk into a barâ€¦

Unfortunately, the students are often more concerned with getting the lab sheets completed as quick as possible, without ingesting any of the information on it. Itâ€™s hard to get them to slow down and try to understand what theyâ€™re doing as opposed to just going through the motions.

Dave Leja CHEP

Discussion Comment

A Boomer and a Yâ€™er walk into a barâ€¦

That was just to get your attention. Being a Boomer and trying to teach automotive to Gen Y has got to be one of the most challenging and exasperating things IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve done recently. Although these days, automobiles and trucks incorporate advanced technology these vehicles are still based on a basic mechanical motor and drivetrain. Most students develop their interest in this industry on the mechanical side of it. Although the students are quite prolific in using their cell phones, laptops, I-pads etc. they have no concept of how the technology (electronics) work. Most of them donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t want to take the… >>>

Dave Leja CHEP

Blog Comment

Time and Stress Management

Not only should everyone know about stress management but, they should know what eases their own stress. We can all try to ease the stress of others however there is a thin line between easing someone else's stress and mollycoddling them. Everyone has to take care of their own.

Dave Leja CHEP

Discussion Comment

Professionalism and infractionsâ€¦

My institution has professionalism points for dress, language etc. Most students do think itâ€™s a good idea. However our institution doesnâ€™t have any serious repercussions for students that are consistently running against the regulations. The writing up of infractions, referring students to education managers, instructors having a one on one with the student and school councilor is time consuming and considered by most instructors, a waste of time. Some instructors askâ€¦ â€œCan we do in a few weeks what their parents havenâ€™t done in twenty years?â€

Dave Leja CHEP

Discussion Comment

What can be done with a student that has made up his mind to be miserable...

What do you do when a student has made up his mind to be miserable? He's already upset from something that transpired in one of the first classes he took. He went all the way to the top without satisfaction. Every class he goes to after that he comes in with a chip on his shoulder. You get him just before he is to graduate and he's in his last class. This has been festering for at least one year. What can be done to pacify (pacify is probably not the right word) this student.