Correction 9/14/20 3:21 p.m.: This story had previously misspelled Dean Michael Wangler’s last name as “Wrangler”. The story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling.
Automotive Technology classes at Citrus College are being offered online for the first time without the automotive garage. Online learning has put a hold on hands-on exercises and class credit.
Grades for all Auto Tech classes will be marked as IP, in progress, until the lab hours are made available to students. Professor Greg Lipp says this is the first time this class has been online as the hands-on work cannot be converted to online work.
“The plan is to return to campus and have the students complete the required hands-on work,” Lipp said in an email interview.
Auto Tech students like Jesus Gomez-Bahena have begun to worry about being able to remember what they learned online when applying it to in-person lab hours, which will not happen until a plan is developed or until the campus reopens.
“I am anxious because I have a feeling that me and my classmates might forget a thing or two from what we learned in our class,” Gomez-Bahena said.
“We might forget to apply the skills we learned, and that could possibly cost us a class,” he said during a text message interview.
No plan has been proposed for resuming lab time, however professors are working with Dean Michael Wangler to develop the next steps. Finding a safe way for students to complete their in-person lab hours has become a new struggle for both Auto Tech students and professors.
“We are working with the dean to develop a plan that keeps our students and faculty safe while ensuring the student has the best learning environment possible,” Lipp said.
Sixty hours in the lab are necessary to pass the class, as they make up 40% of the total course work.
“The course requires the students to learn and demonstrate proficiency in several hands-on exercises,” Lipp said. “These range from being able to correctly operate precision measuring instruments to (demonstrating the ability to) properly and safely raise and lower a vehicle on a hoist.”
Additionally, no alternative has been proposed for the students who have been told to wait for the reopening of campus to complete their lab hours. Even though the proficiencies, or lab components, have been postponed, students are still excited about the class.
“Working on cars is something I find exciting, so I am excited to go back to working and learning!” Gomez-Bahena said.
Now that professors have gotten comfortable teaching these classes online over the summer, they are looking forward to getting through this semester and returning to campus.
Lipp said he was worried about the online conversion as well, but he has familiarized himself with distance learning programs.
“Initially I was very apprehensive, as I am sure many of the faculty were,” Lipp said. “Now that we have completed the Spring and Summer sessions, I feel more comfortable with it, but I am definitely looking forward to returning to traditional lecture and lab.”
