electrical practitioners and fellow students, can anyone here willing to answer all my questions regarding the field i am in. as a student i hardly have that enough knowledge to come out and compete with other REE's there. i think field works and experiences really the one that teaches an electrical practitioner. just please post your concerns and your willingness to help me in this matter. thanks
student's concern
- Thread starter rzramos
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bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: student's concern
Everybody learns in their own way, the key is to determine your own way and exploit that talent for all its worth. Some people will never get it unless they read it in a book, other can't until they actualy do it for themselves. So simply making a general statement that experience is more valuable than education is not an accurate statement for everyone.
That being said, there are no short cuts. You have to keep your nose in the books and put in the necessary time in the field to become truely skilled. Neither one or the other can give it all.
Everybody learns in their own way, the key is to determine your own way and exploit that talent for all its worth. Some people will never get it unless they read it in a book, other can't until they actualy do it for themselves. So simply making a general statement that experience is more valuable than education is not an accurate statement for everyone.
That being said, there are no short cuts. You have to keep your nose in the books and put in the necessary time in the field to become truely skilled. Neither one or the other can give it all.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: student's concern
Best way to go is get hired as a helper while your in school.But be carefull who you go to work with.You need to work with a guy that follows code and does not mind you asking questions.
Best way to go is get hired as a helper while your in school.But be carefull who you go to work with.You need to work with a guy that follows code and does not mind you asking questions.
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: student's concern
This is an interesting topic. I am assuming that you are an engineering student??? If so, maybe what you might be able to do is convince the engineering department to develop a class that is field intensive and have them add it to the curriculum. Do this with other students, as there is strength in numbers. I agree that all people learn in many different ways, so a cookie cutter method may not work. I still think that an approach that uses as many ways is still the best approach. If your school does not offer it, try to contact a local contractor and explain what you are trying to do. I will bet that there is one who will understand and maybe will offer you something.
Good luck, and remember persistence and perseverance pay big dividends!!!
This is an interesting topic. I am assuming that you are an engineering student??? If so, maybe what you might be able to do is convince the engineering department to develop a class that is field intensive and have them add it to the curriculum. Do this with other students, as there is strength in numbers. I agree that all people learn in many different ways, so a cookie cutter method may not work. I still think that an approach that uses as many ways is still the best approach. If your school does not offer it, try to contact a local contractor and explain what you are trying to do. I will bet that there is one who will understand and maybe will offer you something.
Good luck, and remember persistence and perseverance pay big dividends!!!
Re: student's concern
The problem one has asking questions in the field or classroom is many. Dishonesty... alterior motives... ignorance...presumed knowledge among some of them. The one great thing about this site is that you get hundreds of years of experience in one page. Whatever it is, its better than most of the rest of us started with. You go!
The problem one has asking questions in the field or classroom is many. Dishonesty... alterior motives... ignorance...presumed knowledge among some of them. The one great thing about this site is that you get hundreds of years of experience in one page. Whatever it is, its better than most of the rest of us started with. You go!
Re: student's concern
It's motivating just to hear someone making such an effort to learn the trade. I agree there is no cookie cutter method or philosophy to it, in fact your personal approach will most likely change regularly. I am a die hard for asking questions,which can become a bit of a problem in the field because a lot of guys/gals don't know or actually understand why they do what they do but that it's just the way they have "dun it" for so long. So ask, ask, ask and this forum is sooooo grat for info on virtually anything you want to learn about. AND there is absolutely no way you or anyone can learn all there is to know about electrical work and theory, that in itself is exciting to me. Best of luck!!
It's motivating just to hear someone making such an effort to learn the trade. I agree there is no cookie cutter method or philosophy to it, in fact your personal approach will most likely change regularly. I am a die hard for asking questions,which can become a bit of a problem in the field because a lot of guys/gals don't know or actually understand why they do what they do but that it's just the way they have "dun it" for so long. So ask, ask, ask and this forum is sooooo grat for info on virtually anything you want to learn about. AND there is absolutely no way you or anyone can learn all there is to know about electrical work and theory, that in itself is exciting to me. Best of luck!!
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: student's concern
But do you have a question?
I have no idea what you are asking. Members of this Forum have shown themselves willing to help anyone (perhaps, other than a Do It Yourselfer) understand the theory, practice, means, and methods of the electrical industry. This most certainly includes students.
But do you have a question?
Re: student's concern
Most jurisdictions have an experience requirement in addition to passing an exam prior to receiving and electrical license. I have taught classes to prepare students to take the Maryland Master Exam for about 15 years. In my experience the hands-on training that a person receives working on the job does very little to prepare a person for the exam. In our area the exam is based on electrical theory and the National Electric Code. Most of the students that I have taught have had little exposure to the NEC and no exposure to electrical theory unless they have gone through some sort of apprenticeship training program. It appears from your post that perhaps English is not your primary language. If this is the case, and you plan to take an examination in English, then you will need to concentrate on your reading an comprehension skills. The NEC is not an easy document to understand, even if English is your primary language. Many of my students want me to "educate them". I cannot do this. I can answer your questions and give you the tools that you need to educate yourself regarding the trade in general and the NEC in particular. The student will then need to invest the time and effort needed to master the material. I can't "pour it into your head". I have had one student take my course three times. He attends all of the classes, but does not complete any of the assignments, or spend any of his own time studying. He then can't understand why he keeps failing the Master Exam. You need to spend time "in the code" learning to read and interpret it for yourself. No one can do that for you. Forums such as this are an excellent source. Look up the answers given and see if you agree with the writer's interpretation. Take Mike Holt's on-line quizzes. Look up the answers and try to understand the intent of the code. There are no shortcuts, you must invest the time and effort. A few years ago, my mother-in-law got her first computer. Then she started looking for someone to "teach her to use it". We finally gave her some basic information and convinced her that she would learn the rest by just using it. She now can do most anything she wants, but it was through trial and error and actually using the computer that it was learned, not by having someone show her which key to press for every step. The same is true of the NEC. You can get the basics from a class, but most of the work you will need to do yourself.
Most jurisdictions have an experience requirement in addition to passing an exam prior to receiving and electrical license. I have taught classes to prepare students to take the Maryland Master Exam for about 15 years. In my experience the hands-on training that a person receives working on the job does very little to prepare a person for the exam. In our area the exam is based on electrical theory and the National Electric Code. Most of the students that I have taught have had little exposure to the NEC and no exposure to electrical theory unless they have gone through some sort of apprenticeship training program. It appears from your post that perhaps English is not your primary language. If this is the case, and you plan to take an examination in English, then you will need to concentrate on your reading an comprehension skills. The NEC is not an easy document to understand, even if English is your primary language. Many of my students want me to "educate them". I cannot do this. I can answer your questions and give you the tools that you need to educate yourself regarding the trade in general and the NEC in particular. The student will then need to invest the time and effort needed to master the material. I can't "pour it into your head". I have had one student take my course three times. He attends all of the classes, but does not complete any of the assignments, or spend any of his own time studying. He then can't understand why he keeps failing the Master Exam. You need to spend time "in the code" learning to read and interpret it for yourself. No one can do that for you. Forums such as this are an excellent source. Look up the answers given and see if you agree with the writer's interpretation. Take Mike Holt's on-line quizzes. Look up the answers and try to understand the intent of the code. There are no shortcuts, you must invest the time and effort. A few years ago, my mother-in-law got her first computer. Then she started looking for someone to "teach her to use it". We finally gave her some basic information and convinced her that she would learn the rest by just using it. She now can do most anything she wants, but it was through trial and error and actually using the computer that it was learned, not by having someone show her which key to press for every step. The same is true of the NEC. You can get the basics from a class, but most of the work you will need to do yourself.
B
bthielen
Guest
Re: student's concern
I think a college professor I had one time said it best. He said that while it is true that a student will gain some practical knowledge about his major field of study, the bottom line is that the real reason one goes to college is not to learn the trade or field but to learn how to study, do research, and how to learn. Quite frankly, I would bet that most grads that get hired in a related field get retrained to do things according to the needs of their employer. College gave them a background understanding so it was easier and faster to get the new employee from student to master.
Bob
I think a college professor I had one time said it best. He said that while it is true that a student will gain some practical knowledge about his major field of study, the bottom line is that the real reason one goes to college is not to learn the trade or field but to learn how to study, do research, and how to learn. Quite frankly, I would bet that most grads that get hired in a related field get retrained to do things according to the needs of their employer. College gave them a background understanding so it was easier and faster to get the new employee from student to master.
Bob
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: student's concern
I like what both Haskindm and Bob posted. They have both covered very important issues that are dealt with by those who decide to further themselves in our industry.
I like what both Haskindm and Bob posted. They have both covered very important issues that are dealt with by those who decide to further themselves in our industry.
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