Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/490438
8 | March - April 2015 | www.machinerylubrication.com rationally, focus on solving problems and have good common sense. These are just some of the traits that make them great at their craft. You must cater to these characteristics. Don't just show them a picture of a sealed or open bearing. Let them touch it, spin it around and turn the inner race. This is how they learn best. Try to move them away from the typical classroom environment and more into hands-on, problem-solving exercises. If you must be in a class- room environment, be extremely explicit about how the material relates to a field practice or particular job. Respect This is something I had to learn quickly. The balance and rela- tionship that a teacher and student have is delicate. It's not a dictatorship, and trying to preach to them in the style of a college professor will never work. At the same time, you must also earn their respect without being overbearing. By using knowledge, you can make this process easier. At the beginning of the training, you must set the tone, pace and expectations. You are in control, but at strategic times you can give the illusion of releasing that control so the students can share their experiences. How do you know you've done a good job? When former students contact me asking more in-depth questions about material that I may not have even covered, I consider it a success. My ulterior motives are to inspire my students to become curious enough about the subject to actively seek out answers without external motivation. I also know I have been successful when I receive emails or calls from former students who are now trying to teach machinery lubrication to their peers. I wish someone would have explained these principles to me years ago when I first started instructing courses. They have been instrumental in my success at teaching what most people would consider a dry and boring topic. It doesn't hurt that I'm extremely passionate about it, and this is conveyed every time I have a group of people who are willing to listen. If you would like to see these principles in action, please contact Noria to learn how you can inspire change through education. About the Author Jeremy Wright is the vice president of technical ser vices for Noria Corporation. He ser ves as a senior technical consultant for Lubrication Program Development projects and as a senior instructor for Noria's Machinery Lubrication I and II training courses. He is a certified mainte- nance reliability professional through the Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals, and holds Machine Lubricant Analyst Level III and Machinery Lubrication Technician Level II certifications through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication. Contact Jeremy at jwright@noria.com. FROM THE FIELD