Teaching in a pandemic has posed countless challenges, but the Delta College Faculty have met these with ingenuity and resourcefulness, even for the most hands-on courses. This is evident in the Electrician and Mechatronics programs, which Associate Professor of Engineering Diane Lobsiger says are primarily being taught in a synchronous format.
“The instructors teach their classes during their normally scheduled times using Virtual Classroom. The students then do their labs individually at home, with guidance from their instructor, using the components that Delta purchased for them [details below]. This has been a team effort to ensure student success throughout the pandemic. Electrical Technology Instructor Matt Bartolowits, Skilled Trades & Mathematics Instructor Jim Krukowski, and Learning Resource Manager Becki Bushong helped in picking out the components that were purchased. Electrical Lab Technician Thomas Eddy and Manager of Library Programs and Services Michele Pratt set up kits in the library to hand out the supplies to the students. They also allow the students to return the kits to the library at the end of the semester, and they repair any damaged equipment.
“Mechanical Tech & Design Professor Matt Eyre was instrumental in selecting and acquiring the Automation Studio simulation software used in several of our courses. Purchasing ordered all of the components for us in a timely manner, so we could continue teaching our classes without any interruptions. Our adjunct instructors have been amazing as they have transformed their classes to online instruction, so our students can continue to progress towards completion of their programs.
“Becki Bushong offered a significant amount of her time in helping to get the adjunct instructors acclimated to online instruction. The support from the administration has been outstanding. Our programs never would have been able to continue through the pandemic without the support of the purchase of this equipment. Most of all, our students have been terrific. The students have adjusted to taking their classes online, and although we would prefer to meet face to face, there is still an abundance of learning taking place. I am very proud of our students!”
And DCFA is proud of this fantastic group effort to keep our students’ academic goals on track!
Delta purchased the following components that allowed the Electrician and Mechatronics programs to continue through the pandemic:
SKET/ET100 Electrical Calculations
- TI-30X Calculators
SKET/ET110 DC Circuits
- Power Supply
- Resistor Kit
- Wire Kit
- Bread Boards
- Meters
SKET/ET120 AC Circuits
- Elenco Trainers (Power Supply and Bread Board)
- Wire Kit
- Resistor Kit
- Capacitors
- Inductors
- Transformer
- Meters
- Oscilloscopes
SKET/ET130 Conventional Controls
- Automation Studio simulation software
SKET/ET122 Programmable Logic Controllers
- Logix Pro simulation software
Delta College Faculty Association 