| |
English class learns to communicate through
metalworking
Lillington, NC –Students in Dean Roughton’s
English 110 class at Central Carolina Community College’s
(CCCC) Harnett County Campus have been spending time designing
and crafting small metal objects. At the same time
the students cut and mold the metal pieces, they are learning
how to better communicate in the workplace.
The students are all machining tool and die students who are taking Roughton’s
class to fulfill their English requirement. After noticing that all
of the students on his spring roster were of the same major, Roughton teamed
up with Edwin Thomas, machining technology instructor, to integrate coursework
in the two classes.
“
I began to think of ways to make the English class more interesting for the students,
especially since they all share the same major,” said Roughton. “By
tailoring the projects to the students, they are learning about both English
and machining technology concepts.”
For the students’ final project, Roughton assigned a process analysis paper
after Thomas suggested the students needed work on communication skills. The
students were to create a small item in the machining technology lab and then
write a paper on how to build it and why they must stick to the original guidelines. Students
will switch the papers and then try to build the object using only the other
students’ paper.
Roughton likens the process analysis paper to writing a description of a church. “If
I ask a room of 30 people to describe a church, we will have 30 different descriptions
based on life experiences. If I accurately describe the church, everyone should
have the same picture. In machining technology the work is so precise. An
accurate description is essential.”
According to Thomas, good communication is one of the most sought-after skills
in employees, especially in a factory setting. Having good communication
skills means employees waste less time and materials. Employers want employees
who can not only do the job, but can communicate instructions and relate to coworkers
well. These are qualities they seek when looking to promote a worker.
“The chief complaint I hear from employers is poor communication skills,” said
Thomas. “These students are learning to communicate more effectively
and that is a key skill for anyone who would like a chance at being promoted.”
Not only are the students learning effective communication, they’re also
having fun. I’m making a hitch cover for my project,” said
Thomas McPhail, a freshman machining technology student from Spivey’s Corner. “Doing
this project using examples from something that interests me makes me more motivated
to complete the project.”
“I’ve taken other English classes before,” adds Dave Dunn,
a sophomore machining technology student who is crafting drumsticks for this
project. “Mr.
Roughton goes out of his way to make our class more interesting.”
The students aren’t the only ones learning through the collaboration. Roughton
has enjoyed spending time with the students in the machine shop learning about
the different types of equipment.
“I found it simply amazing to see what these guys can do with raw hunks
of metal,” said
Roughton. “On one machine, the students key in a complex series of
three dimensional coordinates, which the machine translates into some intricate
designs in the metal.”
English 110 is an introductory writing course that is a basic requirement for
many diploma programs. The course teaches how to develop coherent documents
using standard grammar and proper mechanics.
Media Contact:
Andrew Sawyer
Central Carolina Community College
(919) 718-7265
asawyer@cccc.edu |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
