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SALINEVILLE -- Utica Shale Academy students should soon be able to learn the basic skills of welding through a virtual welding machine.
The USA board last week approved a partnership with Lincoln Welding and the purchase of a virtual Lincoln welder.
Bill Watson, superintendent of the USA, told the board this machine allowed him, someone who had never welded before, to go from a poor score of 27 percent to a good one in the 80s after utilizing it a few times.
Board member Mark Chronister also had gone with Watson and Matt Gates, the instructor for the program, to see and try out the virtual welder 3-D simulator. Chronister said the virtual welder gives students a chance to learn the skills virtually, then transfer those skills to real-world hands-on welding.
Karl Blissenbach, the board president, pointed out there is a lot of interest in welding and this will be a good supplement to the programs being taught through the USA.
In addition, the agreement will provide an instructor to help the USA staff to learn the virtual equipment and programming before teaching it.
After the meeting, Watson said the virtual welder allows the instructor and the other students to see what the person wearing the virtual helmet is seeing. That person's work is shown on a large screen TV in the room so everyone can learn from what is happening. The virtual welder also gives the student instant feedback, urging them to change the rods, the speed, the angle all in order to get a better score.
While the machine costs $47,000, Chronister said Lincoln is willing to help the school out and is interested in a program that will help students who may be losing interest in school to find something that brings their interest back. Additionally, Watson has applied for an Equity Grant and could use that money to add another virtual welder or two.
Eventually, the school would like to get a real welding set up so students can move from the virtual welder to the real welding.
Southern Local Principal Jay Kiger told the Southern board at its meeting this first virtual welder should be there this spring ready to provide an introduction to the students this year, so they can be enrolled in the class next fall.
djohnson@mojonews.com