Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

The Welding Technology Capstone Class will allow the department to assess the knowledge and skills acquired during the student’s welding education ensuring that each student who completes the program is work ready.

Through the service learning project, students will not only demonstrate their technical proficiency, but they will connect with, and provide service to their larger community. The projects will take place at the Welding Department under the direction of an instructor. Students will be encouraged to choose projects that fall within their area of interest, allowing them to gain relevant real world experience.

Students will review their two years of course materials in preparation for a comprehensive examination developed by PCC’s industry partners. The examination will include content in the following areas:

• Welding process
• Safety
• Welding math
• Welding science
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving

This capstone course will allow students to demonstrate mastery in welding at a level appropriate for local employers through application of concepts, skills, processes and technology in the performance of authentic tasks that enhance community involvement and employability.

Students will demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively with a variety of people which may include employers, project managers and co-workers, other students, instructors and employees.

Because the projects fall under the service-learning rubric, students will demonstrate an understanding of social action and their role in the community.

Students will demonstrate their acquired competency in welding science, welding math, problem solving, and critical thinking

Welding Department faculty will assess the viability of the student’s project based on the student’s initial project presentation. Faculty will also evaluate the student’s resume and interviewing skills based on performance.

The instructor under whom the hands-on service-learning project is being carried out will assess project outcomes. Students will be graded on both their technical proficiency and skills that include:

• Ability to communicate
• General work readiness
• Timeliness
• Ability to work with others
• Positive attitude
• Critical thinking
• Follow through
• Ability to problem solve
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work in a team environment

Students will sit for an industry-based examination reviewing the knowledge of welding principles that they have acquired. The examination will include welding process and procedures, safety issues, science as applied to welding, math as applied to welding and problem solving. The assessment will be graded by welding faculty.

Students will function safely within the PCC Welding Shop. They will:

• understand and practice personal safety by using proper protective gearunderstand and practice hand and power tool safety
• understand and maintain a safe work areas
• recognize and report dangerous electrical and air/gas hose connections
• understand and practice fire prevention
• be able to access and explain the importance of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Students will demonstrate a professional work ethic. They will:

• track training hours on time card perform projects in accordance with specifications and procedures
• follow directions in a positive manner manage time productively respect people and equipment

Students will demonstrate job-seeking skills. They will:

• prepare a resume
• practice interview skills with PCC staff, faculty and/or advisory committee members

Students will develop a service-learning work project*:

• identify an employer and/or mentor
• design the project with their employer/mentor
• Complete the project at PCC Welding Shop

* In limited cases the project that is relevant to the student may not fall into the service-learning category. An example might be a student wanting to develop a business plan for a new specialized welding shop. The Welding Department may approve these projects on an individual basis in lieu of a service-learning project.

Students will choose a project based on one or more of the following criteria. The project will:

• demonstrate welding proficiency,
• advance the student’s welding knowledge beyond required course work,
• apply the student’s welding skills using materials or techniques new to them
• provide experience in teaching welding concepts
• apply the student’s welding knowledge to research that advances welding processes or procedures
• develop welding related business opportunities, skills or plans

Students will demonstrate organizational skills. They will:

• break down their project into its component parts
• determine process
• estimate materials
• estimate time
• estimate costs if appropriate

Students will demonstrate communication skills. They will present to the faculty:

• a written report of what they intend to accomplish including the time, materials, budget and process

and

• an oral presentation of what they intend to accomplish including the time, materials, budget and process

Students will complete their project in a timely workman like manner.

Students will review all major welding concepts presented during their two year welding program in preparation for a comprehensive industry based examination.

Sample Service Learning Projects

• Assistant teachers in high school classes with whom we partner
• Art projects for public spaces, non-profits or to raise scholarship money
• Fabricating handicapped access
• Fabricate items to sell or auction that could raise money for welding scholarships
• Provide welding services to a non-profit group or institution that cannot afford to purchase them
• Introduce welding materials, skills and /or concepts to youth, disadvantaged populations, artists etc.
• Work as a research assistant in a welding related field
• Weld benches, garbage can holders, fixtures, etc. for the public park system
• Work with advisory committee to perform a service learning project
• Provide welding services to the college