INFLUENCE OF VIRTUAL WELDING SIMULATOR USAGE ON EDUCATION,

TRAINING AND TESTING OF WELDERSMirta SzügyiŽeljko Habek

Translation: Edita Margeta

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Research

Research goal

• to determine the influence of virtual welding simulator usage on education, training and testing of welders in the formal education system, and the system of enhancement of professional welders

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Research

Formal education system•research is based on monitoring and establishing of:

1.The qualitative difference between a conventional and an interactive concept of welder training

2.The influence of VSs on the duration of the practical part in the sense of optimum share in the interactive training education

3.Direct benefit and economical justifiability of interactive training

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Research

1.Quality of candidate progress concerning their welding

technique (in the sense of correction of unsatisfactory

elements)

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System of enhancement of professional welders

• research is based on monitoring and establishing of:

Research

Research results in the formal education system

• students manifest considerably higher competence level• quality of work is considerably higher as opposed to the conventional training• the VS share of 30% in the interactive training education has demonstrated remarkable results, with the possibility of maximizing to 40%

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Research

Direct benefits of interactive training:

1. ecological welder training

2. safe welder training

3. raising of foreign language acquisition level (English/German)

4. raising of technical knowledge acquisition level

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Research

Economical justifiability of interactive training encompassed with this research:• cost reduction of base and filler metals because of the higher competence level achieved through the interactive training, which is manifested in adequate application of welding techniques and parameters

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Research

Research results in the sense of correction of unsatisfactory elements• evident enhancement of their competence at the end of

the training with special progress in the sense of cutting down on mistakes

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Research Research curricula

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Research Research curricula in the formal education system

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1. step: - practisinghandling thewelding gun forthe purpose ofcorrect weldingspeed

Four training steps:

2. step: - practisinghandling thewelding gun forthe purpose ofcorrect weldingspeed, takingintoconsiderationthe stick-out

Research Research curricula

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3. step:- practisinghandling thewelding gun forthe purpose ofcorrect weldingspeed, taking intoconsideration thestick-out andinclination angleof the weldinggun

4. step:- practisingthe weldingprocessthroughinvariable andideal weldingparameters

Research

Research curricula in the system of enhancement of professional welders

• Training concept on the VS encompassed:

1. initial testing of candidates on the virtual simulator – Curriculum 1 and Curriculum 2 – threshold 65%

2. training on the VS for the purpose of correction – Curriculum 1 and Curriculum 2 – threshold 60%

3. final testing of candidates on the VS - Curriculum 1 and Curriculum 2 – threshold 60%

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Research in Industrial and Trade School, Slavonski Brod

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Training of professional welders in Končar MK, Zagreb

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SKS System for welder education

Decision

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DefinitionsDecision – making a decision about welder education

Capability – competence acquisition needed for becoming a welder through education in the SKS system

Skills – acquisition of skills, that is, mastering of welding techniques

Knowledge - knowledge acquisition, that is mastering of welding technology.

Stability - in the welding line of work represents the capability of frequent repetition of quality welds under demanded technology using the demanded technique in the demanded period of time on one’s own or under supervision

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Decision

Essential elements for making a decision to choose the welding profession are: •Labour market – are welders needed or not,•Virtual communities – of students, teachers, parents, employers and other interested parties, regional or international, to promote welding profession,•Student's capability – psychophysical predisposition for performing in the profession,•Motivation – one of the key factors in choosing the profession.

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CapabilityCAPABILITY is an integrated education programme (learning and technique) that precedes the S-K-S system and is of the same internal structure.

Modern educational technology integrates contemporary conceived learning programme (software) and technique (hardware) through which the programme becomes available to the student.

It consists of the teaching material, knowledge sources (media), assignment system and evaluation instruments of how the programme is carried out.

Teaching material (reference):

The basic document is: IAB -089r4-10 Draft1 June 2010, IIW-IAB Section: „Minimum Requirements for the Education, Training and Qualification of International Welder“.

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C - Knowledge sourcesKnowledge sources (media) have to make sure the communication is two-way.

Important elements of educational process, beside the traditional already familiar ones, are:

Information sources that enable the approach to a large number of diverse knowledge sources using, above all, on-line systems such as the Internet and off-line systems such as hard drives.

Devices – tools, instruments, technical means – through which different forms and ways of the teaching and learning process are carried out – virtual simulator, welding machines, mobile phones etc.

Communication means: electronic mail, Facebook

Why Facebook? Facebook because of its wide spectrum of possibilities for communication and immense popularity within the student population, but also because all students have mobile phones, and Facebook use is free of charge.

Activity coordination – A form of mentorship where technology enables information presentation, its use and guiding of the student through different ways and forms of learning, diverse contents, with constant feedback.

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C– Assignment systemStudent's activity and flow of learning is encouraged through the assignment system.

Assignment system consists of a theoretical, practical and psychophysical part.

Theoretical assignment system is of thematic character, and students solve it in cooperation with the mentor and present it to other students in the classroom or through media.

Practical assignment system is divided into:

- Virtual welding simulator “Fronius“- 40% of the share in the training. Virtual assignments are set by the mentor by designing the curriculum and determining the minimum threshold to enter the next, higher level.

- real welding machine – 60% of the share in the training. Real assignments are defined according to the above mentioned IIW-IAB Guidelines and chosen modules.

Psychophysical assignment system is carried out in real conditions (school area) or according to the prepared on-line programme.

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C – SKS systemThe system is directed towards a combination of student’s capabilities and motivation. The capabilities are his abilities and disposition (what he can do) and skills and knowledge (what he knows). Motivation is what the student wants.

Skills is an interactive programme of skill acquisition as a combination of virtual and real welding in a ratio 40%:60%.

Knowledge is a programme based on internationally recognised recommendations for education of welders, and is a combination of traditional teaching and teaching based on modern technologies. Internet and Facebook are introduced into knowledge sources, e-mail, forums on web sites and mobile phones have become means of communication.

Stability is a psychophysical training directed towards the raising of welder’s aerobic capabilities and increase in student’s motivation level.

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C – SKS systemPlanning, organizing, monitoring, control and evaluation of various activities carried out by the teachers and students during the teaching process make provision for management and correction of these activities for the purpose of their perfection and enhancement.

Previously determined and precisely established knowledge levels in theoretical part, points system on the virtual simulator, precisely established evaluation criteria for practical assignments, and reached levels in psychophysical training through application of educational techniques and technologies make possible:

- an objective and systematic control of success in the teaching process;

- self-control of learning results;

- feedback.

Teacher - mentor can, in the same way, through planning, organizing, monitoring and control of the teaching process with the help of self-control come to corrective activities, with ever present evaluation of the teacher by the student.

Also very significant is the feedback on employment of finished students and satisfaction of employers with their efficiency.

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SKS SYSTEM FOR PROFESSIONALSIn most cases, after having finished their education, welders do their job and in certain time period do attestation for specific welding procedures. In other words, they just do their job without any educational programmes or trainings.

The question one hears often in practice is: How can an attested welder make so many mistakes? The answer is very simple if one draws a parallel between welding and sports. Athletes practice on a daily basis, they work on their fitness and technique in order to achieve excellent results. On the other hand, welders are required to achieve top-quality results, and they almost never train, they just play games.

There is no top-quality welder without the training and education. The SKS system maintains and improves welder’s technique level and psychophysical abilities, which raises the quality level in welding.

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SkillsOur research has shown that just by working, without the necessary training, welders „lose“ their welding technique. They unconsciously adjust the inclination angle of the burner or electrode, welding speed and the stick-out to their natural position. The longer they work their natural position becomes the working position. In welding that means occurrence of mistakes.

For that reason the SKS system predicts testing and training of the welding technique on a virtual simulator (100%) at least once a year.

We have proven on a number of 20 welders that to every employer such a training would be worth their while. Testing results before and after the training have demonstrated a striking progress with s exceptionally good reflexion in production.

This type of training does not exclude welder attestation and is not connected to that procedure in any way.

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Knowledge

For the same reason connected to the welding technique, welders lose their knowledge about the welding technology during their working life. This, in the first place, refers to industrial welders who get detailed welding technology with anticipated welding techniques for every single weld, and they are expected to draw a quality weld.

Same as with the welding technique, the SKS system predicts renewal of welder’s knowledge once a year.

Our research has shown that the mobile phone is a device with the help of which digital immigrants can relatively easy be introduced into the 21st century technology. Mobile phone as a device, Facebook as media and appropriate communication designed in such a way, along with a web site dealing with welding issues are very attractive for bigger groups of people.

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Stability

Psychophysical trainings of welders professionals are linked to their companies' programmes, as well as on-line and off-line programmes.

Conditioning consists of 6 sets of exercises. A rule is used here that you cannot go to the next exercise until you have mastered the present one. Each set of exercises has a table where progress is controlled.

Psychological training is directed towards combining all the activities for the purpose of increase of welder's efficiency, and the foundation is in the following elements: capability and disposition; skills and knowledge; control and self-control; motivation; mental training; environment influence and relaxation (resting).

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Conclusions

1. Research on a relevant number of examinees has shown that the usage of virtual simulators in education and training of welders is justified;

2. The ratio between a virtual simulator and real welding in education of welders is 40:60%;

3. A complete technique training for professional welders is carried out with a virtual simulator.

4. S-K-S is a system of education and long-life learning for welders.

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Conclusions5. S-K-S system in welder education is comprised of following constituents:

- Teaching material: IAB-089r4-10 Draft1 June 2010, IIW-IAB Section: „Minimum Requirements for the Education, Training and Qualification of International Welder“ as a basic document;

- Knowledge sources (media): On-line and off-line systems – the Internet and compact discs;

- Communication is done through mobile phones via the social network Facebook or e-mails;

- Assignment system is set on a theoretical, practical and psychophysical level;

- Evaluation instruments are well set, in advance defined evaluation systems by students and teachers, software built-in evaluation systems (virtual simulators), evaluation systems defined with evaluation of welders at attestation and feedback by employers on quality of finished students.

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Conclusions6. S-K-S system in training of professional welders is comprised of following constituents:

- Correction of welding technique on a virtual simulator once a year;

- Renewal of welding technology knowledge once a year;

- Continued psychophysical recreational training, on-line or off-line;

- Training for contemporary communication through mobile phones;

- Renewal of knowledge concerning the professional foreign language.

7. Although there are many sites and pages dealing with welding, there is a need for an Internet site that would enable communication between welders, exchange of professional and vocational knowledge, where one could find the newest developments in the business, interesting welding resources and educational materials of all kinds. The site would in such a way contribute to the progress of the welding profession.

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Facebook in education

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Facebook in education

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www.zavarivanje-hr.com

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