Teacher’s Statement Philosophy

By Michael Henry Simo-nis

Aside from having a firm working knowledge of a particular subject, the passionate teacher will create an atmosphere of infectious enthusiasm that will capture the students’ attention and hold their interest. Trust is essential for students to be comfortable to engage themselves with the instructor, just as the instructor mentors the students, bringing out their confidence in themselves to learn. The students then draw from their own motivations in wanting to learn, which ties to their own experiences in contributing to their learning process. This, in turn, makes the students become their own teacher in educating themselves by taking step-by-step troubleshooting process in any technical issue they may encounter and understanding that a person may never see the same problems twice. There is always that new inherent, seemingly unique difficulty in solving a mechanical or electrical problem; however, the students’ newfound skills will propel them into having the adequate confidence to conquer any unknown. The instructor mentors the students in the art of troubleshooting through research, peer interviews, hands-on technical inspection, and a solid procedure to follow in identifying why a machine may not work properly or what type of new installation may be needed.

The art of troubleshooting has lead me to be successful in many different fields of technical study—namely, an automotive mechanic, equipment maintenance repair person, electrician, air conditioning serviceman, plumber, computer hardware and software technician. As an instructor, I will, to the best of my abilities, guide my students through the procedure of troubleshooting any kind of problem they may encounter from electrical to mechanical. Ultimately, my students will achieve an ability for figuring out an issue that is preventing a machine from working properly or installing brand new equipment, properly sized for the application. This skill also draws upon the student’s individual experiences in problem solving and build on that knowledge base. Every student is different, so I encourage input from each student and interaction between students to work together to perpetuate confidence and not be intimidated by an unknown problem. I teach a method to overcome one’s own apprehension by demonstrating a troubleshooting procedure that starts with step one being research, which is actively started by enrolling and coming to class.

Growing up on our family farm, my father, an industrial engineer, taught me how to troubleshoot a multitude of problems. We have many types of equipment, like tractors, trucks, mowers, bailers, as well as chicken houses with several hundred feet of water pipe and electrical wiring to maintain. As a young boy, my father began the process of teaching me how to solve problems safely. After years of experience with different kinds of machinery, I learned a systematic approach to understanding of how a piece of equipment was malfunctioning and to diagnose a solution. It is this systematic approach that I impart to my students.

I am constantly up-to-date with the latest innovations in Air Conditioning and Heating Technology as well as new certifications required by law. The Green Advantage certification demands good air quality. This is essential for a healthy indoor environment and recourse conservation using green technologies, such as, renewable and biodegradable materials. Another is the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) license that focuses on proper handling of refrigerant and specific uses of the many different refrigerant blends. EPA license is mandatory in the handling of refrigerants. Changes in certifications are a reflection of the advancements in equipment and servicing practices to saving energy, healthier air quality, and changes in refrigerant technology. It is by design to make better equipment and technicians, making a more efficient cleaner way of life.

Instructing is an exciting opportunity for me to convey my ideas and experiences I have through many years of working on different types of equipment. It also employs my ability to bring across to my students the need and want to know how to do anything they put their minds to. I feel as an instructor it is my responsibility to do all I can in teaching my students how to troubleshoot real-life, practical problems in a systematic way. Whether it is an air conditioning system to automotive, whatever may be the case, my students will be able to have a practical step-by-step process to solve any potential problems in the technical world they may encounter. My ultimate goal is for all my students to be prepared and confident when going out on any job to face any problem in machinery and have a tangible way to troubleshoot. It is this knowledge they gain and carry with them that makes teaching such a satisfying endeavor.