A Little Batty in Construction Trades

What do you get when you take some basic brickwork, basic carpentry, and a heap and a half of creativity? Well — at LCCTC, you might find yourself with a spooky, bat-filled “Haunted Mausoleum!” But it’s not all fun and games.

Using a combination of block and brick masonry, wall framing, and roof framing — all basic competencies on their Program of Study, students built a basic box-like structure to help them review their skills learned from the previous year.

When the calendar page flipped to October, students were given permission to get little creative using power tools and scrap materials. They first used reciprocating saws to cut out their shapes and soon, the structure was adorned with seasonal pumpkins. However, as the days creep closer toward the end of the month, the project has taken a turn toward the macabre and now includes several gravestones and dozens of flying bats.

Is this all just fun and games? Yes, it’s fun, but there’s no joking when it comes to completing Program of Study (POS) Tasks. This week, the focus was on Standards in the 100s, “Construction Trades Safety” which includes OSHA Standards and in the 300s, “Operate Power Tools and Equipment.”

In all, there are 142 tasks on the Construction Trades Safety Task Grid, and over the course of three years, each standard will be taught through theory, discussion, hands-on learning, practice, more practice, and more practice. At the end of their senior year, students are asked to show their understanding of each task in the hopes that they can earn the coveted NOCTI Certification.

So far — it looks like they have a good start on meeting their goals.