NATEF Integrated Academic Skills:
A Correlation of Technician Applied Academic Skills with Selected National Standards for English, Mathematics, and Science
Overview
Knowledge that cannot be applied has little utility in today’s complex, technologically driven world. For centuries, societies have recognized that a keen understanding of mathematics, science and communications skills were essential to cultural preservation and progress. But historically, such disciplines were taught and perpetuated in isolation of their application in the real world, a world where people must work and make a living.
However, with the advent of technology at an ever accelerating pace, there has been a rethinking regarding the most effective methodologies for teaching math, science and communication skills. Teaching those disciplines in the context of where and how people live and work is not only gaining in acceptance, but it is deemed critical to survival in a technology-imbued environment.
For example, an automotive technician’s job description consists of far more than the performance of manipulative tasks required to service today’s complex motor vehicles. Today’s successful technician must possess an array of workplace skills and a unique blend of academic and technical skills.
This document includes a description of those essential workplace skills an automotive technician needs to function successfully in an automotive service facility. It also includes a listing of the integrated math, science and communications skills required of today’s automotive technician to effectively analyze, diagnose, service and/or repair today’s technically sophisticated automobiles.
The intent of this document is twofold: (1) To serve as a resource to educational institutions and automotive technology teachers in planning, preparing, delivering and assessing instructional content for preparing automotive technicians of the future; and (2) To demonstrate the extent to which today’s automotive technician is dependent upon and must be competent in the application of appropriate math, science and communications skills in the day-to-day performance of his/her job.
Applications in the Preparation of Automotive Technicians
The information contained in this document has several practical applications in the development of a course of study designed to prepare automotive technicians.
For automotive instructors, the information contained herein emphasizes the importance of communications, math and science in preparing automotive technicians for the future. Servicing today’s highly sophisticated automotive vehicle requires a unique blend of head and hand skills. While the NATEF task lists identifies the important manipulative skills that technicians must know and understand in order to be successful in their chosen vocation.
Teachers of English, mathematics and science can use this information to demonstrate the significance of their respective disciplines and their applications in the every day work world.
The information can also be used by educational administrators, curriculum designers, assessment specialists, and teacher committees to:
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Plan integrated automotive technician/academic courses of study;
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Determine the division of teaching tasks based on course of study content and teacher credentials;
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Prepare and administer competency-based multiple assessment strategies;
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Audit integrated course content to determine the merits of awarding academic credit to learners enrolled in an integrated automotive technology program;
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Craft articulation agreements;
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Design and present professional development sessions on academic/automotive technology integrated curricula.
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Integrated Academic Skills document for automobile training
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