Thursday, March 10, 2005

Only one shocking experience

Most of the students have completed their receptacle/switch/light project. All of those tested so far have worked. That is worth 5 points out of the 20 possible. There was 5 points for proper wiring. There was 5 points for appearance. There was 5 points for proper measurements. Then there was 20 points possible on the 10 points a day daily grade for the 2 days that most worked on it. Most did well. It will boost their 9 weeks grade, which is to be posted this week. I am still not on the schools computer program for posting grades. Bummer.

As for the shocking experience, I instructed the students not to install the switches or outlets, or light to the box. I needed to see the back of them to tell if they were wired properly. When I temporarily hooked them up to power, I was right there with them as the flipped the switch. One student went to flip his switch and his swtich moved because it was only supported by the wiring. It wasn't going to move much, but it did wiggle. He put his hand around the back in an effort to steady the switch while he flipped it on. It didn't take long for him to let go. He got a little bite. The look on his face was priceless.

Today we are studying on 3 way and 4 way switches. There are a myriad of ways to hook up these type of switches, governed by where the power comes in and where the wire to the light itself feeds. It will be interesting when we begin the actual installation. It will build on what they learned in the last project. There will still be measurements to take and boxes to install, and wiring to do, and, of course, the 'does it work' grade.

I emphasis to them all the time, here, you get a grade. In the real world, you get paid or not paid, per your efforts and results. We will see if it sinks in.

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