Preaching ‘Outside’ the Choir?

At several times during our recent Education and Training Committee meeting, we were adamantly discussing some similar concerns we all have as to how to improve NEPPA’s training experiences. At one point Larry Brownell, NEPPA executive director said; "well, at this point we are preaching to the choir." So it made me think, who is outside the choir? As members of small publicly owned utilities, we are all called to participate in the process (and sometimes...gulp...sing) to make every training experience a great one.

One such discussion centered on how the instructors for each of the four Apprentice Linemen training programs can best communicate the progress of the student to the utility. The problem has been how to develop an evaluation that gives both the practical as well as the academic aspects of the training. Traditionally, NEPPA instructors have given the utility an evaluation of student’s academic progress but information pertaining to the practical application of the skills learned has not been done or has been relegated to anecdotal whispers (i.e. off the record).

The NEPPA instructor, while wanting to communicate all relevant information regarding the training of each person attending, is placed in the most uncomfortable position of being put in place as "decision maker" to determine if the utility should be investing in this person’s life-long desire to become a lineman. What if the person does extremely well academically but can’t do the physical work? The instructor can’t be put in the place of the employer to inherit the liability of telling someone that they are not cut out to do the work, especially if the subjective opinion of one person can be construed to be biased against the student.

How is this best resolved? The Committee made two recommendations: one is to develop a review checklist of the practical skills applied to the Apprentice Lineman Training Program. A second proposal is to develop and implement a three-tiered (informal) agreement between each of the three parties. While recognizing that each party has a valid interest in the training occurrence, each also has a responsibility to make the whole process successful.

Such an agreement will best communicate both the expectations and responsibilities of each party. For example:

Utility: expects a detailed and thorough training program for each student it sponsors. The utility expects and needs accurate and objective feedback from the training program as to the development of the student. In turn, the utility takes responsibility to continue the student’s training by implementing the skills learned at the apprentice training program. At all times, the utility is the decision maker to determine if student should continue the path of line apprenticeship.

Student:expects a comprehensive education that develops his/her apprentice lineman skills. Student expects a high quality education from trainers who instruct and listen to their questions. Student takes responsibility to be on time and fully participate in the training program.The student understands that he/she is responsible for both studying and applying the skills learned in the program.

NEPPA:expects each student to fully participate in all aspects of the training program and expects the utility to support the learning process by having the student perform the skills learned. NEPPA has a responsibility to give accurate and objective feedback to the utility of each student from the training program.

Over the next few months, Steve Socoby will be probing ideas from others to develop an objective standard of evaluating the practical application of the Apprentice Lineman program. NEPPA also will develop an informal but crucial agreement for all three interested parties to commit to so that responsibilities are understood and expectations are met.

So if you have any ideas regarding these issues, please feel free to communicate them to me or anyone on the Education and Training Committee. That way, all of us will be in the choir and we will begin making our association the best training resource anywhere.