VECAT: Embracing Change and the Opportunity to Learn
Print this Article | Send to Colleague
VECAT has been abuzz throughout the months of January and February with successful completions of two Asphalt Field schools and an Asphalt Plant school with Asphalt Mix Design, Surface Treatment and Slurry Surfacing schools still to come.
So far, we have had over 400 students complete the classes and exams. As with any new endeavor, there are always things that go off as planned and others that present challenges to address. In just one month of classes, the VECAT team has rolled out new class formats and materials, and added technology allowing students greater flexibility in determining when and where they want to complete their courses. As we all know, change carries with it challenges, but with challenge comes opportunity. Our Field and Plant school students have provided us with valuable feedback for how to better meet their needs and strengthen the core of the VECAT program, and we are listening! One such suggestion was placing textbook page numbers on the slides. This has helped students to quickly locate the information shown in presentations in their student workbooks so that they have that information for exam support and future reference.
Students in the VECAT program have a wealth of information at their fingertips. Once registered for the class, students have access to both 2016 and 2017 presentations, classroom videos, knowledge-check questions and classroom handouts. In fact, early comparison of exam scores show students who reviewed the online information before or during class have a higher passing rate.
We see all challenges as opportunities for growth and are working diligently with both VDOT and Germanna to make adjustments to those areas that can be tweaked quickly and easily. Other changes suggested by students and company administrators are being made as well; however, some of these will take more time to implement. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we adjust what we have today to better meet students' needs tomorrow. We appreciate ALL of the feedback we have received thus far, and look forward to the continued effort from all parties with a hand in VECAT to make the program and courses the best that they can be.
