"Unbelievable" Program Provides Students Top Skills

Clyde Tate, a Senior at Leake County Vocational Technical Center, demonstrates his skills in power tools.  This module is one of nineteen needed for the M3 Production Level Certification.

PHILADELPHIA – “It is unbelievable what this (WAEM) program is providing for students,” said Cynthia Blackstock, Technology Applications Instructor at Leake County Vo-Tech Center.  Fourteen of her students participate in the WAEM Modern Multi-skill Manufacturing (M3) Certification program. 

“My students can access the WAEM program website through East Central Community College and I don’t have to worry about paying for software, computer upgrades, licenses, etc.  The WAEM program has taken care of this for students and teachers.”

The 14 Leake County students tested their skills in Basic Electrical Circuits and Introduction to Hand and Power Tools on September 3, 2008 at ECCC’s Integrated Technologies Training Center located on the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indian’s Advanced TechParc.  ECCC staff assists the students in accessing the program and conducts the assessments.

“I love this training,” said Clyde Tate, a high school senior currently pursuing a Production Level M3 Certification through ECCC.  “I enjoy working with the tools and the electricity.  It is a good learning experience.  I am learning so much more, things I didn’t even know about.  Hopefully I will get to learn more throughout the year.”

Tate hopes the certification will provide for better recognition in getting into college and acquiring a good job after.  The two modules he and the other students were tested on are included in the 19 needed for the Production Level Certification. 

An honor roll student, Tate has been selected to participate in the Nissan STEP Program for high school students. He hopes to study computer engineering at Mississippi State University next year.

“A student can take this certification, apply for a position at Nissan, enter industrial maintenance, and have the ability to step right into an entry level position all because the industry recognizes this credential,” said Blackstoke.  “Companies don’t have to start at ground zero with an employee who has this certification,” she added.  “The M3 Credential can really pay off for a student.”

The M3 Credential is supported by the WAEM website which connects to WAEM’s Amatrol Anytime Anwhere training system.  These are online, virtual training modules developed by Amatrol for some of America’s top modern manufacturing companies. 

“The training modules parallel the textbooks,” explained Blackstock, “while the virtual simulator engages in an activity helping to enhance student’s ability to absorb the vocabulary.  All of these different learning avenues are beneficial to the students”

Blackstock believes this certificate can help students like Tate who want to go to college and also those who wish to jump right into the workforce. “This certification provides real life application of what students will learn in the real world,” she said. 

“If a student wants to be the CEO of pharmacy manufacturing, this credential exposes them to all the basics of an industrial manufacturing environment of the 21st century. If someone wants to enter the insurance industry, they will need to analyze risk and know the importance of measurements.  This credential will provide them with the basics for this industry and many others.”

Students demonstrate their skills to ECCC trainers at the Integrated Technologies Training Center.  The center is an industrial mock-up of the classroom at Leake County Vo-Tech.  The students are able to test their skills at a higher level than that of the classroom.

Blake Warren, ECCC Advanced Skills Instructor, feels the program is a great success, “This has been a win-win all around.  We see the dropout rates reducing, industry buy-in achieved, and dual participation among students and parents.”

The Amatrol training is provided to high schools and vo-tech centers at no cost through the WAEM Regional Initiative funded by a U.S. Department of Labor WIRED grant.  The M3 Credential was developed by the workforce directors and career tech leaders at the eight WAEM Alliance colleges.