Put it in a quieter corner near an outlet, away from lab benches and the main walkway. Angle it so windows sit to the side or behind the learner rather than behind the screen.
Quick Answer – A tablet study station allows electrical apprentices to study the requirements of the codes, to answer some test questions, and enhance their knowledge in brief sessions.
Effective education of electrical apprentices occurs only through the combination of classroom knowledge and practical training. However, due to such things as wiring panels, bending conduit, and working on lab tasks, preparing for exams can be difficult.
Code information and concepts are easily forgotten if apprentices review the material only before an examination. A tablet study station is a good solution that will help with regular revision of the studied material.
If the proper place for the station, its safety, and short practice sessions are provided, apprentices will be able to improve their knowledge without disturbing other activities in the workshop. Here are some tips on creating a study station.
This is because one or two distinct roles should be assigned to a particular station, which is something that needs to be determined prior to purchasing materials. A tablet that’s meant for everything usually ends up used for nothing in particular.
Registered Apprenticeship is a model that combines on-the-job learning, classroom learning, and mentorship, according to Indiana’s Department of Workforce Development. A study station supports the classroom side and lets learners keep code practice going between hands-on tasks.
Common jobs for a classroom tablet station include:
Pick out the two things that are the most important in your classrooms, and set up the tablet focusing on them. You can always get others to join the group afterward.
Station should be located at a place where learners can concentrate for a few minutes without disturbing anyone. That usually means a quieter corner of the classroom, close to an outlet and away from the lab benches and the main walkway.
Keep it clear of anywhere people carry ladders, reels of wire or tool bags. OSHA’s general requirement is that walking-working surfaces are maintained free of hazards such as protruding objects. A station sitting in a walkway works against that. Mark out the footprint with tape before you commit to a spot, and walk past it carrying something bulky.
Check the light, too. A screen facing a bright window is hard to read, so angle the station so windows sit to the side or behind the learner rather than behind the screen.
Pro Tip: Before you install anything, stand in the chosen spot during a busy lab session for ten minutes. Notice who walks past, how loud it gets, and whether you’d be able to concentrate there. If you’d struggle, your apprentices will too, so move the station before it’s bolted down.
The floor stand makes the tablet a permanent station that is always ready, charged, and at the same place. Look for one that holds the tablet at a comfortable height for standing users, keeps the device secure, and keeps the charging cable tidy.
Check the cable routing closely before you buy. A model such as a tablet floor stand from VidaBox typically routes the charging cable inside the pole down to the base, so the station plugs in without a loose cord across the floor. Whichever stand you pick, confirm the enclosure fits your exact tablet model before you order, since a slightly wrong fit means a tablet that rattles or won’t sit flat.
Orientation is another aspect to consider. Practice questions and code references are often easier to read in portrait, while videos look better in landscape, so decide which use comes first and set the stand up for it.
Access determines whether the station becomes a collaborative study aid or a complete free-for-all. Plan how learners sign in, what they can open, and what happens to their data when they walk away.
Talk to whoever manages your devices before setup, because most tablets offer settings for shared use. Lock the tablet down to study tools only before the first learner touches it.
Do not use one common login for all learners; give them individual logins for the learning apps. Individual logins keep progress separate, so each apprentice sees their own scores and missed questions instead of someone else’s.
Use the tablet’s built-in restrictions or a device management tool to hide everything except the apps the station is for. A tablet with games and social networking sites at one touch away will not remain an educational center for long.
Make signing out a routine activity. Post a short reminder on the stand, and set the apps to time out after a few minutes of inactivity so the next learner never lands in someone else’s account.
Alt text: An instructor talking through a problem with two apprentices taking notes at a table
Short, planned classes suit the day of learning much better than prolonged studies. Ten to fifteen minutes at the station, a few times a week, keeps code knowledge fresh without pulling learners off hands-on work for long.
Give each session one topic, so learners finish feeling they covered something rather than skimming a random mix. With NEC exam practice from Dakota Prep, learners can choose a practice mode such as wiring systems, motors, or calculations, which keeps a short session on a single subject. Match the topic to what the class covered that day, so practice questions reinforce the lab work instead of competing with it.
End your discussion with a quick run-through of the unanswered questions. A learner who looks at why an answer was wrong takes more from five questions than one who races through twenty.
A program keeps one or two keen learners from monopolizing the station and makes sure quieter ones get their turn. Post a weekly station schedule next to the stand, and keep it simple enough to update in a minute.
A workable schedule covers:
Follow up with each learner every few weeks regarding what they have been practicing and where they are still missing questions. Use missed-question patterns to plan lessons, so the topics most of the class struggles with get extra time at the bench.
You don’t need a full rollout plan to get started. Select the location and place a single tablet with personal accounts and select one topic related to your current week’s lab activities.
Then book three short practice slots for the end of the week and watch how learners use them. What you see in those first sessions will tell you how to adjust the station before the whole class relies on it.
Put it in a quieter corner near an outlet, away from lab benches and the main walkway. Angle it so windows sit to the side or behind the learner rather than behind the screen.
Ten to fifteen minutes, a few times a week, fits most training days well. Give each session one topic that matches the day’s lab work and finish with a review of missed questions.
Give each learner an individual login, limit the tablet to study apps and set apps to time out after a few minutes. Post a weekly schedule beside the stand so everyone gets a turn.
