Hello all.
I work for a small training centre in the UK as a welding tutor. MIG/MAG is my main process whereas TIG and MMA are my weaker skills. We teach learners the way, I assume, it has been done for years in that we give them scrap steel to practice on and then, when they can lay a bead or two, offer tips and show them various techniques and, ultimately, help them refine their skills in order to complete five test pieces for the UK standard that is 'City and Guilds'. For example, Level 1 is Tee Fillet in PB, Tee Fillet in PA, Lap Joint in PB, Outside / Open Edge in PA and Pipe to plate.
I always feel that there must be more modern techniques practiced elsewhere in the world that are more.....advanced? For example, off the top of my head, I have wondered if an interactive video in the welding bay would be useful. I'm not saying this is the future, but that something different must be happening somewhere rather than the 'show and watch' technique, or at least in addition to.
Hope this makes sense?