Repair a range of small gas-powered engines.
Overview
- Essential Question: What skills do I need to pursue a career in the field of small engine repair?
- Area of study: Trades
- Type and amount of credit earned: One elective credit
- Community partner: a small engine repair shop
Competencies
- Safety – demonstrate general shop safety.
- Tools of the trade – demonstrate use of basic hand tools, fasteners, and shop equipment.
- Engine services – demonstrate how to perform basic services on a small engine.
- Assembly and repair – demonstrate how to disassemble and reassemble a small gas engine.
- Presenting – demonstrate how to effectively present their learning.
See the ELO details for the full text of these competencies.
Student activities
- At least one day a week, go to a small engine shop to learn about tools, basic repairs, and maintenance (if possible, also learn about the business side of the field).
- Learn uses for different tools in small engine diagnosis and repair.
- Reflect bi-weekly on your learning, questions, and next steps. Meet monthly with your supervisor at the shop to get feedback on employability skills and how it is going with your learning to work on the equipment.
- Work on donated small engines in the classroom as time allows. No gasoline or oil can be in the machines, and they cannot be run within the school. Also, only hand tools can be used – no power tools.
- Explore career options in the small engine repair field, and evaluate pathways for this career.
Assessment
Most of the assessment happens on the job, at the internship, where the student will be working daily to learn new diagnostic skills, tools, and types of machinery. This learning is documented through reflections, verbal conversations, and check-ins with the site supervisor. There is also a summative assessment which is a more significant reflection on the student’s growth and some photos of work the student did while at the internship.
More information
Definitely make it clear that the #1 priority and the first thing a student has to learn is the safety expectations (and you should learn these too so you can assess them on site visits). Our community partner was meticulous about safety, and if the student had neglected safety expectations, he would have been sent home from an internship day (thankfully, this never happened).
This ELO was submitted by Terrill Covey, ELO Facilitator, Strafford Learning Center. Email teacher for more information
October 2024
