Career College Central

Subscribe at careercollegecentral.com 9 As technology has evolved alongside our understanding of how students learn, it has gotten easier for instructors to develop multimedia curricula that touch on all seven of Howard Gardner's seven intelligences, incorporating exercises and modules that work best for each type of learner. Among students who choose programs leading to careers in the mechanical sciences, two learning styles are most common: physical and logical/mathematical. Physical learners: Physical learners do best when they're able to use their bodies and hands in the classroom. Instructors can use hands- on learning, working models and professional computer programs to simulate real-world mechanical science. ese students thrive in instances where real-world aviation, automotive, electrical and metalwork equipment/tools can be used for training purposes. Logical/mathematical learners: Logical learners aren't necessarily afraid to think outside the box, but they want to know why and how it makes sense to do so. For them, problem-solving isn't about throwing solutions at the wall to see what sticks, but rather about understanding why A+B=D when it should equal C. According to Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence eory, these learners need to "understand the underlying principles of some kind of causal system." Due to the nature of many mechanical sciences training programs, especially those completed on the job, it makes sense to incorporate physical and logical learning in the classroom by way of hands-on equipment training and diagnostics. Living to work: Mechanical sciences career options Whatever success means to someone, there is a way they can achieve it in the mechanical sciences field. Career colleges and technical schools offer many degree and nondegree programs that help meet the demand for qualified mechanics, electricians and welders while helping students begin on the path to fulfilling sciences careers where they can work days, nights, weekends, full time or part time, in any number of environments. Here is just a sampling of the career options available: Aircra and Avionics Equipment Mechanics and Technicians Entry-level education: Part 147 FAA-approved aviation maintenance technician school Median pay (2016): $60,270 annually Job outlook, 2014-24: Little or no change (1 percent projected growth) On-the-job training: Yes Working environment: Most aviation mechanics and technicians work in full-time, rotating eight-hour shis in hangars or on airfields near major airports. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "General aviation mechanics and technicians typically have more flexible schedules than those working for airlines."

• Cover