Gatlin Education Online HVAC Program

[jb8103]

I've never heard of this provider but they are affiliated with every college in the realm:

http://69.56.204.146/flcc/construction.htm

I sure would like to have a good HVAC program under my belt. They're accredited but they are expensive - $3100 for the HVAC course. Presuming this is a different universe than the cheapo correspondence courses.

What say the wizened masters and gracious ladies of the forum?

[dkpd1581]

I took a quick look at the description and the thing that makes me a bit skeptical is that it is Online and Mentor Facilitated. 

I myself, and many of my cohorts, put little credence in Online learning.  Mentor Facilitated usually means getting online in a group chat/IM atmosphere.  Anyone who has been to a decent traditional style tech school will tell you that the most learning is done in the "lab" setting and "hands on".  This course appears to lack this crucial portion of the learning curve.

Self paced instruction  takes away a good deal of the personal responsibility that is seen in traditional tech school (you must show up, do so on time, learn each lesson in a timely manner, recieve on the spot constructive criticism- from testing or instructor).  In my opinion, one pays the dues that is vitally necessary to becoming a decent consciencious tech.

Tech school only teaches you enough to be dangerous in the field.  School is only the first step, and a baby one at that.  Nothing takes the place of experience, hard knocks, hands on experience.  Tech school lays a fundamental foundation that allows you to see, understand, and appreciate the clues and lessons that will appear in the field. 

Lay the best foundation that you can with a tech school.  I would encourage the traditional school whether it be the traditonal 9-5 class or the evening tech school.  Personally I prefer the latter because you can work in the industry for an HVAC company during the day and the go at night to school.  Often times you will be learning about issues that you worked on earlier that day.  In such cases you will better appreciate and understand the lessons being taught that night.  You will know enough to ask the right questions to get the most out of the lesson - instead of just absorbing without question or critical thought what the instructor presents. 

The bottom line is: What do I want out of Tech School? What training or knowledge base do I bring to the party right now?  Where is it I want to be in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years.

An honest assesment will lead you in the right direction.  Do not settle for the easy path just because you short on time, trying to save a buck, or your heart is not 100% in this endeavor.  To do so is to cheat yourself, your family, the future employer, and ultimately the customer.  In another light, in every medical class there is the Magna Cum Laude #1 guy and then there is #500 guy out of a class of 500.  Who would you rather have operating on - you performing open heart surgery.... #1 or #500.

Personally, go to the brick and mortor school, pay your dues - sweat equity, and leave the Online stuff for the novices.

Just a thought.

[jb8103]

Major, valid points, dkpd. Especially about the structured training environment.

See, I wouldn't consider Online except for two things: I travel all the time in my current work, so brick-and-mortar is not available to me. I have to settle for second best. I even bought a correspondence course thinking it was better than nothing, but it is a disappointment.

The second thing is, they are accredited by SUNY. It's good to have respectable credentials. Not that I've ever asked a tech for his credentials, come to think of it...

[applianceman18007260692]

Man man man man man man you said a mouthfull right there....Learning how to work on appliances in theory? Learning in a classroom enviroment. walsing out into the sea of humanity and becoming a dang appliance repairman? Thats deep aint it. I love to fix simple washers and dryers. I long for days when I can yank out a heating element and restring it. I love days when I can lay down under a direct drive and slam together a coupling with ease. Where in the class room can you get any experience about that? I am from an age of simple mercury based cooling thermometers and pilot lights and shaded pole motors. What a world it has become since I opened the cabinet and replaced my moms dryer belt when I was 12.This forum right here is the most outstanding thing that has came about for the common man since ford figured out how to make cheap cars for us to ride in. That is what makes america great.  This forum is in the full tradition of that.Thank God for it.