High School Students Have Fun While Learning

Industry Training Program Educates Students with Bobcat Training Courses

Developing an educationally sound and interesting curriculum for high school students can be challenging and time-consuming. For some of the instructors at a regional career center, part of this job has become easier thanks to an industry-leading training program.

“Our teachers have found the ‘Bobcat Operator Training Course for Skid-Steer Loaders’ to be an excellent way to teach operation, safety and maintenance,” says Dan Rood, Jr., director of the Southeast Region Career and Technology Center headquartered in Wahpeton, N.D. “And the students really like it, too.”

The center allows high school juniors and seniors from nine different schools to take classes that focus on job entry skills and gives students the background to succeed in a wide variety of related occupations. Some students enter the job market upon graduation from high school, while others go on to college for additional education. About 10,000 students have taken classes in the 34-year history of the program.

Skid-steer loader training is part of the center’s agricultural curriculum. Students in other areas of study — such as construction and landscaping — often take the training, too. While instructors closely follow the Bobcat training program, they also add their own components.

”For example,” Rood says, “the teachers have designed hands-on training, often featuring an obstacle course. Some have contests, such as carrying a full bucket of water with the pallet fork attachment to determine who spills the least amount. The kids enjoy that type of activity very much.”

Once students have completed the two-week classroom training, they move outside to operate the center’s new S130 Bobcat® skid-steer loader. “We had a 753 for the past five years, and while we only put 600 hours on the machine we decided to buy the new loader in order to keep up with technology,” Rood notes.

The S130 was purchased from Bobcat of Wahpeton, and the local dealer has been very helpful, says Rood. After the machine was delivered, a service technician met with the agricultural teachers to get them up-to-date on the latest innovations from Bobcat Company.

“Our students who take the training course are fully capable of operating a skid-steer loader,” says Rood. “The graduates of this program are ready to productively and safely operate a loader.”

Having this training and the certificate of completion is also helpful when looking for a job. “Our graduates have a valuable skill that others may not have,” comments Rood.

He reports that the instructors have been very pleased with the Bobcat training course. “The materials are impressive, easy to use and understand and, most importantly, the students have fun while learning. As an educator you couldn’t ask for more.”

In addition to the skid-steer loader materials used by the Southeast Region Career and Technology Center, Bobcat has kits available to train operators in the safe and efficient operation of Bobcat compact excavators, telescopic tool carriers, Toolcat utility work machines, backhoe attachments, planer attachments and loader radio remote control.

These couses can be used to train new operators and update experienced ones. Contact your local Bobcat dealer or visit the -training page- for more information on these exclusive training and safety materials.