WNC spring classes put students on path to jobs

Local residents considering training to educate young children or learning Career and Technical Education skills will find classes that lead to certifications at Western Nevada College Fallon Campus.

Spring term classes begin on Monday, Jan. 25. Explore available classes and register online at www.wnc.edu.

Those who are planning to become schoolteachers couldn’t have picked a better time to do so.

“With the outlook for a high need of teachers in a few years, it’s important that we get students who are interested in teaching into classes,” said WNC Fallon Campus Director Sherry Black.

WNC is offering an Introduction to Elementary Education class, which starts on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

The college is also offering a series of three two-week Early Childhood Education classes that students can complete by the beginning of May, providing observation, communication and problem-solving skills, as well as creating an environment to foster the development of toddlers and infants.

For students pondering a career in auto mechanics, woodworking or welding, WNC has a variety of class offerings and options.

Here is a closer look at some of the spring classes offered:

Introduction to Elementary Education (EDU 201): Students are introduced to the foundations of elementary education, current trends and issues in curriculum and instruction, teachers’ roles and issues of diversity. The class will also include field experience. The class meets from 4 to 6:45 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Parent Care Relations (ECE 121): This one-unit class helps students acquire various communication skills to improve parent-caregiver relationships. The course covers interpersonal communication, listening skills and cooperative problem solving. The class meets four times, from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. on Fridays, Feb. 19 and 26, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 20 and 27.

Observation Skills (ECE 122): In this one-unit Early Childhood Education course, various formal and informal methods are taught to enhance observation and assessment skills. Discussion also includes methods for use with developmentally delayed children. Classes will meet from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. Fridays, April 1 and 8, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, April 2 and 9.

Environment for Infant/Toddler (ECE 129): The third in a series of Early Childhood Education classes assists students in choosing equipment and materials to create a physical environment that is responsive to the infant/toddler’s total development. Staff considerations and time schedules will be explored. Classes meet from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. Fridays, April 29 and May 6, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, April 30 and May 7.

Nursing Assistant (NURS 130): Prepares students to function as nursing assistant trainees (NAT) who support licensed nurses to provide direct care to health care consumers across the lifespan in a variety of heath care settings. The 150-hour competency-based course is designed to prepare students to achieve certification as a nurse assistant in Nevada. Basic Life Support/Health Care Provider CPR certification is a prerequisite for this course. The class meets from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday and Tuesday and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday. In addition, students must attend four eight-hour clinicals and pay a $50 lab fee.

Introduction to General Mechanics (AUTO 101): The Saturday morning course teaches the basics of automotive mechanics, including principles, design, construction and maintenance of automobiles. The class also focuses on safety, manuals, selection and use of hand tools, and hand-held test instruments, as well as introducing general maintenance of various systems. The class meets from 9 to 11:45 a.m. on Saturdays.

Beginning Woodworking (WOOD 197): Learn the skills necessary to make things from wood. This three-unit course covers tool identification and uses, tool and machine safety, project design, gluing, laminating, mechanical drawings and three view sketches. The class meets from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. Mondays, starting Jan. 25. There is a $30 lab fee.

Welding I, II, III and IV, and Welding Certification Preparation (WELD 211-250): These accelerated three-week classes take students from an introduction to welding all the way through welding certification preparation. Students will start out by learning oxy-acetylene welding, cutting and brazing, as well as shielded metal-arc.

Next, they will develop welding skills for SMAW, GMAW and GTAW production in overhead, flat, horizontal and vertical positions. In the more advanced classes, students learn gas metal-arc welding and gas tungsten-arc welding, as well as shielded metal-arc welding of pipe, flux core arc welding of pipe, and an introduction to American Petroleum Institute, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Welding Society code certifications.