Trainee Forum Poll.

[i=p/u]

your wild guys

 

[lfcsparkycus]

I wouldn't ever ask for a straight answer to a question, but quite often i draw a complete blank on where I can find information. If someone on here is willing to help give a nudge in the right direction, I don't see a problem with that. But yeh, I am against people just coming on and expecting their homework to be done for them.

i finished my c & g level 3 last year and this would of been massive help, but not really necessary as they will have tutors at college if they get stuck. im not against it but could lead to others doing the workings and the individual getting through courses without really understanding it properly

 

[i=p/u]

yep, its good to get it wrong

 

[Adam W]

How does that work regarding giving 'new members' access? Will all new members automatically be granted access based on their time on the forum regardless of their training status, ie experienced time served qualified sparks will automatically be given access to a trainee forum for the first year or so after they join the forum?
Also at what point is access withdrawn? Can you ask questions for the first, say, 3 years then you're on your own so you can't ask questions if you need to retake any exams?
It can be bad enough as it is with impatient question askers hedging their bets by posting the same question in every forum to try to reach as many people as possible, so restricting the number of people who are available to answer questions in a dedicated sub forum may encourage someone who wants an answer quickly to post the question in the 'correct place' as well as the general forum, which would make the problem worse.

 

[Engineer54]

I don't think restrictions need to be applied, the main point i was thinking along, was the help they can give to each other and a place where information stickies WILL be read and taken notice of. It gives the apprentices and trainee's there own forum and a place to meet. I'm also not trying to isolate them either, if anything it'll give them a sense of belonging on the forum....

They can always come to the General forum if a query isn't being addressed on the new forum. Which again, those experienced electricians can and i'm sure will go to this forum to offer help where and when they can...

 

[Adam W]

Depends how you use the forum - I tend to just click 'what's new' and read anything that looks interesting, usually without knowing which sub-forum it's in.
I think there are already too many sub-forums as it is; how many threads started by new members begin "firstly I'm sorry if I've posted this in the wrong place..."?

I'd like to feel that anyone can ask or answer a question as the need arises, without having to try to pigeonhole members into 'askers' and 'answerers'.

Stickies and the search function are a nice idea but there will always be a fortysomething career changee who wants their own tailored answer as to the best/quickest way to become an electrician around family commitments.

 

[malcolmsanford]

I think E54 as outlined how the section should be run.

Initially IMO it should be for guys who are training and throwing ideas around. Some of the longest threads on here are concerning training, a few days ago the March 2391 was a hot topic and I think most guys that night who sat it all contributed to it and it reached several pages in a night. So there is interest.

Because this is such a one dimensional medium the internet, sometimes answering a question can come across as either chest puffing or mocking, where often it is neither. A sub forum would allow trainees to first ask in there with their peers, without in their eyes looking foolish, and they may get to where they want to go, and if not then the more experienced hands could point them in the right direction.

I honestly think that the forum is in danger of diluting itself, possibly due to it's popularity. We are reaching a point now where, I have to be careful how I put this, where critically wrong answers are being given on topics by members that do not fully understand the subject and are proffering wrong and sometimes dangerous advice.

I always thought that this forum took the place of the "teahut" in so many respects. I think I learned more sitting in the teahut listening to sparks talk and do things, than I ever learned in college, until you move onto higher courses, but the teahut was a vital part in my training, the banter, the pee take, and the listening. We don't have these now as such, but we could have something similar here.

I was told in my training, that a part of my job was to also train younger guys coming into the industry and to make sure I passed on what I was taught to a new generation. Sadly with the industry as it is, I can't do that for an apprentice, but I think we can do a similar job on here.

If the Mods need a hand then I for one would gladly help if I can

 

[Octopus]

A good idea so can there be an area for DIY muppets too??

 

[Sparky Ninja]

Happy to help.

 

[Paul.M]

What a great idea, wish I suggested it (cough cough lol). I did about a year ago and got some good positive replies.

The way I think this would work is if we had a sub forum that any member can reply to but once that member becomes argumentative, none constructive, be-littles anyone, gives very inaccurate advice or starts a heated debate regarding Electrical Trainee's and post their own opinion up about how it deskills our industry should be barred from the training forum only. We don't need a hand picked selected group to give answers to student, that would just reduce the amount and speed of replies.

The Electricians Forum is excellent, we have all the right tools to set something like this up. Hundreds of time served sparks from every background that are on her every day, a small hand full of members are lecturers/trainers, a few IET members, others like myself that have been through the full time college course and can relate to the new students problems. We have the most popular forum in the UK that is run extremely well considering the amount of members and it would be a shame not to utilities the tools we have to build something that will be such a help for hundreds if not thousands of new electricians. Many people moan that colleges and training centers don't teach people as good as what they used to do and that certain skills are being lost along the way, here is your chance to pass on your skills and experience to the next generation so our industry can keep the respect of being a professional occupation.

As said before, having stickies for the basics eg.2330/2357, 2382, 2391, NVQ3, AM2, PAT testing etc etc in one place would help a lot of people out and stop people from asking stupid questions.

I would also like to say that we are not here to do your homework for you. We should give guidance to where to look for the formula to work out the answer for themselves.

This sub forum will bring in new members, increase their knowledge and understanding, help them get better grades, hopefully get a better lifestyle through obtaining a better job, increase the skill level of the industry.

All we need is forum members with the right attitude and understanding to achieve what could become a massive success. Count me in.

 

[Spudnik]

All opinons and suggestions are noted fellas, so keep them coming.

All i am doing is putting ideas out there for us to think about.

I think a DIY forum is a good idea, so maybe make it a sub forum in general.

All we are trying to do is keep all the forums a little more organised, not segregating new comers.

The stickies for various courses is a great idea, and these can be in the main Courses forum. It just needs someone with the knowledge of them to create a thread.

And as Paul has said, its a way of trainees etc getting info and help.

 

[Octopus]

Could the trainees area have some form of "access" to ensure that those who are in such an area aren't DIY'ers taking the p!!

 

[Adam W]

I'd be happy to 'help' if needs be, but as mentioned I don't think there's any need for an additional sub-forum.
As malcolm says the recent March 2391 thread was popular, in fact there were several on the same topic to which the OP was pointed in the direction of the more popular thread. Rather than demonstrating a demand for a special forum this proves that not only are there already sufficient places for members to post what they want but if anything there are too many places as shown by the multiple threads on the same topic.

Consider the situation of a trainee asking about inspection and testing, or asking a question on the regs - are these supposed to go in the inspection & testing or regs sections, or in this new trainee section? What if someone were asking the same question after they've passed all their exams? Surely that would mean the same questions could be asked in either section, so before asking the question it may be beneficial to look in both sections anyway? Or for the more impatient they could post the same question in both sections to try to reach more people.
My point is that people seem to find the forum confusing enough as it is, without making it bigger so people can get lost as well.

The general consensus seems to be that more sub-forums is better so I'm sure I'll learn to live with whatever is decided.

 

[Paul.M]

Good point Adam but the way I see it would be that students ask their mock training questions in their safe training room forum where they wouldn't get sarcastic replies and qualified electricians would ask for actual help on an actual problem, eg:-

Q, "What cert to issue for installing a shower?"

If this was asked by someone like I/P=U (sorry for using you as an example mate) that is doing his 2391 and 2330 l3, he would ask it in the training room.

If you or me needed to ask the same question we would put it in the normal I&T forum that would get a more adult reply and probably a bit of stick for asking such a basic question.

I think the point of all this is to generate a friendly environment for new comers and a place where they can bat and ball off each other seen ad they are all in the same boat.

 

[Adam W]

I see your point Paul but at the same time not many forum members would belittle a trainee for asking a trainee question, because they have been there them self. There is already a section on electrical courses and NVQs so that could potentially be used as somewhere practice papers could be discussed, otherwise if someone is going to explain what certification to issue with a new shower circuit that might be something someone else might want to see, for example a householder who has just had a new shower circuit installed and wants to know what certification the electrician should have issued, which could even be an unregistered member.

I recently joined an IT forum to ask a computer question - when I registered I had the option of selecting my skill level; I did it so I could hide under my tag if people started going off on one about stuff I didn't understand and hopefully people would be more accommodating if I asked for someone to explain their answer.
Perhaps something more like that would work here? The option to list one's approximate skill level - non-electrician, trainee electrician, electrician.
Maybe best not to have too many different levels such as 'industrial electrician' or 'domestic installer', because you know how that will end up.