The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship Award for Excellence in Apprenticeship Education may be a mouthful to say, but for one Camosun instructor, it’s an unexpected acknowledgement of a role passionately performed. Automotive Service Technician instructor and program leader Patrick Jones has been teaching at Camosun for 12 years, and winning the award came as a shock to him.
“It’s pretty special to me that I was even nominated in the first place,” says Jones. “I’m pretty humbled by it, because it’s a special recognition of what I do here, which is certainly most appreciated.”
Jones is the first-ever recipient of this annual award, which honours Canadian educators who deliver innovative and top-quality instruction to Red Seal trades apprentices. One of the ways Jones has been innovative is by keeping Camosun’s automotive program current through the induction of electric vehicle repair training.
“Teaching electrical theory can be a real challenge,” says Jones. “I try to come up with ways that are very engaging and that help students be able to essentially see electricity in action.”
Jones says that his love of cars is what inspires him, and he tries to infuse this into his students.
“I like spreading the enthusiasm that I’ve got about cars. That’s really what got me into the trade, what kept me excited about being in the industry for so long, and what drove me to be an instructor in the first place,” he says. “I think at the end of the day it’s about inspiring students to be enthusiastic about cars, and the benefit of that, for the students coming out the other side, is they end up with some really good-paying jobs, and it kind of keeps the cycle going.”
Level 3 Automotive Service Technician student Meghan Mrozinski thinks that Jones’ passion for his work is transformative.
“He’s an actual car enthusiast, and you can tell. He’s always really up on what’s relevant and current in the car world,” she says. “For some people it’s like a job, but he genuinely enjoys cars and the technology and where it’s headed, so that can’t help but rub off on people.”
Rather than use a static model of education, Jones says that he values a synergistic connection with his students.
“I’m not trying to come across like I know everything. Even a student that has never learned anything about cars has something they can teach me too, which is awesome,” says Jones. “I draw off the students, and I try and provide what they need to get out of the course, and I’ll do whatever I can to try and ensure that each student is coming away with the understanding that they need.”
Mrozinski agrees, saying that Jones goes to great lengths to ensure no student is left in the dark.
“He really makes a strong effort to make sure you understand,” says Mrozinski. “He’ll try and teach it to you several ways; he won’t just skip through something if you don’t understand.”
Jones says he takes a grounded, results-based approach to teaching, such as eliminating time limits on tests, which he doesn’t believe facilitate an effective flow of knowledge.
“If some student takes quite a bit longer than another, then that’s okay,” says Jones. “I try and make sure that there isn’t pressure in that regard, because that isn’t really conducive to learning. I’m more concerned that students come out of the courses with a reasonable knowledge level than good scores on tests.”
Mrozinski says she and her classmates all fully stand behind Jones as he receives the award, sharing his magnetic enthusiasm.
“He’s incredible, we’re all so excited for him,” she says. “He really, really does deserve it.”