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12 | Transportation Today Wisconsin™ Online Edition: www.transportationtodaywi.com
Holmen Auto Service Providing Hands-On Learning

credit class and provides students with three • Fuel system: fuel volume and pressure
post-secondary credits. This allows our stu- tests, fuel filter replacement
dents to earn high school and technical college In addition to Auto Service I, these
credit simultaneously and receive their Auto hands-on automotive courses are also offered
Service Excellence (ASE) certification at the at Holmen High School:
completion of the course. • Home and Auto: Consumer-based
In this class, students get to learn about course focused on owning and buying
these systems by repairing and diagnosing houses and vehicles. The students learn
issues: basic maintenance, finance, inspections,
• Wheel systems and tires: mount and and the buying process.
balance tires, tire puncture repair, tire • Basic Auto: The students learn auto-
rotation motive terminology, basic tool, and
• Brakes and ABS system: replacing equipment safety, and each automotive
brake pads, measuring thickness, bleed- system’s basic parts and functions.
ing brake lines, diagnosing ABS sensors • Auto Service II: Eligible for for 3 credits
• Preventative maintenance fluid: at the local technical college. This course
completing checklists, fluid flush, and is all about advanced systems and diag-
exchanges, customer concerns nostics. They will learn about: shocks/
• Charging and starting system: measur- struts, transmissions, engine perfor-
ing voltage drops and amperage outputs mance, drive train, and shop simulation.
the students learn how to maintain their own • Ignition system: replacing ignition
Travis Judell, Communications Specialist vehicle.” wires, coils, and plugs
School District of Holmen Another group of students is helping out • Cooling system: coolant flow, thermo- www.holmen.k12.wi.us
It’s the start of another school day inside a Holmen High School teacher whose tire has stat replacement, coolant flush
Holmen High School, and a few students a slow leak. To find the leak, students have
of Ryan Ziegler’s Auto Service 1 class are to put their problem-solving skills to the test.
already hard at work helping a teacher whose “The most important thing I would like them
tire is leaking while others spend time hunched to take away is the problem-solving ability. North High School Junior Experiences
under the hood testing car batteries. Use the problem-solving process to simplify
Technology Education teacher Ryan the problem and quickly come up with a viable Real-Life Scenarios Through Power
Ziegler is in his 21st year teaching, and he says solution,” says Ziegler as the students dip the
this type of hands-on learning helps prepare tire in a dunk tank to locate the leak. Finding no Mechanics Continued from Page 3
students for the real world, “The students love visible leak, Mr. Ziegler uses this as a teaching
hands-on learning,” said Ziegler. “They can moment for his class about snow tires and how
repeat the process until they can complete the to communicate with customers. “Throughout
task with little to no help from the instructor. It the course sequence, students will learn how
is awesome to see the students complete a task to communicate with customers and cowork-
they thought was impossible on their own.” ers. Some of that communication is done by
As the weather turns colder, students in the use of industry software. Another way is
the class are working on a battery testing lab. teaching the students how to listen to customer
The students are learning how to load test a concerns actively,” says Ziegler.
battery, measure parasitic drain, remove cor- Auto Service 1 is a semester course of 85
rosion, and check physical connections to minutes daily, mainly consisting of juniors and
ensure a working battery. “The students walk seniors. These high school students are learn-
away with a solid understanding of the basic ing with professional tools on actual vehicles
automotive systems,” says Ziegler. “All of with real problems. Auto Service is also a dual

• Fuel, Ignition, exhaust system Funda- greater emphasis on diagnostics and repair
mentals processes. Like the advanced power mechan-
• Various light repairs ics course, many of the vehicles worked are
• Accessing and using repair information staff/parent/community member owned vehi-
and repair part sourcing cles for a more real-world experience.
The Red Raider Manufacturing program
• Two shop cars and many staff/parent/ gives students the opportunity to learn and
community owned vehicles are serviced grow in a high-tech environment before even
through the course. graduating from high school. Learn more about
Advanced Automotive Technology takes the program here: https://www.sheboygan.
some of the same topics to a deeper depth but k12.wi.us/programs/red-raider-manufacturing
also focuses on Steering, suspension & Align-
ment, brake, transmission/drivetrain, advanced
electrical troubleshooting and service.
Capstone automotive is similar in taking www.sheboygan.k12.wi.us
previous topics further as well as adding a