Career Map: Technical Trainer/Instructor

Technical trainers and instructors educate people on wind industry topics. Courses cover a broad range of topics, from general renewable energy to regulatory or technology issues, and may involve hands-on instruction. Technical trainers and instructors may teach single courses as well as semester-long wind power-related classes. Instructors at community or technical colleges may also teach additional career skills to help students earn a certificate or an associate degree, preparing them for a specific job such as a wind technician.

Technical trainers are usually employed by a company in the wind industry to train the company’s wind technicians or other staff members. They focus their trainings to align with company policy, training staff and technicians in the specific methods the company requires. Technical trainers may start out working as a wind technician for the company, and with many years of experience, advance to a technical trainer. They may be required to complete an advanced degree, but it is not always required.

Instructors specializing in wind energy usually teach at community and technical colleges as a part of wind technician or other certification programs. These programs provide students with an overall understanding of how wind energy generation works and in-depth knowledge of how wind turbines operate. They use in-class instruction and hands-on sessions to give students the experience they need to work for a company in the wind industry. Instructors should have field experience and may possess an advanced degree, although it is not always required.

Technical Trainers/Instructors typically do the following:

• Develop and plan lessons and assignments
• Instruct and demonstrate how to apply knowledge and to develop skills
• Demonstrate and supervise the safe and proper use of tools and equipment
• Monitor students’ progress, assign tasks, and grade assignments
• Discuss students’ progress with student and counselors or company
• Develop and enforce classroom or workplace rules and safety procedures.

Technical trainers and instructors use a variety of teaching techniques to help students learn and develop skills related to renewable energy. They demonstrate tasks such as routine maintenance procedures, troubleshooting techniques, and tools used in an occupation such wind resource modeling tools. They may assign hands-on tasks, such as running diagnostics, troubleshooting control system faults, performing a rescue at height, and replacing specific components. Technical trainers and instructors typically oversee these tasks in workshops or laboratories.

Some instructors establish relationships with local businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide practical work experience for students.

The specific duties of technical trainers and instructors vary by the level and subject matter they teach. For example, wind turbine technology faculty provides instruction in wind turbine technology, worker and tower safety, turbine maintenance, and wind energy economics. They also monitor the use of tools and equipment, and have students practice procedures until they meet the specific standards required by the trade.

• Communication skills. Technical trainers/instructors must be able to explain technical concepts in terms that students can understand.
• Organizational skills. Technical trainers/instructors may teach many sessions on a range of wind energy topics to many students throughout the day. They must be able to organize their time and teaching materials.
• Patience. Working with students of different abilities and backgrounds can be difficult. Teachers must be patient with each student in their classroom and develop a positive learning environment.
• Resourcefulness. Teachers develop different ways to present information and to demonstrate a task so that students can learn.

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Technical Trainer/Instructor