This website is an ongoing project as part of EDTC 5550 and 5555: courses I am taking at Webster University. Everything you see has been coded by hand using HTML. For the most part all colors, fonts, and design is controlled by an external CSS. I have used some inline styling, but only when needed. For the time being, this is a living document. I will update the pages with new and exciting details as we learn more about HTML during the course.
I spent the first half of my adult life serving 26 years in the United States Air Force. My first exposure to instruction was for the State of Delaware as a Motorcycle Riding Instructor. Around the same time I become an Instructor Loadmaster. During my career I held Instructor and Evaluator Qualifications on both the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, was the Superintendent of Training for both the 15th Airlift Squadron and 437th Operations Support Group and I had the honor of being the Squadron Superintendent for the 16th Airlift Squadron.
I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, an Associates in Applied Science Degree in Aircrew Operations and Professional Managers Certification from the Community College of the Air Force and, as I stated earlier, I am currently completing a Master in Educational Technology with Webster University.
Currently, I am an instructor and courseware developer with readySC™ supporting the Boeing and Isringhausen projects in South Carolina. My duties involve teaching the Production Systems used by Manufacturing Technicians building the 787 Dreamliner. My most recent courseware development project focused on pre-hire, classroom and hands-on laboratory training, covering Basic Torque and Basic Riveting for the Isringhausen project.
I have a rich and active personal life. I have been happily married to my wonderful wife for 27 years and I am a proud father of two wonderful adult children. I participate on a bowling team, I enjoy playing tuba, piano, violin and clarinet, I have a squadron of drones that I enjoy flying and I am a semi-professional South Carolina Gamecocks Football tailgater.
Specializing in adult education, my instructional philosophies center on teaching adults. First, I treat them like adults. I understand that while we are in a learning environment, students have outside factors pulling them in different directions; money, family, apprehension. For example, a student may need a minute to step out and take a phone call, or they might need 5 extra minutes on a break. I have found these little things that some might see as distractions actually reduce a student's stress level and enhance learning.
Second, I never refer to myself as a teacher. In my experience, I have found most adults want to learn but do not want to be "taught". Therefore, I facilitate learning, or provide a learning experience. While these maybe just a play on words, using the correct words is vital when instructing adults.
Finally, I strive to acknowledge their knowledge, skills, and abilities that they have brought into the classroom and incorporate them within the lesson.
Am I a great instructor? I do not think so. But, I think I am a good instructor. I care about my students, I want them to succeed, and I realize that their success depends on how well I present information to them. Each time I present information I reflect on what I have learned and try different approaches; all in an attempt to hone my skills and become a better instructor.
Finding 3D Models to use on the website, in videos, and for exercises was exceedingly difficult--and virtually impossible to create! I contacted the great folks at PDF3D and Ian Curington, the CEO, emailed back granting permission to use the models you see. Without his help this project would have been grounded from the start.
All original information presented on this website is copyright Jeff Faretra and has been either created by myself or used with permission. Photos have been used from outside sources were located on open sourced areas like Wikicommons and Pixabay. Attribution was provided when required. The videos are my creations which were created using Active Presenter. They can be used as long as I am contacted by email and listed as the source.