The College of Sequoias is a California based electrical program that educates working union and non-union apprentices. The 2 to 4 year program enables students to sit for their exam immediately upon graduation.
The program is run by Shane Baesemann. Shane's extensive experience in various electrical fields—including residential, commercial, industrial, integration, and controls—equips him with the knowledge to teach students the keys to success both in the field and on their exams.
Why The College of Sequoias bought Dakota Prep for their apprentices
College of the Sequoias has an apprentice first approach. Their goal is to ensure the success of their students upon graduation. In the past, they have had three main obstacles regarding exam training.
- It can be difficult for apprentices to find the motivation or time to study. After a 10 hour day, the last thing someone wants to do is crack open a study book. Especially when coming home to family or other obligations.
- Not everyone can attend each class because of work schedules and other conflicts. This inconsistency causes apprentices to fall behind and in some cases even forget what was covered in previous classes.
- It can be cumbersome for apprentices to lug around stacks of paper, and large practice books while on the job. And in some cases the assignments are corrected in class, which again, not everyone can attend.
First impressions
Shane saw one benefit immediately after apprentices started using the app.
“A lot of guys that work in the field think they know the code book and this app gave them a reality check. They quickly learned what they didn't know and how to arrive at the correct answer. The app’s immediate feedback feature clarifies for them where the code is in the book and why they got the wrong answer. With other products they may just move on and forget about it because they get busy or run out of time. Here they figure it out immediately and learn from their mistakes.”
The results after a few weeks
As the semester continued, students continued using the app and reporting back to class. Despite students not being able to attend every class, Shane started to notice something.
“After giving our apprentices access to the app for a couple of weeks, I saw an increase in their performance and belief that passing is within reach. The app's non-intimidating nature, as opposed to daunting books or taking home a stack of papers, makes learning less overwhelming. I also think it’s because I’m not asking them to change their habits. They’re still using their phone during bathroom or work breaks; they’re just hopping on Dakota Prep instead of Tik Tok or Instagram. It’s nice because they’re keeping sharp between classes and learning a lot more on their own time.”
What students are saying
Shane wasn't the only one that felt the positive impacts of Dakota Prep. Robert, an apprentice attending the program, echoed what we heard from Shane.
“One of the great things about the app is being able to reference and double check what you’ve gotten wrong. I can go to the results tab, see the mistakes I’ve made in the past, and make sure I know how to get it right. Reviewing my mistakes boosts my understanding of the areas I struggle with, and gives me more confidence that I'll pass the exam.”
Wrapping it up
In conclusion, Dakota Prep, with its accessible, mobile-friendly platform, has empowered students to overcome obstacles such as time constraints and the impracticality of traditional study materials. The app's immediate feedback on material apprentices are struggling with and the ability to go back and review wrong answers reinforces knowledge through repetition and immediate correction.