Fundamentals of Automotive Technology Student Workbook: Principles and Practice

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Kirk VanGelder started teaching automotive technology to college students at Clark College in 1983, and then high school students at the Clark County Skills Center in 1990. While he wasn't a natural teacher when he started, he worked hard and kept trying new things. Over time, he has had success engaging students through the use of intense questioning and discussion. This has helped his students learn how to think critically, as well as learn how to ask questions of themselves, and then to search out the answers.

In his search for engaging teaching materials, Kirk stumbled across the CDX videos in the mid 90's. After spending several years raising money to buy the materials, a laptop computer, and a LCD projector to use them on, he was off on a journey that ultimately led to working with CDX and other instructors to author his first textbook; Fundamentals of Automotive Technology: Principles and Practice and a second book Fundamentals of Maintenance and Light Repair. Kirk is appreciative of the many instructors who contributed to the textbooks or reviewed them as they was being written and edited.

Kirk grew up in Washington State, and still resides there with his wife of 27 years, and their 13 children. Kirk's passion is helping instructors improve their teaching/coaching skills. He continues to look forward to working with auto and diesel instructors across the US and Canada.