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Alison Publisher Spotlight: Steven Liguori
Everyday thousands of cars line the highways. Big cars. Small cars. Compact vehicles. SUVs. FWD. Luxury cars or your entry-level models. There is a lot of technical and electrical work that happens on the garage floor that ensures you have a smooth drive. This month, we’re shining the Alison Publisher Spotlight under the hood on all things automotive with Steven Liguori.
Introduction and Background
Please share with our learners a bit about your background.
My Dad was an automotive technician and I enjoyed working with him on family and friend’s cars.
I took a two-year Master Automotive Technician course from National Radio Institute in Washington D.C. and an Electronics Technology course from Cleveland Institute of Electronics in Ohio. These courses gave me a solid foundation in both automotive and electronics that allowed me to advance in the automotive field. I received my first opportunity in 1979 at an Oldsmobile Dealership as an entry level technician. I worked 26 years at several General Motors dealerships as an automotive technician, shop foreman, quality control technician and in house trainer of new technicians.
In 2005, an injury to my hands led me to pursue a teaching career at an automotive school in New York. In 2015, I semi-retired and moved to Florida with my wife, Susan where I started creating online courses.
You had a long career as a Certified Master Automotive Technician for over 35 Years. What made you venture into becoming an automotive instructor?
An injury to my hands led me to pursue a teaching career. I found that I loved helping others learn and I always looked for easier ways to explain a concept to fellow technicians and customers. I became a certified A.S.E. (Automotive Service Excellence) Master Technician in 1983 and recertify every 5 years.
Publishing on Alison
Please tell us more about your passion for teaching and coaching.
I have had a passion for coaching and teaching for the longest time. This passion has carried over to my teaching where I am always looking for a better way to explain something so I can reach more students.
What made you decide to create courses on Alison?
Zainab Qaiserani and the Publisher Development Team invited me to host my courses on Alison.com. I researched Alison, and also found someone I knew in Germany that already had his courses on Alison. He recommended Alison saying he felt my courses would do well there.
What do you enjoy most about publishing on Alison?
Publishing on Alison is different than most other education sites. They have a team member review and assist with grammar, format and course descriptions. After this process, it’s a better product than the initial course, and for that, hats off to Alison.
What lessons have you learned as a self-publisher on Alison?
As a self-publisher on Alison, I have learned to choose better language and syntax for titles, lessons, and topic descriptions.
How has being a self-publisher on Alison changed your life?
The easy answer is that Alison.com has provided another source of income to my income stream. Alison has allowed me to reach more people interested in automotive electrical. As a teacher, the students are the reward.
Courses on Alison
Tell us a bit more about your courses on Alison.
My courses on Alison.com are automotive electrical related. I currently offer:
What do people enjoy most about your courses?
Students all over the world have told me my courses have finally allowed them to understand automotive electrical. Many of my students have commented that I have helped them pass their electric A.S.E. (Automotive Service Excellence) certification test. One student in India said that I taught him more in my 2-hour beginner electrical course than he learned in a 2-month classroom program he paid for.
They like the simple but relative explanations and the animated examples.
Who should take your courses?
My courses are for anyone with an interest in automotive electrical that wants to learn a new skill.
Learning automotive, electrical and electronics
How can a learner, with no technical background but a love and interest in cars prepare themselves before enrolling in your course.
To prepare for my courses, a student could search for a few short videos on automotive electrical basics and how to use a multimeter. My courses will then help demystify and clear up the parts that they did not comprehend.
Automotive is quite hands on. How can learners master precision throughout their studies online?
Engine rebuilding and replacement, repairing or replacing steering gears, brake components, and maintenance services are very hands on. You need to:
- take some type of hands-on course,
- have guidance from someone with experience, or
- have practiced working with tools, taking things apart and putting them back together.
With that said, a student can master the fundamentals, the theory of operation and the most important skill of all these days which is researching symptoms and finding the correct diagnostic charts, schematics, and assembly guides to help the repairs they are looking to do.
What skills and qualities would help an individual succeed in this field?
- Computer skills to find the information needed to diagnose and repair what they are working on is key.
- If the student intends to do the repair work themselves, they need the ability to use your hands, hand tools, air tools and electrical power tools.
- The other missing link is the ‘I want to find the answer’ quality. The challenge of diagnosing something, the detective mentality. The person that keeps playing a video game until they find a solution to beat a certain level and move on to a new one is a good candidate.
The person who is afraid to try will tend to struggle in the automotive industry.
e-Learning in automotive
How does e-learning change face-to-face training?
E-learning is a great compliment to face-to-face training, especially for students that can focus on the online course they take without being distracted. As time passes, more schools will incorporate both e-learning and face-to-face training into their course offerings.
How should learner’s approach electrical and electronics systems?
Learners need to realise that the electrical and electronics arena of automotive is less ‘take apart and look for broken parts’, and more understanding how something works. Additionally, learners must find out what specific symptom is present, and then use the proper diagnostic information and tools to narrow down the amount of hands-on work needed to find and repair the problem.
Getting into the automotive space
What are the biggest challenges learners face within the automotive space?
The biggest challenge in the automotive space today is having the tools and resources needed to diagnose what you are working on. If the right information is not available, new and experienced technicians tend to guess parts.
I have received many calls for help where the tech has many components apart and says, “I replaced this and this and this and it still does the same thing.” The answer is they need to put everything back together and start again, identify the symptom, and reproduce it if possible. Then, use the proper schematic and the description and operation sheet to narrow down the possible causes.
What tips can you give someone looking to get started in this field?
- Take some online courses or attend a technical school and look for an entry level job in the field. Dealerships are always looking for lube techs and lot attendants that can get you in the door.
- Once in, don’t hang with the people that sit around when there is nothing to do.
- Look for the guy that is working and ask if he or she needs help.
Electrical cars are becoming popular. What’s the future of the automotive space?
There has been a big push for electric cars of late. There are benefits to electric vehicles for sure, but there are also consequences.
The processes for making the batteries for electric cars and the disposal of these batteries after their useful life may negate some of the benefits of having them. The other problem is that the amount of trained high voltage technicians at a car dealership right now is very small compared to the number of technicians that will be needed if the forecast for the use of electric vehicles pans out.
The good news for technicians is that if they want to become a high voltage electric vehicle technician, this may become a lucrative venture.
Last thoughts
What words of advice would you give someone who would like to become a publisher on Alison?
For someone looking to become a publisher on Alison I would recommend they have a friend or colleague watch their courses and read their copy and get feedback before trying to publish on Alison. A raw course will take a lot of correcting and modification then one that is organized and has good titles, descriptions and content.
How has been your most important lesson or discovery when it comes to online education programmes?
My most important lesson since starting to create online programs is you never know which courses will be the most popular and productive. I may think it’s a great course, but if nobody is watching it, it doesn’t matter.
What career paths are available for someone interested in pursuing your courses?
Taking my courses are a great start for anyone looking to learn the basics of automotive electrical. Knowing electrical and of course having some hands-on ability can help get you started in an automotive repair facility or car dealership. My Ohm’s law courses, while great for automotive, are even a great fit for new engineering students.
What challenges/limitations can one expect in these fields?
There are challenges in every field or job that you may explore. In automotive repair, poor management, lack of equipment, pressure to finish cars with no time to finish them are a few examples. We live in a fast-paced world and sometimes the stress of the repair industry jobs can be a burden. The good news is it is also a very rewarding field to be in. I take pride in repairing cars and trucks over the years as well as teaching new students to head in the same direction.
Looking ahead
What can Alison look forward to from you in the coming year to two?
I plan to enrich my Alison course offerings with some new courses on automotive electrical. Courses on specific automotive systems are in the works as well as extra intermediate and advanced courses.
Any last words, advice, or wisdom you’d like to share with our learners?
A few last words for Alison learners. Whatever you do in life, I wish you the best. Follow your heart and set a goal for yourself in whatever field of study you choose to explore. I am privileged to be one of the Alison publishers and if my courses can help you get where you want to go, it is my honour to be a part of your success.
If these insights have revved your interests and you want to tinker with wheels, engines, and circuits, enroll in any of the free courses in automotive electrical, and electronics.
GUEST POST: Smartphone Learning: When Students Should Use it, and When to Avoid it!
By Karla Lassonde
Karla Lassonde is a Cognitive Psychologist and has been teaching Psychology at Minnesota State University, Mankato, for 14 years. One of her research and teaching passions is student learning and attention. Some of this work focuses on how misconceptions in psychological science can be revised. She works on various outreach projects to promote a better understanding of psychological science. One is her student led blog called, Communicating Psychological Science. Another is a program for training students to be better learners called LEARN. She can be found on Twitter @karlalassonde, on her blog and on her personal page. Karla has published a few guest blog posts on The Learning Scientists Blog, including one on naps, one on collaborative inhibition, and another on phone use.
Students have immediate access to their work on a smartphone. According to Pew research [1], 85% of Americans own a smartphone, with that large number increasing to 96% for adults ages 18-29. College students universally own smartphones. Kara Sage in her research on college student use and perception of online work, found that 60% were using their phones for coursework [2]. Just because a student can complete coursework on their phones, should they?
With the pandemic leading to permanent changes in remote work and an increase in online learning, it is important to let Cognitive Psychology inform best practices in smartphone learning.
Using our phone is often about access and availability. It takes time and workspace to open a laptop and nothing is more portable than our phones. The first generation of smartphones, over a decade ago, allowed us to “offload” a ton of information so that it no longer had to be written down or remembered. Early adopters saved time by using their phones to note appointments, store numbers, and find out the location of the nearest coffee shop. Today phones are used most often to watch social media content. Students might agree that their phones suck up rather than save time! Reviews.org surveyed 1,000 participants over 18 and found they checked their phone an average of 344 times a day and would be on track to spend 44 days in 2022 on a phone [3]!
Smartphones of today though can be a necessary part of learning. Here are some best practices and guidance for when to use it and when to avoid it!
First, ask yourself…do I have time to pay attention to the learning task on my phone?
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As the club filled up with Wednesdays, there was a sense of anticipation in the crowd: At midnight, on an elevated runway, there would be a contest to determine which Wednesday had mastered the dance best.
A big screen behind the D.J. booth showed clips of the old black-and-white TV series, the Addams Family movies from the 1990s and the Netflix show. The event’s organizer (an outfit called Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Presents) had promoted the party with a program that a playlist of “sad girl bops,” which ended up meaning songs by Lana Del Rey and My Chemical Romance. On the stage, the hip-hop artist Sl!ck performed a Wednesday-inspired rap.
From Specialization to MBA — A Learner’s Path Through the Gies College of Business
Abubakar Abdullahi has been learning for years on Coursera from Abuja, Nigeria. When he decided to enroll in the Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization from Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), he set himself on a path towards acceptance into the Master of Business Administration (iMBA) program.
Abubakar started the iMBA program in the fall of 2022, choosing business analytics and digital marketing as his areas of focus. We recently caught up with him on his learning journey by asking him a few questions and he has much to share with other learners on Coursera.
What was your education and experience before the iMBA?
The first degree I ever earned is in civil engineering. I worked in construction for a bit and then in real estate. Later, I worked at a bank before becoming a full-time entrepreneur. I started businesses in different sectors, including a consulting firm for IT project management, and I also worked at a non-profit organization for agribusiness across Africa.
What made you want to earn your MBA?
Because of the work I do, especially with entrepreneurs and founders of small businesses and startups, I get lots of invitations to join the boards of organizations. Usually, they want someone with an MBA. For me to take the next step in my career, most jobs require an MBA. It’s also important to have one for businesses that I start or run. It was a no-brainer to pursue an MBA.
What attracted you to the online program from UIUC?
I kept seeing people online who went to UIUC and had such great things to say about the programs. I saw alumni working at some of the coolest companies. But the Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization is what really made me commit. I find myself applying what I learned in that specialization constantly.
What are your favorite parts of the iMBA program?
I think the networking opportunities on Workplace are really cool. There’s also a tool we use in courses called Yellowdig that helps you share articles, blogs, and more. The program is so much more interpersonal than I thought it would be. You get to connect with so many people.
Would you recommend the iMBA program to others?
I definitely recommend the iMBA program—especially to Nigerians. In Nigeria, there’s a scramble for international knowledge and experience working outside the country. The iMBA from UIUC offers excellent opportunities because of its reputation and flexibility. With this program, you can earn a degree from one of the best universities in the world. You can also pay as you go and choose how many courses you take based on your budget. It’s a really great program. There’s no reason why I wouldn’t recommend it!
Could you be on a path similar to Abubakar’s?
Enroll for free in the Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization or apply now to the Master of Business Administration (iMBA)—both from Gies College of Business at UIUC.
