Meeting the COVID Challenge:

CRTC Automotive Technology


COVID-19 has changed our lives in ways unimaginable just 11 months ago. And as we navigate

this new reality, the students, teachers and staff at the Concord Regional Technical Center have

been stepping up and sorting out the changes and challenges of providing a hands-on,

career-focused education in the midst of a hands-off educational environment.


Automotive Technology teachers Scott Mayotte and Jesse Gregoire have had a mix of online

and in-person students in their classrooms and shops much of this school year, and have been

aggressively using technology to bridge the two.


“Technology and flexibility are the keys,” said Mr. Mayotte, who has been teaching the

Automotive Technology program for the past seven years. “Dealing with multiple sending

schools, we can have part or all of our class logging in remotely at any time, so we have to be

prepared to transition quickly from live to remote, or to do both simultaneously.”


When the entire school system went to remote learning last March, both Mr. Mayotte and Mr.

Gregoire began developing a library of video classroom and shop lessons, as well as

associated written documentation that allowed them to keep pace with their curriculum planning.

Those videos and remote lesson plans became the foundation of their planning for the current

hybrid school year.


“Most days we don’t really know who is going to show up for class for that day,” said Mr.

Gregoire. “So we Zoom meeting each class to allow for remote participation, and video these

sessions so kids can log in later if they are unable to Zoom into the class period.”


The advantage of this process, he added, is that students are able to catch up on what they’ve

missed in class. PowerPoint presentation slides also are linked to videos so that students

unable to attend the live presentation can get the full lesson on demand.


Teachers also are making use of the Eno Board, an electronic whiteboard that students can

access remotely to view high-definition screen shots of teacher presentations and notes on their

home computers  in real time. 


“On theory days, the technology allows us to present to students at home almost as good as if

they were in the classroom,” Mr. Mayotte said. “Shop days are different, however, because you

really need to be in the shop to get full advantage of the lesson.”


Shop days follow strict safety protocols, which typically include limiting the number of students

at any one shop station, and, of course, the wearing of personal protective equipment. There

are some work-at-home options, however. Harbor Freight Tools donated auto electric tool bags

worth $50 each to students, which contain electrical boards that allow them to access multiple

hands-on lessons from home. The New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association also has donated

120 pairs of safety glasses to the program.


“It’s important to all CRTC teachers that we have as much in-person time as possible with our

students,” said Mr. Mayotte. “The kids want to be here so they are complying with the safety

measures. They really seem to enjoy being back in the classroom.”


Click Here to learn more about the CRTC Automotive Technology program.


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