Training EV Technicians: Berufsschule Weilheim’s Success with Electude

About Berufsschule Weilheim

Located in the Weilheim-Schongau district of Bavaria, Berufsschule Weilheim is a vocational school offering dual-education training programmes.

The German dual system allows students to learn both in-class and on-the-job, ensuring theoretical knowledge and practical skills. This model supports technical courses, such as Automotive Mechatronics and many others available at Berufsschule Weilheim.

The school’s modern building contains several state-of-the-art workshops with high-quality technological equipment combined with learning areas where students can work independently.

Challenges

Complexity of automotive education

The complexity of the automotive industry, especially with the advent of electric and hybrid vehicles, makes Automotive Mechatronics one of the most difficult educational programmes of the school.

According to the instructor Franz Gietl, “Many students choose this course because they like cars, but they don’t realize how difficult Automotive Mechatronics is.”

In addition, the students are often on distinct levels and present diverse learning backgrounds and needs.

The school aims to promote the participation of each learner and focus on the individual student, with their individual learning conditions. However, with 250 students and only six teachers, this has proven to be an arduous task.

Therefore, Berufsschule Weilheim sought a flexible, customizable solution to make learning easier and individualized.

Demand for qualified technicians to work on electric vehicles

Due to the boost of electric mobility, the automotive industry nowadays requires technicians skilled in both mechanics and electrical technology.

To meet companies’ expectations, Berufsschule Weilheim needed resources to effectively teach and safely train students to work with high-voltage technology. Teaching learners to diagnose and repair electric and hybrid vehicles is a challenging task, and the teachers required new tools.

Solutions

For the past three years, Berufsschule Weilheim has used Electude’s Kombipaket Pkw, which includes Electude’s Light and Electric Vehicle Essentials, Blok Online-Berichtsheft, and HaynesPro Workshop Information. In addition, the school has acquired several training aids (Electude Connect) to encourage a hands-on learning experience. This package has enabled Berufsschule Weilheim to address its challenges effectively.

Electude’s e-learning and training aids

Electude’s e-learning and training aids help students grasp complex subjects, stay motivated, progress at their own pace, and receive targeted support.

• The students can understand complex automotive subjects with animations and simulations.
• Even though the course is difficult, students remain motivated because they like digital learning and hands-on training. 
• Teachers can track individual performance and give support to slower learners while other students explore more advanced modules and tools.
• Electude’s flexibility allows students at different levels to work independently, enabling fast learners to advance quickly while providing slower learners the space to progress at their own pace and reach the required competency level.

Electude’s EV solution and Plug-in Hybrid Training Vehicle

With Electude’s training aids, such as the Plug-In Hybrid Training Vehicle, and the integration of hardware and courseware, the instructors can easily explain complex EV topics, such as:

• Electric engines;
• hybrid systems;
• safety systems;
• charging system;
• battery management system;
• EV components.

Electude’s EV solution ensures a safe practice for students when working with high-voltage technology and allows learners to gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment.

Results

Effective learning, even in large classes

With the integration of Electude’s e-learning and hardware, the teachers at Berufsschule Weilheim can have classes with over 30 students without compromising their learning or motivation. In the workshops, up to 17 students can work at the same time, practising with hands-on tasks.

Thanks to Electude’s customizable and easy-to-use learning solutions, students at different levels can learn in the same classroom and progress in their own rhythm while truly comprehending complex subjects.

I can have five to seven students working on the hybrid vehicle with my guidance while the others explore the modules or some hardware on their own. I select a few modules, and they learn at their own pace.

Franz Gietl

New apprenticeship programme

In 2023, Berufsschule Weilheim launched the “Automotive Mechatronics – System and High-Voltage Technology” apprenticeship. With Electude’s hardware for hybrid and electric vehicles, the school has set up a laboratory for diagnostics on high-voltage vehicles and network systems.

Once again, Electude’s courseware and hardware integration is helping students acquire comprehensive knowledge of hybrid and electric vehicles and practice with safe, discovery-based training aids.

From enhanced comprehension and class engagement to the successful launch of a high-voltage technology apprenticeship, the results demonstrate the power of innovative solutions in shaping the future of automotive education. Berufsschule Weilheim is now well-equipped to produce the next generation of EV technicians ready to tackle the evolving demands of the industry.