Improvement of tool-using skills through understanding mechanical laws andusing shop equipment

The present study investigated effective methods of teaching tool-using ski lls to junior high school students. Students participating in the study wer e having difficulty using tools. The relative effectiveness of 3 types of i nstruction for helping the students improve working skills was analyzed by a comparison of 3 groups of participants. In the first method, 21 students were told how to use the claws of a hammer, and given a demonstration. In t he secund method (22 students), charts and pictures illustrating the laws o f leverage were explained simply, and a demonstration was given. The third method (21 students) included the second method plus immediately having the students practice pulling nails. When the 3 groups were compared, the resu lts showed that participants in the third group improved their skills the m ost. This group was also able to transfer the skill to other tools that use the laws of leverage, such as a sheet metal cutter, even though the appear ance of those tools is suite different from the tool the participants were trained on. The explanation of the laws of leverage was effective, but imme diately allowing the students to work with actual tools was an even more ef fective method of instruction.