Chapter 4- A. Props

Props are teaching resources that can help students learn concepts or techniques that are difficult to understand in the classroom before gaining any "hands-on" experience.

Examples of useful props include:

• damaged seat belts.
• wheel alignment prop car.
• paint manufacturer's tint guides.
• sections of bent and kinked rails.
• samples of proper welds.
• cutaways of paint guns.
• spray pattern test panels.
• damaged plastic panels.
• deployed airbag.

I-CAR classes, instructors, and materials are an excellent source of ideas for props. Many of the props used in I-CAR courses and other sources have been gathered into a CD titled "Props For Collision Repair Training" and is available through the I-CAR Education Foundation. Features of the CD include:

• over 350 props and other training aids.
• showing where the prop or training aid can be used in the ADVANCE-TECH curriculum.
• explanations on how to use the prop in the classroom.
• explanations on how the prop will benefit the student.
• plans for building or obtaining the props.
• descriptions and pictures of the props.