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IMI’s Instructor Certification Program provides instruction and exposure
The International Masonry Institute’s Instructor Certification Program provides a variety of unique training opportunities for union masonry professionals.
Held for the first time this fall at the IMI’s new John J. Flynn International Training Center, the 2007 ICP session offered training to members of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers at all stages of their careers.
The program covers all the crafts represented by the union — restoration, brick, tile, terrazzo, stone, marble, cement and plaster. The restoration classes cover health and safety, fall protection, rigging, Jahn familiarization in a wide variety of patching materials, and caulking.
The overall goal of ICP is to hone instructors’ skills in two crafts: masonry and teaching. Courses fall into three main categories: Professional Teaching, Technical Skills, and Materials and Practices. Instructors must demonstrate mastery of course content and present a comprehensive Training Materials portfolio.
The curriculum covers everything from new materials and building codes to adult learning principles and computers. Each year, it is updated to reflect industry trends and market demands.
As they gather at the new training center to learn the latest developments in the masonry and teaching professions, instructors from all over the BAC/IMI training network enjoy a valuable opportunity to network with colleagues and gain exposure to other masonry crafts.
That is particularly true in the specialized field of restoration. The restoration ICP sessions afforded instructors from other trades a hands-on opportunity to experience the tools, materials and skills involved. From classroom work on materials safety or chemistry, to riding in the boatswain’s chair, to building out a piece in stone or brick with Jahn patching mortars, the class “really sparks an interest in restoration,” says IMI PCC instructor Keith Harris. “It’s particularly timely with so many companies going into the restoration field now.”
