Sheridan College I-TEC’s Mobile Lab — a hi-tech classroom on wheels

It’s a highly technical classroom on wheels that’s taking industry training and education in Northern Wyoming in new directions.

This 53-foot long, custom designed semi trailer used by the Northern Wyoming Community College District’s Industry Training and Education Center is a way to bring technical training and education to students’ front door. Literally.

“We needed lab space,” Lonnie Anderson, the instructional designer at I-TEC in Gillette said, recalling a time not too long ago when he and other technical instructors were pressed with the task of determining how to best serve the educational needs of Northern Wyoming’s growing industrial workforce.

Originally, Anderson said, the idea was to purchase a regular semi trailer and modify it themselves to fit their needs. But thanks to funds received from a Department of Labor grant, I-TEC was able to have a company build a trailer suited to I-TEC’s training needs.

The Mobile Lab is equipped with all the comforts of home and then some. Air Conditioning, heat, plenty of electricity powered by a 30 kilowatt generator, two cargo doors, and two man doors are just some of the features.

Step inside and you’ll find a space designed to allow I-TEC instructors the ability to train students in areas such as pumps, programmable logic controllers, hydraulics, pneumatics, drive systems, motor controls, any type of computer-based course and sit-down lectures. I-TEC is even looking to add some machining equipment in the near future.

“It’s a very multi-purpose, versatile unit that can be used by about anyone who needs it,” Anderson said.

Since receiving the Mobile Lab a few months ago, I-TEC has used it a number of times in a number of different locations in Campbell and Sheridan counties.

Its most recent stop was in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn in Sheridan where I-TEC instructors will be hosting trainings on water pumps and PLC’s. The Mobile Lab will be moved to the Sheridan College Campus in the next few days where it will remain until the second week of October where further trainings will be held.

I-TEC is currently in the process of purchasing a semi tractor to pull the Mobile Lab, Anderson said. In the meantime, a number of local agencies have assisted in moving the unit. Those agencies include the Diesel Technology programs at Gillette and Sheridan Colleges, the Campbell County Fire Department, Campbell County Road and Bridge and Campbell County School District #1 Maintenance group.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Mobile Lab can contact I-TEC in Gillette at (800) 913-9139, ext, 1315.

Contact:
Wendy Smith (307) 674-6446 ext. 2801/Email wsmith@sheridan.edu
Ryan Ragan (307) 674-6446 ext. 2802/Email rragan@sheridan.edu