{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Simulating a Flat Rate Pay Plan in the Classroom","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/simulating-a-flat-rate-pay-plan-in-the-classroom","audioUrl":"https://www.buzzsprout.com/940384/episodes/18817956-simulating-a-flat-rate-pay-plan-in-the-classroom.mp3","description":"David Kocher, Automotive Instructor at Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, joins us to explain how he introduced a simulated flat rate pay plan to help students understand how flat rate works early in their careers. David walks us through his background, the ins and outs of the incentive-based system he’s developing for his class, and how students are responding to the experience.Watch the video podcast on YouTubeAbout the EpisodeHost: Jay Goninen, WrenchWay, jayg@wrenchway.comGuest: David Kocher, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, dkocher@pasco.k12.fl.usLinks &amp; ResourcesGet notified of new episodes --&gt; Join our email listJoin the ASE Connects CommunityASE Connects brings shops, dealerships, and schools together in one structured network to strengthen the technician pipeline. By making it easier to connect, collaborate, and support students through job shadows, internships, and classroom engagement, ASE Connects helps schools build stronger programs and helps shops develop a more consistent, local source of future technicians. Learn more:ASE Connects Memberships for Shops &amp; DealersASE Connects Memberships for Schools (Free!)Connect with us on social:  Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn YouTube TikTok "},"annotations":[{"startTime":242.2,"endTime":245.1,"type":"brand","title":"GM","url":"/glossary/gm","quote":"I'm not a salesperson, but I thought, well, shoot, I love GM. I love Chevy's.","canonicalId":"brand:gm","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"GM, or General Motors, is a major American automotive manufacturer known for brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC. It is one of the largest car companies in the world.","simplifiedExplanation":"GM is a big company that makes cars and trucks, including popular brands like Chevrolet and Cadillac."}},{"startTime":248.2,"endTime":250.1,"type":"concept","title":"used cars","url":"/glossary/used-car","quote":"They stuck me over in used cars. So I had no real passion for it.","canonicalId":"concept:used-car","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Used cars are vehicles that have been previously owned and are sold again. They often have lower prices compared to new cars but may come with varying conditions and histories.","simplifiedExplanation":"Used cars are cars that someone else owned before and are now being sold again, usually for less money than new cars."}},{"startTime":252.4,"endTime":258.3,"type":"company","title":"Vogue Tire","url":"/glossary/vogue-tire","quote":"So I kept looking and ended up with a company called Vogue Tire. 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This can include changes to wheels, paint, interiors, and performance parts.","simplifiedExplanation":"Customizing a car means changing how it looks or works so it fits what you like better, like putting on special wheels or new paint."}},{"startTime":526.5,"endTime":528.9,"type":"brand","title":"Hot Wheels","url":"/glossary/hot-wheels","quote":"the Hot Wheels has always done such a great job of kind of recreating some really cool cars and coming up with their own designs,","canonicalId":"brand:hot-wheels","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Hot Wheels is a brand of die-cast toy cars introduced by Mattel in 1968, known for its detailed miniature car models and imaginative designs.","simplifiedExplanation":"Hot Wheels are small toy cars that kids and collectors like to play with or keep. They look like real cars but are tiny and made of metal and plastic."}},{"startTime":661.1,"endTime":695.1,"type":"concept","title":"STEM","url":"/glossary/stem","quote":"so right now, my effort has been mainly focused on the STEM fairs. ... the students in the county have to apply to one of our STEM programs,","canonicalId":"concept:stem","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, representing educational programs focused on these fields to prepare students for technical and scientific careers.","simplifiedExplanation":"STEM means learning about science, technology, engineering, and math, which helps students get ready for jobs that use these skills."}},{"startTime":684.5,"endTime":690.6,"type":"concept","title":"magnet school","url":"/glossary/magnet-school","quote":"So Kirkland Ratch Academy of Innovation is a magnetic, or magnetic, a technical magnet school. In other words, the students in the county have to apply to one of our STEM programs,","canonicalId":"concept:magnet-school","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A magnet school is a public school with specialized courses or curricula that draws students from across normal school zones based on their interests or talents.","simplifiedExplanation":"A magnet school is a special type of school where kids can go if they want to learn about specific subjects, even if they don't live nearby."}},{"startTime":709.2,"endTime":713.8,"type":"concept","title":"automotive program","url":"/glossary/automotive-program","quote":"So again, we have automotive, we have diesel, welding, building trays, which is kind of like carpentry, electricity.","canonicalId":"concept:automotive-program","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"An automotive program in a school teaches students about vehicle mechanics, repair, and technology, preparing them for careers in the automotive industry.","simplifiedExplanation":"An automotive program is a class where students learn how cars work and how to fix them."}},{"startTime":709.2,"endTime":713.8,"type":"concept","title":"diesel program","url":"/glossary/diesel-program","quote":"So again, we have automotive, we have diesel, welding, building trays, which is kind of like carpentry, electricity.","canonicalId":"concept:diesel-program","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A diesel program teaches students about diesel engines and vehicles, focusing on maintenance, repair, and operation of diesel-powered machinery.","simplifiedExplanation":"A diesel program is a class where students learn about big engines that run on diesel fuel, like trucks and buses."}},{"startTime":709.2,"endTime":713.8,"type":"concept","title":"carpentry","url":"/glossary/carpentry","quote":"So again, we have automotive, we have diesel, welding, building trays, which is kind of like carpentry, electricity.","canonicalId":"concept:carpentry","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Carpentry involves building and repairing wooden structures and is a skilled trade often taught in technical schools.","simplifiedExplanation":"Carpentry is learning how to build things out of wood, like furniture or parts of buildings."}},{"startTime":709.2,"endTime":713.8,"type":"concept","title":"welding","url":"/glossary/welding","quote":"So again, we have automotive, we have diesel, welding, building trays, which is kind of like carpentry, electricity.","canonicalId":"concept:welding","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals, by causing coalescence through heat or pressure, often taught as a skilled trade.","simplifiedExplanation":"Welding is a way to join pieces of metal together by melting them so they stick."}},{"startTime":713.8,"endTime":719.2,"type":"concept","title":"cybersecurity","url":"/glossary/cyber-security","quote":"building trays, which is kind of like carpentry, electricity. We have cybersecurity.","canonicalId":"concept:cyber-security","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Cybersecurity involves protecting computers, networks, and data from unauthorized access or attacks, a growing field in technology education.","simplifiedExplanation":"Cybersecurity means keeping computers and information safe from hackers or bad people online."}},{"startTime":1281.5,"endTime":1338.0,"type":"term","title":"insurance","url":"/glossary/insurance","quote":"And the excuse for that oftentimes is because of insurance. What I hope, either this conversation or other conversations we have, I hope what it does is drive a conversation between these groups and their insurance folks to say, hey, listen, we've got to figure out a way to kind of allow these younger people in so that we can get them better training earlier...","canonicalId":"term:insurance","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Insurance in the automotive context refers to the financial product that protects vehicle owners and drivers against losses from accidents, theft, or damage. It often affects who can participate in driving programs or apprenticeships due to liability and risk concerns.","simplifiedExplanation":"Insurance is a way to protect people and cars if something bad happens, like a crash. It can decide who is allowed to drive or learn to drive because it helps cover costs if there is an accident."}},{"startTime":1643.0,"endTime":1645.6,"type":"term","title":"flat rate shops","url":"/glossary/flat-rate-shops","quote":"And getting into a shop, in a lot of cases, we have a flat rate shops, shops that are paying their technicians on flat rate.","canonicalId":"term:flat-rate-shops","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Flat rate shops pay their technicians based on a predetermined time to complete a repair, rather than hourly wages. This system incentivizes efficiency and productivity in automotive repair work.","simplifiedExplanation":"In some repair shops, mechanics get paid a set amount depending on how long a job should take, not by the hour. This helps them work faster and get more done."}},{"startTime":2141.7,"endTime":2144.1,"type":"term","title":"flat rate environment","url":"/glossary/flat-rate-environment","quote":"and even if they don't go into a flat rate environment, just understanding the importance of time and that everything is tracked,","canonicalId":"term:flat-rate-environment","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A flat rate environment is a system in automotive repair shops where technicians are paid based on standardized labor times for specific jobs rather than actual time spent. This encourages efficiency and helps shops estimate repair costs accurately.","simplifiedExplanation":"In some car repair shops, workers get paid based on how fast they finish a job, not how long it actually takes. This helps the shop know how much to charge and keeps things fair."}},{"startTime":2162.8,"endTime":2165.3,"type":"term","title":"regular repair times","url":"/glossary/regular-repair-times","quote":"Yeah, the actual shop repairs, regular repair times, that's the easy part,","canonicalId":"term:regular-repair-times","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Regular repair times are standardized estimates of how long specific automotive repairs should take, used by shops to schedule work and calculate labor costs.","simplifiedExplanation":"These are the usual times that car repairs are expected to take, so the shop knows how long a job should take and how much to charge."}},{"startTime":2172.2,"endTime":2174.4,"type":"term","title":"oil change","url":"/glossary/oil-change","quote":"and even some oil changes we get into now, used to be 0.3 or 0.4 was pretty standard for an oil change.","canonicalId":"term:oil-change","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"An oil change is routine maintenance where old engine oil is drained and replaced with new oil to keep the engine lubricated and running smoothly.","simplifiedExplanation":"Changing the oil in a car means taking out the old oil and putting in fresh oil so the engine works well and doesn't get damaged."}},{"startTime":2179.8,"endTime":2181.6,"type":"term","title":"labor time guide","url":"/glossary/labor-time-guide","quote":"We did one the other day where it was actually 0.5 in the labor time guide,","canonicalId":"term:labor-time-guide","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A labor time guide is a reference used by repair shops that lists the standard time required to complete various automotive repairs, helping with pricing and scheduling.","simplifiedExplanation":"It's a book or system that tells mechanics how long a job should take so they can plan their work and charge the right amount."}},{"startTime":2184.4,"endTime":2187.5,"type":"term","title":"oil life index reset","url":"/glossary/oil-life-index-reset","quote":"and because we do have to be aware of some more things on newer cars, as far as resetting oil life index and stuff like that,","canonicalId":"term:oil-life-index-reset","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Oil life index reset is the process of resetting a vehicle's oil change reminder system after an oil change, which is common in newer cars with electronic maintenance tracking.","simplifiedExplanation":"After changing the oil, some newer cars need a little reset so the car knows the oil is fresh and tells you when to change it again."}},{"startTime":2427.3,"endTime":2428.5,"type":"concept","title":"independent shop","url":"/glossary/independent-shop","quote":"...whereas an independent shop where you may be working on a Jaguar, then a Volkswagen, and then a Chevy...","canonicalId":"concept:independent-shop","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"An independent shop is an automotive repair or maintenance facility not affiliated with any specific car manufacturer or dealership, often handling a variety of makes and models.","simplifiedExplanation":"An independent shop is a car repair place that works on many different brands of cars, not just one brand."}},{"startTime":2428.5,"endTime":2430.3,"type":"brand","title":"Jaguar","url":"/glossary/jaguar","quote":"...where you may be working on a Jaguar, then a Volkswagen, and then a Chevy...","canonicalId":"brand:jaguar","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Jaguar is a British luxury car manufacturer known for its stylish design and performance vehicles.","simplifiedExplanation":"Jaguar is a car brand from Britain that makes fancy and fast cars."}},{"startTime":2430.3,"endTime":2433.7,"type":"brand","title":"Volkswagen","url":"/glossary/volkswagen","quote":"...where you may be working on a Jaguar, then a Volkswagen, and then a Chevy...","canonicalId":"brand:volkswagen","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Volkswagen is a German car manufacturer known for producing a wide range of vehicles from economy cars to performance models.","simplifiedExplanation":"Volkswagen is a car company from Germany that makes many kinds of cars, from small to sporty."}},{"startTime":2443.0,"endTime":2445.3,"type":"term","title":"hourly pay","url":"/glossary/hourly-pay","quote":"...and those texts were on straight hourly, and it was great...","canonicalId":"term:hourly-pay","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Hourly pay means technicians are paid based on the actual hours they work, which can be beneficial when working on diverse or complex repairs that take longer.","simplifiedExplanation":"Hourly pay means a mechanic gets paid for every hour they work, so longer jobs mean more money."}},{"startTime":2467.8,"endTime":2477.1,"type":"concept","title":"dealership","url":"/glossary/dealership","quote":"...because again, I am focused more on the dealership world. To me, I did have a little experience in an independent shop, and I thought it was kind of tough to be as successful as being in a dealership...","canonicalId":"concept:dealership","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A dealership is an authorized seller and service provider for a specific car manufacturer, often with factory-trained technicians and access to official parts and repair information.","simplifiedExplanation":"A dealership is a car company store where you can buy and get your car fixed by experts who know that brand well."}},{"startTime":3341.86,"endTime":3343.4,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Impala","url":"/cars/chevrolet/impala","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/1961_Chevrolet_Impala_convertible_in_San_Francisco.jpg","quote":"What was your first car? First car was a 67 Impala SS. Whoa.","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:impala","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Chevrolet 1967 Impala SS is a classic American muscle car known for its powerful V8 engines and iconic styling. The SS (Super Sport) trim denotes a sportier, higher-performance version of the Impala.","simplifiedExplanation":"The 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS is a cool old car that was made to be faster and look sportier than regular cars. It has a big engine and is popular with car fans.","imageAttribution":"Dllu (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":3589.74,"endTime":3591.12,"type":"car","title":"Bricklins","url":"/cars/bricklin/sv-1","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Bricklin-SV-1.jpg","quote":"...lot to talk about yet.  Yeah, because we have two Bricklins.  You know what a Bricklin is?","canonicalId":"car:bricklin:sv-1","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Bricklin SV-1 is a unique Canadian sports car produced in the mid-1970s, known for its distinctive gull-wing doors and safety-focused design. It was an ambitious project aiming to combine performance with advanced safety features, making it a notable but rare collector's car today. Its unusual styling and limited production make it a fascinating topic among car enthusiasts.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Bricklin SV-1 is a special car made in Canada a long time ago. It has cool doors that open upwards like wings and was made to be very safe. People talk about it because it looks different and there aren't many of them around.","imageAttribution":"Accord14 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Jay Goninen","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/simulating-a-flat-rate-pay-plan-in-the-classroom/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}