32 Keynotes May 2024 aloa.org EDUCATION The Making of an Instructor By ALOA SPAI Director of Education William M. Lynk, CML, CPS, ICML, CMIL, CAI, M.Ed. T HE TITLE OF THIS ARTICLE may read like a PBS doc- umentary, but it is actu- ally about the process to enhance a locksmith’s skill set into that of a qualified and hopefully exceptional ACE Instructor. Could This Be You? Have you ever thought about sharing your expertise with other locksmiths and security professionals? If you think back, almost all of us have taken classes in school, from kindergarten on. We’ve admired many of our teachers for con- veying essential knowledge and skills to all of us. Both dedication and patience come to mind. If you have these qual- ities, among others, you might think about becoming a Certified ALOA Instructor. What is ACE? ACE is an acronym for ALOA Continu- ing Education. Many states require that locksmiths obtain CEUs (Continuing Education Units), as prescribed by the state. Many states have very strict guide- lines as to who can teach these classes and how the classes are structured. Often, they require ALOA to submit the bios, resumes and qualifications of potential instructors, lesson plans, objec- tives, class time allocations, etc., to be approved for that state’s CEU program. ALOA has been vetted by states, and they recognize the importance of the CAI credential that ALOA endorses. Who or What is a CAI? We live in a world of abbreviations and acronyms. CAI simply stands for Certi- fied ACE Instructor. Once an individual has passed the prescribed course, the CAI designation can be used after one’s name, similar to how a locksmith uses other certifications after his name, such as: John Q. Smith, CML, CPS, CAL. It is a highly coveted designation, and one that you, too, might earn. Then you would be: John Q. Smith, CML, CPS, CAL, CAI. What Are You Looking For? ALOA is looking to include for- ward-thinking, ambitious individuals who have a passion and desire to share their personal industry security infor- mation throughout the world within our established framework of quality delivery. Now, if you are thinking, “But, I don’t have a degree in education!” Fear not; ALOA constructed a top-notch program decades ago and has been refining it ever since to help those with a true desire to teach and share with others in the industry. It starts with taking a three- day class. The class is the first step to becoming a Certified ACE Instructor (CAI). Infor- mation will be presented on methods of instruction and motivation. The class consists of lectures, discussions, exer- cises and presentations that will assist students in organizing instruction meth- odology. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to develop a class outline, prepare training aids, evaluate
