TEXTBOOKS ON THE CUTTING-EDGE
OF THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM JENNY COHEN
W
hen Dr. Nick Goodnight was approached by CDX Learning Systems in 2014, they had a question for the professor: “Hey, do you want to write a textbook?” His first book, which covered engine repair, was published by CDX in 2017, and he has since written several more for the company. “I want to do something for the industry and I want to do something for the students,” he said. “When I came through my programs at a different school, there wasn’t anything nearly as advanced as CDX is.” The curriculum company, which has been in business since 1994, not only offers students books with the most up-to-date information but also allows them online access to materials to supplement their learning. “CDX is the world’s leading provider of curriculum solutions that include interactive and experiential
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curriculum with multiple photos, illustrations, descriptive videos, and 2D and 3D animations,” said Joseph Wagner, product manager at CDX Learning Systems.
as well as on- and off-road heavy-duty vehicles. The new vehicle technology covers topics such as lane departure systems, adaptive cruise control systems and self-driving vehicles.
CDX offers content for those at high school level and entry-level technician positions up to established technicians looking to upskill their careers, Wagner said. The company’s clients are mainly secondary and postsecondary schools.
“With the technology advancing so quickly in the transportation industry, and a clear shift toward lesspolluting vehicles, it has become clear that demand for the next generation of highly skilled technicians will continue and will be a high-growth area for at least the next 10 years,” Wagner said.
Its books cover a variety of subjects, from gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles to the newest hybrid electric light-duty vehicles. Volumes also deal with medium/heavy-duty commercial vehicles, diesel engines, and mobile heavy equipment. Electric and hybrid engine classes are growing in demand, Goodnight said. In fact, the most requested titles by far over the last year were textbooks covering hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and new vehicle technology. The HEV content includes hybrid and battery-powered light-duty vehicles
BO O K S T H AT WO R K FOR STUDENTS Wagner’s work at CDX has been years in the making, starting from his time as a student. “I started on my path to CDX over 30 years ago, first as an automotive and heavy-duty student, then as technician, instructor, author, subject matter expert and now product manager,” he said. “I believe I have worn every hat that one could in