MTTIA Annual Conference 2026: Full Schedule

1:00pm CDT

Developing Better Diagnostic Judgment and Critical Thinking

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 5:00pm CDT

W158 Transportation Electrical Lab/Classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

Help your students move beyond parts-swapping, memorized pattern failures, overreliance on TSBs, “fix databases,” and rigid OEM trouble trees with Developing Better Diagnostic Judgment and Critical Thinking—a real-world course designed for automotive educators who want to build stronger diagnostic thinkers in the classroom, lab, and shop environment.
This class gives instructors a structured framework for teaching diagnostic mindset, process discipline, and critical thinking. It begins by addressing the attitude and mental approach students need when facing complex vehicle problems, then transitions into a repeatable diagnostic process grounded in the scientific method, evidence-based reasoning, and practical shop logic.
The course demonstrates how to teach students to use scan data, oscilloscopes, thermal imaging, visual inspection, service information, and comparative testing as part of a larger decision-making process rather than isolated tool use. Concepts such as triangulating faults, analyzing change, validating hypotheses, and separating symptoms from root causes are presented through practical examples and relatable case studies.
For high school and college automotive instructors, this course provides a teachable model for helping students develop diagnostic confidence, technical accountability, and professional judgment. The goal is not just to show students what to test, but to help them understand why they are testing it, what the results mean, and how to make better decisions from the evidence.

Speakers

Haakan Light

Manager of Training and Development, Topdon USA

Haakan has spent over 18 years of his professional career in the automotive industry. He is ASE certified as a service advisor, parts specialist and technician. His automotive journey began working as a general services technician at a local tire franchise in High School. He graduated... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
W158 Transportation Electrical Lab/Classroom

Automotive Training

8:00am CDT

Automotive Networking

LIMITED

Wednesday August 5, 2026 8:00am - 10:00am CDT

W158 Transportation Electrical Lab/Classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

Automotive networks, CANbus (controller area network) unique demonstration technique for 1st time students to build the “nodes”. The session is designed to build technicians with high impact and no pressure.
· Build the “nodes”
· Install the termination resistors
· Connect nodes to the “bus”
· See the data

Speakers

Mark Bone

Professional Trainer, Megatech Corporation

Wednesday August 5, 2026 8:00am - 10:00am CDT
W158 Transportation Electrical Lab/Classroom

Automotive Training

10:00am CDT

Essential Automotive Evaporative Emissions Skills

LIMITED

Wednesday August 5, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT

W158 Transportation Electrical Lab/Classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

Designed specifically for the automotive lab environment, this training provides a practical roadmap for teaching EVAP system operation and repair. We focus on the "big four" components: canisters, purge valves, vent solenoids, and sensors, and how to demonstrate their interaction to students. The session includes a deep dive into OBD II logic and hands on troubleshooting tips that you can immediately integrate into your shop demonstrations to help students identify faults faster.

Speakers

Jim Wilson

Instructor, ATech Training

Wednesday August 5, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT
W158 Transportation Electrical Lab/Classroom

Automotive Training

1:00pm CDT

Brad Gravenhof with SATA

Wednesday August 5, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

W158 Transportation Electrical Lab/Classroom

Learn about the newest products from SATA. We will discuss compressed air routing, filtration, fresh air breathing equipment, the latest in spray guns and more.

Wednesday August 5, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
W158 Transportation Electrical Lab/Classroom

Auto Body

3:00pm CDT

I-CAR

Wednesday August 5, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

W158 Transportation Electrical Lab/Classroom

I-CAR academy

Speakers

Justin Bettendorf

Principle Business Development, I-CAR

Wednesday August 5, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
W158 Transportation Electrical Lab/Classroom

Auto Body

8:00am CDT

Introduction to Oscilloscopes

LIMITED

Thursday August 6, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm CDT

W158 Transportation Electrical Lab/Classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

This class is the ideal foundational class for any technician looking to sharpen their diagnostic edge with real-world, high-value skills. This class demystifies the oscilloscope, showing how it goes far beyond a basic multimeter by revealing what’s happening in a circuit in real time—exactly as a control module sees it. The class is focused on: “How to get the waveform on the screen.” A number of highly requested automotive specific tests will be demonstrated with real scope captures including:

Relative Compression
Secondary Ignition
Intake and Exhaust Pulse Captures
Databus Networks (CAN and LIN)
Dynamic Battery Testing/Starter Testing
Alternator Testing
Camshaft to Crankshaft Correlation
Current Probe Testing of Actuators Including Motors and Solenoids

Each test discussed will encompass: scope setup details, basic waveform anatomy and characteristics, as well as mixing in some real world applications of tests to demonstrate the key concepts. The PDF provided will serve as a clear reference manual for scope users so they can take it back to the bay and practice these skills right away, immediately offering opportunities to expand their skill set.

Speakers

Haakan Light

Manager of Training and Development, Topdon USA

Thursday August 6, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm CDT
W158 Transportation Electrical Lab/Classroom

Automotive Training

MTTIA Annual Conference 2026

1:00pm CDT

Haakan Light

8:00am CDT

Mark Bone

10:00am CDT

Jim Wilson

1:00pm CDT

3:00pm CDT

Justin Bettendorf​​​​

8:00am CDT

Haakan Light

Get help with the event

Justin Bettendorf