1. A welding system comprising: (a) a data generating component, said data generating component comprising: (i) a fixture, wherein the geometric characteristics of the fixture are predetermined; (ii) a workpiece adapted to be mounted on the fixture, wherein the workpiece includes at least one joint to be welded, and wherein a vector extending along the joint to be welded defines an operation path; (iii) a calibration device, wherein the calibration device includes at least two first point markers integral therewith, and wherein the geometric relationship between the first point markers and the operation path is predetermined; and (iv) a welding tool, wherein the welding tool is operative to form a weld at the joint to be welded, wherein the welding tool defines a tool point and a tool vector, and wherein the welding tool includes a target attached to the welding tool, said target including a plurality of second point markers mounted thereon in a predetermined pattern, and wherein the predetermined pattern of the second point markers is operative to define a rigid body; (b) a data capturing component, said data capturing component comprising an imaging system for capturing images of the point markers; and (c) a data processing component, said data processing component operative to receive information from the data capturing component and then calculate: (i) the position and orientation of the operation path relative to a three-dimensional space viewable by the imaging system; (ii) the position of the tool point and orientation of the tool vector relative to the rigid body; and (iii) the position of the tool point and orientation of the tool vector relative to the operation path, wherein the welding system is operable to: process data derived from an actual welding exercise conducted by a welding trainee; receive one or more training objectives from a plurality of predefined objectives; initialize a curriculum for the welding trainee, said curriculum being based on the training objectives; monitor performance of a training exercise, wherein the training exercise is based on or is a component of the curriculum, said training exercise includes at least one execution task; provide real-time feedback to the welding trainee, said real-time feedback being based on the performance of the welding trainee during the training exercise; evaluate a performance of the welding trainee based on weld quality data collected during the training exercise; and automatically modify the curriculum based on the performance of the welding trainee.