Students at all levels are becoming increasingly aware that there is more than one pathway to a successful career. As more and more young people explore opportunities outside the traditional four-year college model, educators and administrators are quickly adapting to a changing landscape.
The impact of technology on what opportunities are available for students is growing. As in nearly every other sector, advances in artificial intelligence and other applications are opening new possibilities for students — as well as exciting opportunities for leaders in education to transform the field.
One of the biggest areas that is ripe for transformation is career and technical education (CTE). Traditionally, launching or expanding career and technical education programs has required a significant investment of time and money, particularly in skilled trades such as plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and solar. Learning the skilled trades also comes with other challenges, such as safety concerns, access to enough equipment, and even combating the stigma that is still placed on these careers.
New technology and innovative applications of existing tools promise to mitigate the costs associated with trades education while also solving these additional challenges, at both the learner and program level.
Learning a skilled trade takes time and requires immersive hands-on experience. Until recently, the only way to provide that hands-on learning was by hiring expert instructors from the private sector, setting up a large space for safe, hands-on learning, and providing students with tools and equipment to work on. While working on live equipment is a key part of the skilled trades learning process, it requires a lot of manual work and is difficult to scale up to meet the increasing demands for these classes.
An increasingly popular and proven way to supplement traditional hands-on training is with immersive simulations. Simulations have been used to great effect for decades in high-risk occupations such as aviation and health care. Research has consistently demonstrated that simulations help workers improve memory and performance as well as reduce errors. Studies also reveal that simulations are particularly effective in increasing student confidence. For example, one study by PwC that showed learners felt 275% more confident in applying skills after training in a virtual simulation. While other industries have enjoyed the benefit of simulations for a while now, the construction and skilled trades are starting to see the same benefits with tools that offer immersive simulations that help them troubleshoot problems in areas such as plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and more.
With online simulation training led by expert instructors, students can get crucial practice in a virtual, lifelike setting. These immersive simulations allow students to practice and refine their skills in a risk-free environment. Students are free to experiment, trying out a variety of strategies and techniques in a structured, repeatable virtual environment. Being able to practice builds confidence, skills, and helps ensure that they are prepared for the risks that come with working on live equipment.
AI, VR and simulation technology provide multiple other benefits in skilled trades CTE settings:
- Studies show that using virtual reality within learning environments increases student enjoyment, interest, and motivation to learn.
- Virtual Reality and simulations improve knowledge retention rates, reducing the time it takes to learn. Ultimately, students can learn more in less time as seen in another study that showed people training through VR were able to learn four times faster than their counterparts.
- Virtual learning environments can also be personalized to meet the needs of individual learners. Students who would like more practice are able to repeat simulations as many times as needed, and students who have mastered a skill are able to move on to the next challenge as needed.
- Using virtual learning means instructors can use their time in the classroom more effectively. By assigning pre-work, instructors can spend less time on the basics and more time on the complex troubleshooting problems and the individual needs of their students.
It’s important to remember that enhancing CTE is critical for long-term economic sustainability. Increasing access to skilled trades training is essential for solving the chronic labor shortage in the United States. Also, It’s no surprise that more students are looking to take courses in the skilled trades. These careers offer good pay, good job satisfaction, and are projected to only grow in coming years.
Simulation and VR training are essential tools for vocational training designed to help the skilled trades industries meet the challenges of today’s world. While the stigma against the trades is fading, modernizing your program with the right technology will engage younger students and help communicate the fact that careers in the trades absolutely have a prominent place in the careers of the future.