Today’s students are in a unique position when it comes to workforce deployment. A recent Strada-Gallup survey revealed that, while 88 percent of first-year students attend college to secure a decent job, only one-third of students feel confident that they will graduate with the skills needed to succeed in the job market and the workplace.
To help students overcome this fear of feeling unready for the workforce, some higher learning institutions are developing innovative career-readiness programs that better prepare students for real-world situations. Implementing digital education technology (edtech) platforms that provide virtual reality and online simulations, as well as AI-based tutoring systems, gives students a better chance to feel prepared when stepping on the jobsite, especially in the construction trades.
Simulations and virtual learning environments provide students with the freedom to experience hands-on skills training for future jobs with reduced risk. At the same time, they can develop the soft skills and confidence they need to be productive workers. This powerful combination equips students with real-world skills that last throughout their careers.
Career training drives learning forward for students
While the perceived purpose of career training is to give students a better understanding of the hard skills needed for a job, it does much more than that. Information released by the California Department of Education found that students who participated in technical education courses:
- Take more ownership of their education.
- Develop better collaboration techniques.
- Find more innovative ways to solve problems.
Additionally, collaborative career training develops essential soft skills, such as improved verbal communication and problem-solving, that students can apply to any career if they choose to pivot from their field of study.
How technology lowers risk and reduces the fear of failure for students studying the trades
Hands-on learning in the skilled trades comes with inherent risks for students. Whether it’s an injury caused by something as simple as a slipped wrench when decoupling plumbing fixtures or a potential electric shock from incorrect wire connections, adverse outcomes may make students more afraid to try new skills and risk failure. However, trying and failing is a key part of the learning journey.
Virtual learning environments and immersive simulations help learners embrace the learning process and overcome their fear of failure by lowering the risk. Rather than worrying about adverse outcomes, students working within simulations can problem solve and learn from their mistakes until they reach a solution without risking harm to themselves or their peers.
Embracing virtual learning also means that students can practice as much as they want without needing an instructor to reset the equipment or use costly consumables. Not only are students safer when using simulations, but they are also more likely to practice until they succeed because virtual courses eliminate worries about taking too much of an instructor’s time or burning through limited resources.
VR and online simulations offer personalized environments that mimic the real world
Virtual reality (VR) and immersive simulations are rapidly transforming how educators and businesses approach training students and new hires. In fact, a PwC survey on the impact of VR on learning found that 51 percent of companies incorporate VR into their training strategies, and learners who used VR were 275 percent more confident in applying their training.
One reason students in a virtual environment are better equipped to deal with real-world situations stems from VR’s kinesthetic—or movement-based—approach to learning. When you engage in a virtual environment, your body crosses the bridge between conceptual knowledge and hands-on experience. This gives learners a deep understanding of how to approach problems that arise on the job.
Online educational technology platforms can also offer personalized learning opportunities for students. Unlike sitting in a lecture hall, digital learning can assess each student’s skills, tailor courses to their needs, and help prevent them from missing details that could be skipped over in a group learning environment. As a bonus, digital learning platforms can gamify lessons to make learning more engaging than more traditional options.
Simulations go beyond learning institutions
Virtual training also extends outside the realm of learning institutions. Many businesses use virtual training to onboard new technicians or upskill experienced employees. Whether it’s working towards a key certification, brushing up on general knowledge, or even learning to work with a new piece of equipment, immersive simulations can support technicians of all experience levels.
This means that, for institutions that want to truly focus on career readiness, embracing learning tools professionals already use can give your learners a leg up when they enter the workforce. By training on the platform their future employers already know and trust, students looking for jobs can prove that they are ahead of the curve compared to other entry-level applicants.
The future of career training is promising
By understanding and implementing technology-based career training opportunities for the construction trades, educators and businesses can develop a more confident workforce. That’s because students who receive virtual career courses understand how to address on-the-job problems and how to communicate effectively with coworkers and customers before they are even hired.
