Immersive 3D simulations are changing how students prepare for skilled trade careers. Recently, Interplay Learning won "Career Readiness Solution of the Year" in the 8th annual EdTech Breakthrough Awards. The award reflects a shift in career and technical education (CTE) toward virtual training platforms.
What Happened
Interplay Learning won the award from more than 3,000 nominations, joining brands like Canvas and LEGO Education. The platform prepares students for jobs in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and industrial trades. It combines video instruction and interactive assessments with 3D simulations. To date, the platform has trained over 500,000 individuals using 1,800 hours of content.
The Bigger Picture
Academic research supports the use of virtual trade training. A study in Education and Information Technologies found that virtual reality (VR) training improves procedural learning more than traditional lectures. Research in the International Journal of Innovative Research in Social Science & Humanities also showed that vocational students using virtual simulated laboratories achieved a practical skill mean gain of 42.2. Students in traditional physical labs averaged a gain of 25.3.
Still, researchers say digital tools should not replace physical workspaces entirely. A study in the International Journal of Education and Humanities concluded that combining virtual and physical training yields the best outcomes, because physical practice builds actual technical comprehension. The type of hardware also matters. Research in Applied Sciences notes that desktop simulations and immersive VR headsets affect cognitive load and student attitudes differently. This means that running the same platform on different devices may change the learning experience.
Even with these limitations, digital simulations lower costs and safety risks for schools. Educational tool distributor Amtek reports that augmented welding simulators let students practice without consuming metal, gas, or electrodes. They also eliminate the risk of burns and toxic fumes. Simulations speed up learning as well. A study cited by Skyfarer Academy showed that flight training simulations reduced students' time-to-solo flight times by 30 percent.
What This Means for Families
These platforms give students a safe environment to explore careers. Career training provider Transfr notes that simulations let students try high-demand fields like manufacturing or healthcare before committing to an expensive program. A student can find out if they dislike blood or heights before ever stepping onto a real job site.
For schools, using these tools requires careful planning. As we previously reported, districts often waste money on technology contracts without consulting the teachers who will use them. Schools should involve educators directly when planning VR integration to make sure it functions as a blended tool rather than isolated screen time.
What You Can Do
- Ask school administrators if their virtual training programs are paired with physical labs to make sure students retain what they learn.
- Encourage students to use trade simulations and virtual career platforms to find their interests before they choose high school electives.
- Support school board initiatives that involve career and technical teachers in buying VR and simulation software.