How VR and Simulations Build Career-Ready Confidence in Skilled Trades Students
In the classroom, confidence isn’t just knowing the answers. It’s about being able to discuss concepts and apply that knowledge outside the classroom. In the skilled trades, it’s also about technical acumen, safety, and even digital literacy.
All of these come together to create that “I can do it!” confidence that lights up a student.
So, what is confidence in the classroom setting? There are two sides of the coin. First is academic confidence, where students can recall core concepts, digest information, and demonstrate technical skills. The second is social-emotional confidence or self-efficacy, the student’s belief in their ability to succeed.
There are many ways to boost confidence in the classroom, but two fast-evolving methods are online simulations and virtual reality (VR). Let’s examine the role that online simulations and virtual reality (VR) can play in boosting confidence.
Simulations and Virtual Reality (VR) in the Classroom
3D simulations are interactive experiences designed to teach concepts and skills by having students engage with the content by role-playing or active problem-solving. Technological advancements like VR and online simulations are making it easier and more scalable for students to access this type of interactive learning.
Under Bloom’s Taxonomy, simulations allow students to progress beyond the foundational level of remembering and understanding a concept. By interacting with content, students go beyond this to apply, analyze, and evaluate a concept, and even create something to demonstrate their knowledge.
Research shows that this multi-sensory, kinesthetic approach to learning works. A PwC study comparing VR learning with in-person and e-learning found that VR learners were 275% more confident to apply skills learned after training. These learners were also significantly more focused and completed their training four times faster than their peers.
How Simulations Build Student Confidence
Curious how this might look in your classroom? Here are four examples of simulation use in the classroom— and why they work to build student confidence.
1. Bridging Observation and Hands-On Practice
Transitioning from watching a video or observing a demo to hands-on practice can be daunting in technical environments.
Online simulations bridge the gap between theory and practice, building confidence incrementally. For example, JASA Inc. Trade School uses simulations to let students practice wiring an electrical panel before trying it in the lab.
“It gives you that confidence boost. I’ve learned it, I’ve read it, I watched the videos, and now I’m actually doing it,” said Ashaud Buri, JASA student. “You have a boost of confidence to go and do it and to feel like you’re not going to be as nervous about it.”
2. A Low-Stakes Environment for Failure
Failure is an important part of learning, especially in an applied technical field. Skilled trades students need trial and error to learn in an interactive, engaging way. But in a CTE classroom with expensive consumables and safety risks, the possibility of a mistake is stressful for both students and instructors.
Simulations create a safe space where students can make errors without substantial consequences. In many ways, this feels similar to a video game. If you make a mistake in the game, you can return to your latest save point and try again.
Trevor Geisz, HVAC-R instructor at Mercer County Technical Schools, shared the impact simulations have on his students.
“One of the biggest challenges in teaching HVAC-R is helping students overcome their fear of making mistakes. Interplay Learning addresses this by allowing students to practice in a virtual environment where mistakes have no real-world consequences. This boosts their confidence and helps them learn more effectively.”
Beyond the learning outcomes, a low-stakes simulation also greatly reduces the cost of materials, risk of injury, and challenges related to classroom space constraints.
3. Flexibility for Different Learning Styles
Simulations have the flexibility to accommodate multiple learning styles and paces. Students who are auditory or kinesthetic learners and struggle in a traditional lecture format often excel with VR and 3D simulations. Those who need it can repeat lessons, revisit concepts, and learn at their own speed. Simulations ensure that all students have the opportunity to build confidence in their skills.
Remington College implemented 3D simulations into their trades curriculum as supplementary hands-on practice for students.
Heather Hensell, Provost at Remington College, described how students engage with the simulations. “They have fun with gamification, repeat lessons, practice, and gain confidence before touching real equipment. It helps them gain familiarity with tools, equipment, and industry terminology and appeals to different learning styles.”
4. Engages Students in Self-Directed Learning
Students learn better when they develop intrinsic motivation and participate in self-directed learning. Simulations allow students to set goals and progress at their own pace, prompting them to take an active role in their own education.
Simulations also engage students better with a multi-sensory, interactive experience. The PwC study found that VR learners were 3.75 times more emotionally connected to the content than traditional learners.
At one university in Mexico, half of the introductory Physics students one year participated in simulation-based learning about 3D vectors, while the other half completed traditional classroom activities. Over 90% of students in the simulation-based cohort agreed that the simulation helped them learn, and three-quarters (75%) said they wanted to continue to attend VR sessions at the lab even after the class was over.
Build Confident, Career-Ready Students
As education continues to evolve, simulations have the potential to aid students by letting them engage with concepts and practice real-world scenarios in a low-risk setting.
This is effective for technical skills in a CTE program, but also for soft skills like interacting with a customer. Additionally, emerging technologies like AI teaching assistants can help students engage with materials and ask questions during a simulation without fear of embarrassment. Students can gain confidence and practice critical thinking and communication through simulation-based learning.
Take teaching to the next level with 3D simulations and VR in your classroom. Contact Interplay Learning to hear how!
