As the demand for skilled workers in the construction trades—including electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians—rises, so does the pressure on workforce development programs to scale.
Constraints like infrastructure, hiring qualified instructors, working with consumable materials, and funding can make growth difficult. More and more organizations are looking for ways to expand their workforce development programming to include these lucrative, in-demand careers, but they need to do it efficiently and sustainably.
Fortunately, immersive 3D simulations offer a promising solution to these challenges, enabling workforce development organizations to expand their impact without needing to first invest in a ton of new resources.
Why the Skilled Trades Are a Lucrative Career Path
The skilled trades are a rewarding, stable career choice for today’s job seekers.
Take electricians for example, who are needed to support new construction and maintain homes and businesses. Electricians make an average of $63,969 per year without a four-year degree. Demand for electricians is expected to grow 11% by 2033.
These jobs are not only in high demand, but provide lucrative wages, entrepreneurship potential, and the ability to work hands-on in the community.
Leveraging Technology to Scale Workforce Development Programs
Whether you are starting a trades-only program or are expanding an existing workforce development program, online simulations can help you scale and grow. Here’s how.
1. Enhance an Existing Curriculum with Immersive 3D Simulations and Videos
If you already have a program and curriculum that’s effective, immersive technology can enhance and scale it. Research shows that while students remember 30% of what they hear and 20% of what they see, they remember 90% of what they learn by doing.
Instead of reading a textbook chapter about cleaning AC coils or watching an instructor demonstrate, it’s more effective for learners to practice it themselves.
Online 3D simulations can help you expand your class size without sacrificing the learner experience or doubling your costs. While it may not be feasible for 20 students to practice simultaneously in a classroom setting, it is possible for some students to practice in person while others practice virtually. Immersive simulations can significantly enhance the scalability of workforce development programs by:
- Reducing instructor burden: Simulations allow instructors to manage larger groups of learners by supplementing traditional teaching methods.
- Catering to diverse learning styles: Simulations provide individualized learning experiences, accommodating various learning styles and needs, which helps reach a broader range of participants.
- Lowering consumable costs: By using virtual materials, programs can reduce the need for physical consumables, thereby lowering costs per learner.
- Enhancing safety: Simulations offer a risk-free environment for learners to practice skills, potentially reducing insurance costs and increasing safety.
John Chapman, CEO of Jasa Inc., explained how online simulations boosted student learning in the lab.
“By having the students practice at home virtually, it brings up their confidence when they come into the office to work hands-on for the lab. It not only brings their confidence level up, but it brings our insurance down to about 60%. because they know how to work on electrical, plumbing, and HVAC without actually coming to our office and working on live stuff without any knowledge. Now they are coming in with their safety already done.”
2. Offer a Self-Serve Career Readiness Learning Path with an Out-of-the-box Program
For programs looking to expand quickly or offer flexible, learner-driven experiences, a self-serve career readiness path with an out-of-the-box program is an excellent choice. A self-serve program allows participants to learn at their own pace, fitting their education around their busy schedules.
Of course, any self-paced programs should be developed by experts with extensive field experience and reinforced with frequent knowledge checks.
This approach is particularly useful for organizations that want to offer training immediately while they prepare to build out a larger, more resource-intensive program. It can also serve as a long-term solution for those seeking to provide ongoing education without additional infrastructure.
Why This Type of Technology-Driven Program Works
Technology-driven training programs, particularly online simulations, are effective because they align with kinesthetic learning principles. Research dating back to Edward Dale’s “Cone of Experience” suggests that people recall 90% of what they do, making experiential learning highly effective. Modern studies confirm that this holds true with simulations and VR. Participants stay engaged and minimize distractions in an interactive format.
Simulations have also been shown to reduce learning time and improve confidence. In one study, learners trained on VR simulations learned four times faster and felt 275% more confident in applying their skills.
Grow Your Impact and Scale Effectively With 3D Simulations
Of course, 3D simulations are just one part of a well-rounded curriculum. Technology should be based on a foundation of career counseling, support structures, and industry-recognized credentials that work hand-in-hand with technology to build a scalable and successful training program. When these elements come together, it empowers both learners and communities.
“Using Interplay allows more community members to see the possibilities that exist within skilled trades careers, helping participants simulate hands-on experiences,” shared Marvin Kelley, director of construction and trade training at Goodwill Industries of Southern Piedmont. “Interactive training offerings like Interplay’s, coupled with the personal support and career coaching Goodwill offers, are helping more people in our community launch new careers and change their circumstances to achieve their goals.”
Beyond enrollment numbers and costs, scaling your programs is also about demonstrating outcomes. Positive outcomes assist with securing more funding and expanding your mission. It’s not just about creating an engaging program — it’s also about helping people get into better careers.
Tim Smith, HVAC instructor at Hudson Valley Community College, shared how a 3D simulation program with Interplay impacted his students in ways he hasn’t seen in 30 years of teaching. “The result was more work-ready students, higher salaries, and a 100% job placement rate that we are very proud of,” he said. “Some of our students had three or four job offers when they graduated — a testament to their engagement and competencies, with the online simulations playing an important role.”
Ready to unlock training at scale with 3D simulations? Learn how JASA, Inc. expanded throughout the state with Interplay Learning.
