Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine January 2021

S tate, National, Chapter News Education News

Virtual Reality Training Rapidly Create a Job-Ready HVAC Workforce Demand for HVAC workers is at an all-time high. Looking forward to a post-COVID future, there is a tremendous need for a training model that is fast, accessible, affordable and prepares people for the well-paying HVAC jobs available today. In the past, organizations have struggled to create excitement when it comes to careers in HVAC, but in recent years, the boom of digital learning is helping to renew interest and attract a new generation of recruits. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020, 59% of the available U.S. workforce was between the ages of 19-39. Often referred to as “digital natives” or the “digital - first generation,” this population was born into and grew up in a world dominated by technology. They have never known life without it. Looking to technology for quick answers, digital natives jump in and start clicking, rather than waste time trying to figure something out by reading manuals. While hands-on practice and trial and error have always been the best way to learn technical skills, problem solving for this crowd must include technology in the learning process. The days of traditional classroom settings, memorizing manuals and

long-term HVAC apprenticeships have served their purpose but there needs to be an alternative that att racts and trains these “digital natives.” According to a report by PWC, digital learners complete training four times faster than classroom training, making the key to delivering a sustainable, job-ready HVAC workforce a combination of training and technology. One company that is setting the standard for tech-forward HVAC training is Interplay Learning. Presently used by companies such as Rheem and Carrier, Interplay is pioneering immersive, experiential learning for HVAC. Taking education beyond traditional classrooms, Interplay’s learning platform, SkillMill™, is successfully opening up new, scalable pathways into HVAC careers with 3D simulations and virtual reality (VR) training. The new technology not only makes it fun for this new generation to learn using cutting-edge technology, they are also better trained as a result. To