As a former Curriculum Supervisor and Coach for Work-Based Learning for both high school students and adult learners, I’ve overseen vocational education initiatives across 15 different learning environments—from welding and automotive to healthcare and electrical programs. Through those years, I learned firsthand how costs can become unpredictable, even with the most careful planning.
Psst… This article is part of our Future Ready series to support educators in the 2025 school year. Follow along through September for tips and resources to have a successful year with Transfr.
When Costs Don’t Go According to Plan
A few years ago, a perfect storm of unforeseen expenses arose in our construction program. Due to space constraints, lumber had to be stored outside, where it was damaged by the weather. When we went to replace those materials, prices had skyrocketed.
This experience was a great reminder that unpredictable, hidden costs can make CTE program planning a huge headache. But it also highlighted a broader challenge that every CTE or training program administrator faces: material costs are always fluctuating. Lumber prices spike one year, copper costs surge the next. What you budget for consumables this year might be completely off next year, and there’s often no way to predict which direction costs will move, making planning extremely difficult.
How VR Training Reduces These Cost Pressures
Drawing on experiences like these from our partners, Transfr works to help educators understand how VR can be integrated into existing programs. As an added benefit, we occasionally find smart ways to address traditional training costs with simulated experiences.
The costs of a VR training program represent a fundamentally different investment model than traditional training and can provide predictability and scale in an increasingly uncertain environment.
The goal isn’t to replace hands-on learning entirely—it’s to ensure that students are equipped with the foundational skills and confidence to make the most of hands-on training to ensure safety, equipment longevity, and practical knowledge.
Here are three areas where virtual reality can support students while keeping materials costs manageable.
# 1. Consumables Savings When Students Arrive Prepared
When students practice foundational skills in VR first, they may make fewer costly mistakes with real materials. Consider these specific examples:
- Hand and power tool simulations: Students can practice and build familiarity with hand controls that simulate the vibration of making cuts
- Electrical training simulations: Students can become familiar with cutting, bending, and installing conduit prior to using materials
- Welding Safety simulations: Students practice proper PPE usage and basic techniques, reducing both material waste and potential equipment damage
Our digital coach provides personalized guidance to students throughout each sim, helping students build familiarity with tools and consumables for as many rounds of practice as they want to use.
#2 Equipment Protection Through Proper Training
VR can dramatically reduce wear and tear on expensive equipment:
- Construction Safety simulations teach proper tool handling before students touch power saws or pneumatic equipment
- Plant Safety modules cover everything from ladder safety to proper grinder use, supporting safe training practices
- Automotive Fundamentals covers battery safety, jack placement, and brake systems before students handle expensive diagnostic equipment
#3 Space Efficiency: More Training, Same Footprint
One of VR’s biggest advantages is enabling simultaneous training without requiring additional expensive equipment:
- Diesel Technology simulations let multiple students practice engine diagnostics without needing multiple diesel engines
- Automotive training provides a simulated experience of being under a car to multiple students at a time without requiring additional lifts
- Health Sciences training builds clinical skills without transportation costs to hospital facilities or expensive medical training equipment
#4 Test the Waters Before Major Investments
Virtual Reality also supports program expansion without proportional cost increases. You could increase your class sizes without risking safety, or pilot new programs before making massive equipment investments.
For example, if you’re considering expanding your construction program to include welding, you could use virtual reality welding simulations to test student engagement and validate demand for a fraction of the cost.
Ready to Explore Virtual Reality for Your Training Program?
Start by auditing your current consumable costs across programs and tracking which areas are consuming the most materials and creating the biggest budget pressures.
Once you have a clear picture of your cost drivers, reach out to Transfr to get a deeper review of our career training simulations and access curriculum planning resources that can help you integrate Transfr’s VR solutions into your program. With modules covering everything from automotive fundamentals to advanced manufacturing, there’s likely a VR solution specifically designed to address your highest-cost training challenges.
