“You can’t be what you can’t see,” Marian Wright Edelman, a famous American activist for civil and children’s rights, once said. Virtual Reality or VR has helped close this gap by making career exploration and on the job skills training more accessible. This innovative technology provides hands-on opportunities for learners in ways previously only imaginable. VR training has the potential to transform both classrooms and workplaces, but many educators and administrators are still asking, “What is VR training?”
What Is VR Training?
VR training uses computer-generated simulations to recreate real-world environments. With a headset and controllers, users step into these virtual spaces and interact with tools, machinery, and scenarios just like they would in real life.
Originally big in gaming, VR is now making major inroads in education and workforce development. From healthcare to construction, it’s helping learners build practical skills and explore career paths.
Bottom line: Virtual reality skills training is more than a game. It is an immersive and fun way to teach learners. It helps them interact safely and effectively with the real world.
Why VR Training Works
The real power of VR training lies in its realism and flexibility. Trainees get to practice in lifelike situations—everything from performing surgeries to troubleshooting malfunctioning equipment—without the risk or cost of using actual tools or materials.
Because these simulations provide immediate feedback, learners can make mistakes, correct them, and improve in real time. Based on research, that kind of hands-on, experiential learning is truly what makes learning a new skill stick.
Another benefit of VR simulations is that oftentimes they can be customized for different industries, job roles, and learning skill levels. VR simulations cover everything from basic tasks to high-pressure problem-solving, preparing users for the demands of the job market.
Plus, the interactive element makes learning more engaging. In general, people retain more information when they’re active participants rather than passive observers. And because VR can support multiple users in one scenario, it’s great for building teamwork and communication too.
To learn more about the relationship between active learning vs passive learning, read our blog on the topic.
What You Need to Get Started
To run a successful VR training program, the essentials you’ll need to get started are fairly straightforward:
- VR Headset
- Controllers (most VR headsets come with these)
- VR Training Software / Application aligned with your learning goals
While the initial investment of implementing a VR training program might be expensive to some, it hardly compares to the amount of money spent in order to maintain an effective training program with real equipment. Plus, the versatility of VR training allows a user to be transported to multiple job scenarios—from under the hood of a car learning routine automobile maintenance, to being on top of a utility pole replacing critical pieces to keep a city running. Immersive VR training equips companies with interactive training grounds for multiple departments to succeed.
Hesitation around VR training in comparison to real-world environments:
At first, using the VR-compatible controllers instead of real tools might feel odd. But our simulations are designed to mimic real actions that help to build muscle memory, which would transfer to the job.
A great example? Our partner, TRIO Electric, used VR to teach conduit bending to office staff. This was Sam Chiarella, head of curriculum development’s response: “We actually put some of our colleagues who’ve never been in the construction field through the bending simulation, and they were able to do it on the very first try” said Sam Chiarella from TRIO. That’s real skill development with no risk.
Want to learn more about the effectiveness of VR Training? Check out more of our Efficacy Research!
How to Choose the Right VR Training Software
When selecting a VR training platform, start with a clear list of requirements. Look for a VR training software that includes:
- A wide variety of simulations that fit your needs
- Industry-specific modules
- A virtual coach or guide
- Portability for flexible use
Transfr’s platform covers everything from automotive and diesel tech to hospitality, aviation maintenance, and electrical construction. Whether upskilling employees or preparing learners for the workforce, the range of modules helps to meet real-life training needs and skill development.
Keith Fletcher from Savannah Technical College summed up why they ultimately chose Transfr: “The primary thing that attracted us to Transfr was the depth of the library of training. There are an awful lot of VR systems out there, but they are generally very limited.”
Interested in the types of simulations being offered by Transfr? Check out our list of VR simulations offered through our VR Career Exploration product offering.
Key Benefits of VR Training: Cost, Safety, and Accessibility
Beyond engagement and the knowledge-to-skills transfer, VR training delivers some big practical advantages:
- Lower Costs: No need for consumables like paint, heavy machinery, or a pipe. Everything you need is preloaded into the module of the learner’s choice.
- Safety: No sharp tools, flames, or hazardous chemicals. Learners gain confidence in a safe environment and learn the safety protocolls for handling hazardous and dangerous materials.
- Accessibility: VR systems are portable and scalable and truly made for learners of all skill levels. Perfect for reaching multiple schools, training sites, learners with varying abilities, and more!
Josey Blumenshine, an aviation maintenance student at Southern Illinois University, said it best: ”We would literally have to break a window on an aircraft every time we want to do a repair,” Josey says. “And we don’t want to do that for every trainee. It’s really nice just to have these simulated events and experiences that put you right there in the environment that you will be working at.”
Tom Mudano, CEO of AmSkills, echoed the same sentiment by stating: “We don’t have to bring in a thousand-dollar piece of equipment or risk people damaging a million-dollar piece of equipment because they (learners) can do it virtually.”
The Bottom Line about VR Training:
VR training is more than just a workforce or education tech trend—it’s a tool for building real opportunities for learners of all abilities, skill levels, and socioeconomic levels! VR training is helping schools, employers, and workforce labor programs prepare people for high-demand, well-paying careers—quickly, safely, and affordably.
Interested in learning more about Transfr’s VR Skills Training Software? View our product page below to find out more about the simulations we offer, pricing for VR training software, and much more!
