Tech Truck uses virtual reality to let students experience trades

Grade 9 student Taylor Skinner tries her hand a hair dressing with a mannequin in the Tech Truck. (Jeff Heldson Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Virtual reality has made the world a different place. Although primarily considered the stuff of gaming, it now has practical, real-world roles in helping students choose a career pathway.

Imagine a world where, as a high school student, you could try driving heavy equipment, painting automotive parts, or being a hairstylist. While experiencing the day-to-day reality of these careers used to require a co-op placement or actually finishing schooling, virtual reality is a game-changer, allowing hands-on experiences of different jobs.

Skills Ontario's Trades and Tech Truck is the vehicle that helps students better understand the options available to them in the trades – and in more ways than one. Besides being a portable vehicle, the trailer offers hands-on experience in careers as a household electrician, welder, plumber, 3-D printer, heavy equipment operator, automotive mechanic, chef, hairdresser, and painter.

Experiencing some trades, such as hairstyling, is done with mannequins, but others are seen through virtual reality.

Randy MacKenzie of Skills Ontario was a former heavy equipment operator. He said the heavy equipment simulator is real in every aspect except that the seat doesn’t move. The virtual reality welder is also as close as students can get to the real thing.

“We’ve had professional welders challenge it, and other than the heat and spark, it’s the same,” he said. “It’s the same trainer colleges use for their courses.”

The paint gun simulator uses the same paint gun used to paint Boeing aircraft and tells students whether they are applying paint at the correct rate.

The Tech Truck is aimed at students in Grades 7 to 9. It’s been such a success that one truck was expanded to three, and now two more are being added.

“Everybody wants us back,” MacKenzie said. “A lot of older people wish this was offered when they were in school.”

In Tillsonburg, Grade 9 and 10 Glendale High School students went through the trailer, along with Grade 7 and 8 students from South Ridge Public School.

Bringing the Tech Truck was the fruition of work that began three years ago through Level Up Local, an initiative that started with a successful application to a Rural Economic Development grant in partnership with the Town of Tillsonburg.

“The purpose of this project has been to raise awareness of the many local employment opportunities available to Glendale students as they plan their future careers, as well as to reconnect with older youth who may have left the area and are now considering returning to build the next phase of their lives where they grew up,” said Randi-Lee Durham, Director of Employment and Literacy Programs with the Tillsonburg and District Multi-Service Centre.

She explained input from youth has been a part of building the program, as has educating businesses about opportunities to engage and hire young people.

“A key focus has also been showcasing real success stories, highlighting individuals who have built successful careers locally or returned to do so- so that young people can see what’s possible right here in their own community,” Durham said.

The Tech Truck is also part of an increased emphasis at Glendale to show students what’s available locally in the trades. The school annually hosts Trick of the Trades, a trade fair highlighting trades careers that the Multi-Service Centre partners on, and offers Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) courses at Glendale.

“The more opportunities we can give students to show them what’s out there, especially locally, I think that’s important,” said Glendale principal Melissa McKibbin.

“There’s a lot of students in high school who don’t know what they want to do yet,” agreed guidance counselor Derek Partlo.

“Bringing the Skills Ontario Trades & Tech Truck is a natural extension of this effort,” Durham added. “It gives students the opportunity to explore skilled trades and technologies in a hands-on, engaging way, helping build confidence, challenge outdated perceptions, and highlight the strong, viable career options available locally. Ultimately, this is about strengthening our local workforce, supporting our businesses, and ensuring that young people know they don’t have to leave Tillsonburg to find meaningful, rewarding careers.

“Industry and employment has changed so much, it’s important to provide them with current information,” McKibbin said.

Co-op teacher Tim Davis said the co-op department is beginning to see more requests for skilled trades since there has been increased emphasis.

“We are beginning to see more requests from incoming students for a skilled trade,” he said. “We have been putting in great efforts to promote the trades as a great career path through events such as Trick of the Trade, having the Skills Ontario Trades and Tech truck come in, as well as specialized programming like the SHSMs offered at Glendale. As a result of these initiatives, we anticipate and remain hopeful that we will continue to see an uptick in student interest in the trades going forward.”