New HVAC Pre-Apprenticeship Program Trains High School Seniors with VR, 3D Simulations

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 03/26/24

The Pryor High School Innovation Center, located in the MidAmerica Industrial Park at the Rogers State University campus in Pryor, OK, will launch a new, semester-long HVAC pre-apprenticeship this spring for two Pryor High School seniors each semester. The program will use skilled trades learning company Interplay Learning's training platform.

Funded by corporate donations, the HVAC program will engage students in in-person and online training and offer Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship hours and industry certifications, according to a release. The training is designed to take students with no HVAC industry skills to job readiness.

Interplay Learning's training platform is being funded by local sponsors RAE Corporation and MidAmerica Industrial Park. Components of the program include:

  • HVAC fundamentals and safety online video courses;
  • Hands-on 3D troubleshooting simulations;
  • Training with virtual reality;
  • In-person mentorship with an HVAC instructor;
  • Practice of soft skills and theoretical knowledge;
  • Three daily internship hours at the school's maintenance department to learn how to maintain and repair the school's HVAC and electrical systems; and
  • The option to take concurrent classes at Rogers State University.

Students will also be able to sit for the OSHA-10 and EPA 608 exams for industry-recognized certifications, the release said.

Students will receive ongoing support following graduation from the program, the release noted. They will be able to access Interplay's courses and also get personal job referrals with local businesses, including the program's sponsors.

Visit the Innovation Center's HVAC apprenticeship page for more specific program information and a short VR training video.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • stylized human profiles, tablets, and floating icons

    From Feedback to Flexibility: 5 AI Tools Teachers Should Try

    As a fifth-grade teacher and AI School Champion in the St. Vrain Valley School District, I've seen firsthand how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education. Here are five AI-enabled tools I've found especially powerful in my classroom and professional practice.

  • teenager’s study desk with a laptop displaying an AI symbol, surrounded by books, headphones, a notebook, and a cup of colorful pencils

    Student AI Use on the Rise, Survey Finds

    Ninety-three percent of students across the United States have used AI at least once or twice for school-related purposes, according to the latest AI in Education report from Microsoft.

  • three silhouetted education technology leaders with thought bubbles containing AI-related icons

    Ed Tech Leaders Rank Generative AI as Top Tech Priority

    In a recent CoSN survey, an overwhelming majority of ed tech leaders (94%) said they see AI as having a positive impact on education. Respondents ranked generative AI as their top tech priority, with 80% reporting their districts have gen AI initiatives underway, or plan to in the current school year.

  • robotic elements such as a mechanical arm, AI brain, microchip, and wheeled robot in a muted blue color scheme

    California District to Build New Robotics Facility for Student Creativity and Collaboration

    California's Fremont Union High School District recently announced that construction has begun on a new Robotics Facility on the campus of Cupertino High School. The 14,500-square-foot facility will serve students at high schools across the entire district, providing purpose-built spaces for student creativity and collaboration.