Carlos Escobar is on his knees on a 90-degree day trying to fix a heating and cooling system that is not working, but he isn’t even breaking a sweat.
The North Arkansas College heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) student is in the comfort and safety of the college’s newest high-tech training tool – a virtual reality (VR) lab.
VR is often associated with gaming, but it is not just for entertainment. The technology is vastly improving training for skilled trades.
Northark HVAC instructor Jeff Smith said VR for HVAC systems was developed a few years ago to help contractors maintain and improve their skills, but now the systems have been adapted for educational purposes and training.
The VR systems utilize scenes and scripts that walk students through different scenarios so they can identify problems. The HVAC components and tools look real and the systems even allow students to work in life-like home or outdoor environments.
“The students love it,” Smith said. “VR is a great addition to the program, and I can’t say enough good things about it.”
Smith said students start out the three-semester HVAC technical certificate program or the one-semester certificate of proficiency program with hands-on labs and lectures before using the VR system, which is tied to the curriculum. In addition to classroom and field work, students have VR assignments that they must complete.
“The VR gives students an additional means of training and support to build upon what they have already learned in lecture and lab,” he said.
Northark’s program has three VR systems and is hoping to acquire three more in the coming months.