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OSD grant introduces cutting edge VR tech to instruction

UA – Pulaski Tech was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Office of Skills Development for five sets of Virtual Reality (VR) trainers that have over 650 unique modules for technology-enhanced instruction. The UA-PTC Career Institute & Technical Sciences will soon begin training faculty to use the new VR Trainers, which will enhance student learning in an engaging and comprehensive format.

The Arkansas Office of Skills Development invested approximately $500,000 in this technology in 2021. This year, an additional $1 million is being invested in the technology. The headsets will be used in a broad array of technical programs. This valuable technology will enhance the employability of students in UA-PTC’s technology programs.

“We are excited about the generous grant from the Office of Skills Development and the collaboration with TRANSFR VR,” said Dr. Angela Kremers, dean of SoTAPS. “The VR headsets will provide high-quality virtual training that enhances learning to better prepare students for the workforce.”

The technology and training is provided by TRANSFR VR for the purpose of deployment by instructors, counselors, and other stakeholders.

“VR training empowers UA-PTC with an additional instructional ability that provides students an opportunity to safely engage and immerse in learning experiences in ways that were never possible before,” said Arron DeGracia, director of the UA-PTC Career Institute. “If hands-on learning has ever had a competitor this is it! The VR transfer experience is taking career exploration, skill mastery, and on-the-job training to another level.”