Last updated on August 9, 2024
Dallas College continues to lead the way when it comes to innovative practices in training the future workforce.
The latest development is the college purchasing two simulators that use virtual reality to help students become forklift operators. These simulators, built by BluWorkz, a veteran-owned company, provide as close to a real-life experience as you can imagine.
“You can hit people. You can tip containers over. It’s very realistic,” said Chris Wood, a managing director in Dallas College’s Career Connected Learning division. “It’s pretty neat and pretty innovative.”
Peter Chronopoulos, a co-founder and vice president at BluWorkz, described the benefits of “gamification” when it comes to students learning how to operate forklifts. Studies have shown a significant increase in learning retention rates when you incorporate virtual reality compared to more traditional learning methods.
“Gamification, or serious games as we call it, keeps people engaged,” Chronopoulos said. “Having fun while still learning a specific skill goes a very long way.
“The virtual reality forklift simulators teach students the basics of operating a forklift. They feel a lot more comfortable when it comes time to operate a forklift and helps them get certified faster. It builds muscle memory and they can practice in dangerous scenarios in a zero-risk virtual environment, something that cannot be done in the real world.”
The best part about the simulators, Wood said, is that they “break the ice” as an entryway for students to experience what it’s like operating a forklift before doing it for real. Additionally, instructors can provide instant feedback by speaking directly with the student through a headset or screen-to-screen.
One simulator will be located at Dallas College’s Irving Center while the other will be housed at Dallas College’s Pleasant Grove Center. The college also recently purchased new forklifts that will be delivered to those locations as well as the Bill J. Priest Center.
This will allow Dallas College to continue offering quick pathways into the workforce for students. These classes can be completed in just a couple of weeks and provide OSHA certification for students. Forklift operator jobs pay about $20 per hour, and it’s a field that always has demand in a city such as Dallas given the number of manufacturing companies located throughout the area.
The new equipment, including the state-of-the-art simulators from BluWorkz, will begin being utilized fully with upcoming trainings offered in the fall.
