News - CAT® SIMULATORS

17 01, 2024

And the Winners of the 2023 Cat® Simulators Student Showdown are…!!!

Congratulations to the 2023 Cat® Simulators Student Showdown champions – Advanced Dozer Champion Cooper Sunday and Advanced Construction Excavator Champion Landon Scott!

In September, Cat Simulators invited students across the U.S. to compete in the 2023 Cat Simulators Student Showdown. From November 1 to December 8, students enrolled in heavy equipment operator (HEO) programs competed virtually on either the school/college’s Advanced Construction Excavator or Advanced Dozer Cat Simulators systems.

Advanced Dozer Champion

Cooper Sunday, Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy

Cooper Sunday, a sophomore at Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy in Marietta, Ga., was confident about completing the tasks except for the third and final task – dozing the word “CAT.”

“I was pressuring myself to do the tasks the best I could,” explained Sunday, who feels the simulator helped prepare him to operate a real dozer during the course’s final field exam. “It’s the most wonderful piece of technology I’ve seen in my life.”

Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy’s HEO instructor, Brent Manning, explained he registered students who were interested in competing and wanted to continue improving their skills on the simulators. “My students get like a lot of seat time which is definitely beneficial. So, I told Cooper not to stress out about it and to just keep doing what he had been doing on the simulator,” said Manning.

Advanced Construction Excavator Champion

Landon Scott, Jones County High School

Landon Scott, a sophomore from Jones County High School in Gray, Ga., has learned a lot about excavators and how to operate them in the school’s HEO program. Now that he’s been practicing on the school’s Advanced Construction Excavator Cat Simulator every day, completing the competition’s tasks was fun. “It’s pretty easy and really fun once you know what you’re doing,” said Scott.

Jones County High School’s Construction/Heavy Equipment Instructor, Michael Denaro, explained that the students supported each other during the Student Showdown. “When they were practicing for the Showdown, they would encourage each other,” said Denaro. “They would tell each other how they could do a task better or how they could accomplish it better.”

“The students found the smiley face task to be the most challenging, but they enjoyed making the smiley face once they figured out what they needed to do,” explained Denaro. “They practiced to make them look as good as possible and had fun doing it.”

How Were the Champions Determined?

Contestants had to complete three tasks on either the Cat Simulators Advanced Dozer or Advanced Construction Excavator systems. The Cat Simulators team created a final challenge for each model that required contestants to use their operating skills and creativity while having fun!

Advanced Dozer Tasks

TASK #1 – CAN YOU CRAFT A BUILDING PAD EFFICIENTLY?
Before structures can go up on a jobsite, a building pad must be made. And since time is money on a jobsite, contestants were judged on how efficiently and quickly they could craft a pad to meet a required grade in the Pad Building exercise.

TASK #2 – TIME TO TAKE DOWN SOME TREES!
Sometimes before a highway project can be started, land must be cleared. Contestants were judged on how quickly but safely they could doze down all the trees in the Site Clearance exercise.

TASK #3 – CAN YOU SPELL CAT…WITH A DOZER?
The third and final task required Dozer contestants to “write” the word “CAT” with the Dozer blade, not the ripper (that would have been too easy 😊). They were judged on how clearly and quickly they could do it.

Advanced Construction Excavator Tasks

Task #1 – LET ME PICK THAT UP AND MOVE IT FOR YOU…CAREFULLY!

It takes a fine touch and an extra eye on safety to hoist objects into the air and move them without colliding into other objects. That’s why contestants were judged on their ability to pick up and move the pipe segment quickly and safely in the Maneuver Hoisted Objects exercise.

TASK #2 – IS YOUR BUCKET HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY?
Excavator operators often need to remove material from a site to prepare the site for building. Contestants had to complete the Bench Loading exercise and were judged on filling their buckets and emptying them while on the bench into trucks quickly, efficiently and safely.

TASK #3 – READY. SET. SMILE! 😊
Is it possible to “draw” a smiley face with an excavator? You bet it is! Contestants had to tram to the top of the bench then use the bucket to dig a smiley face that included eyes, a smile and a circle around it.

2023 Cat Simulators Student Showdown Prizes

Each champion and their school/college received the following prize packages for a job well done.

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS ($1,000 value)

Cat® Scale Model
$500 Amazon Gift Card
Cat Hi-Vis Sweatshirt
Cat Waterproof 360° Speaker
Cat Safety Glasses
Cat Safety Work Gloves
And more!

CHAMPIONS’ SCHOOL/COLLEGE ($7,000 value)

2-year SimScholars Subscription or 2-year Extension (if already subscribed)
6-hour Virtual Training Session
Cat Simulators Lighted Sign
Printed Cat Simulators Safety Posters
Prize Package for Classroom

28 06, 2023

The Spotlight – Issue 1

Introducing The Spotlight – our new semi-annual digest! We’re excited to showcase our clients’ success stories, provide invaluable pre-operation walkaround inspection information, offer machine maintenance tips for heavy equipment operators and more. We hope you enjoy discovering how high schools, technical schools and businesses have integrated Cat Simulators systems into their heavy equipment operator programs with great success. We hope you enjoy our inaugural issue!

21 12, 2022

And the Winners of the First-Ever Cat® Simulators Student Showdown are…!!!

In September, Cat® Simulators invited students from across the U.S. who were enrolled in heavy equipment operator (HEO) programs to compete in the first-ever Cat Simulators Student Showdown. The students would compete virtually from November 28 to December 9 on either the school/college’s Advanced Construction Excavator or Advanced Dozer Cat Simulators system. We are proud to announce the 2022 Cat® Simulators Student Showdown Champions!

2022 Student Showdown Advanced Dozer Champion

Jordan Troutwine, Miami Valley Career Technology Center

2022 Student Showdown Advanced Construction Excavator Champion

Tim Blais, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville

How Were the Champions Determined?

Advanced Dozer Tasks

TASK #1 – HOW EFFICIENTLY CAN YOU CRAFT A BUILDING PAD?
Contestants crafted a pad to meet a required grade in the Pad Building exercise. They were judged on how efficiently and quickly they could complete the task since time is money on a jobsite!

TASK #2 – TREE TAKEDOWN!
Contestants dozed down the two biggest trees (the ones that the roots had to be cut) in the Site Clearance exercise. They were judged on how quickly, but safely they could do this task.

TASK #3 – READY. SET. SMILE!
Did you know it’s possible to doze a smiley face? Contestants did just that in this task. They were judged on how quickly, but safely they could complete a smile. And they received extra credit if they dozed the circle around it. 😊

Advanced Construction Excavator Tasks

Task #1 – PRECISION MATTERS!
Contestants maneuvered the excavator quickly while scooping up red balls in the Maneuver Machine exercise while NOT colliding with the barrier or truck. Safety first!

TASK #2 – IS YOUR BUCKET HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY?
Contestants filled two trucks while on the bench efficiently and safely. The challenge was NOT to overfill the trucks.

TASK #3 – CAN YOU SPELL CAT…WITH AN EXCAVATOR?

We knew contestants could spell “CAT”, but could they “write” it with the excavator’s bucket in the wall of the bench without tramming the machine? Yes, this was EXTREMELY challenging!

2022 Cat Simulators Student Showdown Best Image Winners

Congratulations to Chayse Hipple, Miami Valley Career Technology Center, and Alec Pierson, Miami Valley Career Technology Center, for going above and beyond by doing “extra credit” on the final task for each model.

2022 Student Showdown Best Dozer Image

Chayse Hipple, Miami Valley Career Technology Center

2022 Student Showdown Best Excavator Image

Alec Pierson, Miami Valley Career Technology Center

Cat Simulators Student Showdown Prizes

Each champion and their school/college will receive the following prize packages for a job well done.

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS ($1,000 value)

Cat® Scale Model
$500 Amazon Gift Card
Cat Hi-Vis Sweatshirt
Cat Waterproof 360° Speaker
Cat Safety Glasses
Cat Hi-Vis Safety Work Gloves
And more!

CHAMPIONS’ SCHOOL/COLLEGE ($7,000 value)

2-year SimScholars Subscription or 2-year Extension (if already subscribed)
6-hour Virtual Training Session
Cat Simulators Lighted Sign
Printed Cat Simulators Safety Posters
Prize Package for Classroom

6 10, 2022

Heavy equipment training makes it way to high schoolers

Watch the video to see more about Warren County Area Technology Center’s heavy equipment operator program.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – At the Warren County Area Technology Center, high school juniors and seniors are learning how to operate dozers.

After months of preparation by Southcentral Workforce Development Board, Warren County Public Schools, SKYCTC and the BGA Chamber of Commerce, a new program has broken ground for upperclassmen. In a growing city such as Bowling Green, construction workers are in high demand in the city and surrounding areas, especially for those who can operate machinery such as excavators and dump trucks. This collaboration has finally come to fruition in the last couple of weeks and today News 40 was given the opportunity to come out and see for ourselves what new technology is being utilized to further education.

SKYCTC employed a seasoned construction worker by the name of Michael Holtgraver to teach young students about how to handle the large machines that can raze and erect buildings with the help of a state of the art simulator by CAT. Holtgraver said he has experience in commercial construction as well as in the military for almost a decade, making him well equipped for the job. “Every day, every day I get ‘Mr. Holtgraver are we going to run the simulators today?’, so the want to is definitely there.” he said during his interview with News 40.

Kim Myers, Dean of Workforce Development at SKYCTC also commented on the program, expressing how excited she was that it could all come together. Myers said over the summer they sat down with employers in the area about what needs were for the industry, talked about curriculum and other opportunities available to kids progressing through this particular program to help make it a success.

Original Article by: Michael Ridgeway | WKNY News 40 | https://www.wnky.com/heavy-equipment-training-makes-it-way-to-high-schoolers/

22 08, 2022

Local students get hands-on with excavator simulators

ALTHA, Fla. (WMBB) — High schools across America have been offering driver’s ed for decades, but very few have heavy equipment operation as a class. Calhoun County high schoolers can now learn how to operate excavators, using state-of-the-art simulators.

Levi Anderson is a senior at Altha High School. He is one of the first to get his hands on the new Cat® simulators. “I felt like it opened up a lot of new opportunities for many different people, especially me as I want to go into the construction industry and I felt like I can get some practice on it, know how it feels, and all that,” Anderson said.

The $90,000 equipment is installed at Altha High School and Blountstown High School. The excavator simulators can teach students how to dig trenches, move dirt or pipes and even dig foundations for homes.

Richard Hall teaches agriculture at Altha High School. He went through the simulator training this summer and said it is very realistic. “I’m just very thankful that our district has taken the initiative to invest this in our kids and our schools,” Hall said.

School officials bought the simulators with grant money for career dual enrollment pathways. The hope is to increase student participation in workforce dual enrollment classes at Chipola College or Florida Panhandle Technical College in Chipley.

“What we want to do in our career technical education classes is give our students some employability skills,” Calhoun County School District Assistant Superintendent Debbie Williams said. “There’s a need for people to operate heavy equipment and with this simulator, we can give those kids some practice, some real practice on how to operate heavy equipment.”

Anderson said the new equipment is popular among his classmates. “Everybody thinks that it’ll be good for them because as you know we are a blue-collar community and most of us won’t go to college, we’ll end up going into the workforce or going to a trade school so yeah I think it’ll be good for us,” Anderson said.

The school district is partnering with Anderson Columbia construction. The company will send over the real heavy equipment for kids to check out, once they’ve trained on the simulator. That partnership works both ways. Anderson Columbia may very well hire some of these students once they graduate.

Original Article by: Jake Holter | mypanhandle.com | https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/local-students-get-hands-on-with-excavator-simulators/

18 05, 2022

Four women inmates at LCIW Jetson to become certified heavy equipment instructors, teach other inmates

Four inmate-offenders at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson have recently been getting hands-on experience with heavy equipment, including a backhoe and Bobcat brand skid steer, after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming the first four women there to be fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. The offenders-teaching-offenders approach is a cost-effective way to give skills to offenders for their successful reentry, helping level the jobs playing field for them when they are released, said Kristy McGovern, LCIW Jetson’s Education Coordinator. HEO is just one of many education programs offered at LCIW Jeteson.

Recently, five offender-students at LCIW became the first women in the state to pass their coursework and state exams to become Licensed Cosmetologists while incarcerated, McGovern said.

Sheila Jenkins, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a backhoe, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. She’s one of the first four taking the course. The offenders-teaching-offenders approach is a cost-effective way to give skills to offenders for their successful reentry, helping level the jobs playing field for them when they are released, said Kristy McGovern, LCIW Jetson’s Education Coordinator. HEO is just one of many education programs offered there. Recently, five offender-students at LCIW Jetson became the first women in the state to pass their coursework and state exams to become Licensed Cosmetologists while incarcerated, McGovern said.

Sheila Jenkins, left, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, talks with LCIW Warden Kristen Thomas, right, as fellow offender Dawn Bennett, center, demonstrates the use of a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders there, Thursday, May 12, 2022. They’re two of the first four taking the course, doing Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work, training on the simulator and then on real heavy equipment. The offenders-teaching-offenders approach is a cost-effective way to give skills to offenders for their successful reentry, helping level the jobs playing field for them when they are released, said LCIW education coordinator Kristy McGovern. HEO is just one of many education programs offered at LCIW Jetson. Recently, five offender-students at LCIW became the first women in the state to pass their coursework and state exams to become Licensed Cosmetologists while incarcerated, McGovern said.

Cynthia Anderson, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a Bobcat brand skid steer, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming a fully certified NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructor for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. She’s one of the first four taking the course, including Dawn Bennett, right, working as her spotter. The offenders-teaching-offenders approach is a cost-effective way to give skills to offenders for their successful reentry, helping level the jobs playing field for them when they are released, said Kristy McGovern, LCIW Jetson’s Education Coordinator. HEO is just one of many education programs offered there. Recently, five offender-students there became the first women in the state to pass their coursework and state exams to become Licensed Cosmetologists while incarcerated, McGovern said.

Cynthia Anderson, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a Bobcat brand skid steer, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming a fully certified NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructor for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. She’s one of the first four taking the course, including Dawn Bennett, left, working as her spotter. The offenders-teaching-offenders approach is a cost-effective way to give skills to offenders for their successful reentry, helping level the jobs playing field for them when they are released, said Kristy McGovern, LCIW Jetson’s Education Coordinator. HEO is just one of many education programs offered there. Recently, five offender-students at LCIW Jetson became the first women in the state to pass their coursework and state exams to become Licensed Cosmetologists while incarcerated, McGovern said.

Apparatus that makes the CAT heavy equipment simulator into a ‘different machine, at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson,Thursday, May 12, 2022.

Tiffany Byrd, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a backhoe, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson.

Tiffany Byrd, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson , trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a backhoe, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. She’s one of the first four taking the course.

Dawin Bennett, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, demonstrates use of a CAT heavy equipmemt simulator, Thursday, May 12, 2022.

Sheila Jenkins, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, talks about going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator and real heavy equipment, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. She’s one of the first four taking the course.

Sheila Jenkins, an inmate-offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a backhoe, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jetson. She’s one of the first four taking the course.

Sheila Jackson, right, an inmate offender at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women Jetson, spots for Tiffany Byrd as she trains Thursday, May 12, 2022 on a backhoe, getting a day on real real heavy equipment after going through Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) classroom work and training on a CAT heavy equipment simulator, in preparation for becoming fully certified NCCER ( National Center for Construction Education and Research) instructors for future training of other offenders at LCIW Jeetson. They’re two of the first four taking the course.

Original Article by: Travis Spradling | The Advocate | May 17, 2022 | https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/multimedia/photos/collection_d253d99e-d5e8-11ec-b61a-6b785871e6ec.html#9

17 05, 2022

Howard College offers class to operate heavy equipment

BIG SPRING, Texas — Howard college in big spring is using new technology to get students ahead of the game when it comes to jobs that use heavy machinery, which applies to a lot of different jobs in our area.

The Heavy Equipment operator course at Howard College opens the door for opportunity.

“They’re going to come in and get a good basic understanding of heavy equipment and how to run it and they’re going to come here and learn the basic controls they’re going to learn how to operate them and operate them safely we’re going to learn how to maintain them and how to watch for problems on them and once they get done with the class they’ll be able to go to a job and go in there with some experience and some confidence that they’re able to run that equipment,” said the instructor for the class, Josh Caudill.

Instead of getting students out on the machines immediately, Howard College is doing something different, the class uses simulations of heavy machinery so students can learn how to use them correctly.

“It’s fun, it’s kind of like playing a video game for a whole class period,” Said one of the students, AJ Cortez.

This course provides a safe and effective way to learn how to operate machinery that can be dangerous.

“This gives them a good controlled safe environment to get in there get familiar with the controls, get them familiar with what it does without cause or concern with them damaging themselves with the equipment, or someone around them.” Caudill said.

After all is said and done, students can use the completion of their class to help them get a job and there are a lot out there.

“We just happen to live in an area of the country where it’s very industrial, there’s heavy equipment needed at every job, the refineries, down to the oil field, pipelines wind farms, you name it,” Claudill said.

Knowing how to operate heavy equipment in these industries can pay off literally.

“The average starting salary for a heavy equipment operator right now out there in this area is 30 dollars an hour,” Claudill said. “Right now with the amount of jobs there are and the skill it takes to run these pieces of equipment, they start you out pretty high and they get you out there pretty fast.”

Original Article by: Rachel Robinson | NewsWest 9 | May 16, 2022 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/howard-college-offers-class-to-operate-heavy-equipment-with-simulators/513-eb234df4-1a80-45f1-8b97-6e54193ebcca

13 05, 2022

Women learn trade skills at Louisiana Correctional Institute

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Since 2016, the incarcerated population has decreased because of programs training people for jobs when they get out of prison.

It may look like normal Capital Area construction.

“Once I started it, it was just the idea of learning something new and being given an opportunity and it made me really want it,” Shelia Jenkins said.

But at Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women, inmates are practicing using heavy equipment.

“I love it and it’s something that I would pursue outside of here because you get the feel of what you’ve been training for, and we’ve been training since 2019, so now we get the feel of what we’ve really been doing, so now it feels like an accomplishment,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins and her colleagues are training to be able to teach more women how to use these machines.

“It’s a male-dominated industry, true, but I feel like it should be equal because being out here, we probably get the same feeling that they get, but it’s more invigorating because we are women, and no other women are really doing this, and we get an opportunity to make a statement to say, yeah, we could do it, to open the doors for us as well in order to get us a good paying job like them,” Jenkins said.

Before they get to the real heavy equipment, they practice on simulators.

“I can see why they do this, they simulate fighter jets and truck driving, so I see now how this really works because getting on the actual machine is so much easier because you know what they look for,” Dawn Bennet said.

Bennet is working on passing her certification exam next week.

“While we’re here right now, you can help train other people that can go home, and they can make a living, and make an honest living, they don’t have to come to prison,” Bennet said.

Since 2016, incarceration for non-violent offenses has gone down 35 percent, according to LWIC.

According to Kristy McGovern, Director of Educational Programs, that’s because of re-entry programs.

“They are going back with social skills and job employment skills as well as just character and financial ability and everything else that goes with that, so when they release, they are prepared to stay out of prison,” McGovern said.

Teaching women these professions normally dominated by men helps them break more barriers.

“I think we can do a lot of things if we would just put our mind to and focus on them. Learning overcomes obstacles. Yeah, it’s hot out there, but we’ve been having a blast out there,” Bennet said.

Original Article by: Kellie Sanchez | WAFB9 – Baton Rouge, LA | May 12, 2022 | https://www.wafb.com/2022/05/12/women-learn-trade-skills-louisiana-correctional-institute/

18 11, 2021

Simformotion Sponsors Team at the 2021 Dream Big. Do Bigger. Memorial Golf Tournament

On a perfect, sun-filled day in Winter Springs, Fla., more than 20 golf teams hit the links at the Tuscawilla Country Club to benefit the nonprofit, “Dream Big. Do Bigger.” Among the many golfers was Kelly Burdette, Healthcare Account Manager at CSE Software™ Inc. who recruited a team sponsored by Simformotion. Burdette asked Mark Hughes, Valencia College PCE Construction and Logistics Director, Shelly Davis, Valencia College Assistant Director for Programs and Instruction and Tim Driscoll to join her for a day of fun to benefit the organization, that’s near and dear to her heart.

Burdette’s friend, Beth Logullo, founded “Dream Big. Do Bigger.” to carry on her husband, Daryl Logullo’s influential legacy when he passed away in 2013. Setting others up for success was Logullo’s passion and during the past eight years, the foundation has done just that and more by awarding 12 individual scholarships totaling over $15,000.

“The organization focuses on helping others make their ambitions become reality,” explained Burdette. “It could be a scholarship to help someone go back to school and change their career a little bit or start a new career. It could also be a high school student who just wants to do better in their life. Dream Big. Do Bigger. helps make dreams come true.”

The day was more than a beautiful day of golf and fun in the sun. Burdette explained that Dream Big. Do Bigger. will now be able to work with Valencia College who has many students who could use the organization’s support. “Not only did we have a great day golfing, but we will also hopefully help someone who is truly in need,” said Burdette.

25 10, 2021

Students Have Real-World Experience With Simulator

CRESCO – Students from Crestwood and Riceville High Schools were able to experience a construction simulator at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) on Oct. 6.

This was a partnership between Equipment Operator Training, LLC (EOT), JB Holland Construction and NICC.

The simulator is a training tool for students and employees to operate heavy equipment, such as a dozer, excavator, motor grader and end loader, from the comfort of a trailer.

Roger Solberg, owner of EOT, explained the need for simulator training. “All of the contractors in Iowa and neighboring states need workers. This top-of-the-line simulator is a virtual reality way of teaching them how to run the equipment.”

The students sit in a chair on a moving platform, working the controls and watching on a screen, and also with virtual reality goggles, as they work with dirt.

It is hoped the simulator will spark the interest of high schoolers, who will go into the construction business. Solberg said, “The younger generation doesn’t know the technology needed in the construction field. Also, the guys my age are retiring, and we need the younger kids.”

It used to be that farm kids would work construction because they knew how to operate the equipment. Now there aren’t as many farm kids. And some youth have never even used a rider lawn mower.

Garrett Grabau, 2012 Crestwood graduate, added, “[JB Holland] is currently in the recruiting process. We’re looking for help.” The company uses the simulator in the winter and early spring to train new employees. It helps them to be more productive and more comfortable with the job.

Solberg said females are the best candidates. First of all, they are considered a minority in the industry, making it fairly easy for a girl or woman to get a job. They leave the cab of the equipment cleaner than guys, and they finish the job.

This is the second year NICC used the simulator. It traveled to different high schools, including Crestwood.

NICC-Cresco Center Director Jessica Reis said, “We’re excited to offer this experience again. NICC works hard to bring real-world career exposure to high school students through work-based learning opportunities. This partnership allows us to do that by getting students simulated ‘seat time’ in a very in-dmand occupation in our state.””

Earn and Learn Program

The simulator is also a way to introduce career opportunities to traditional and non-traditional students.

Reis explained, “The NICC Earn and Learn model addresses students’ economic needs while providing them with in-demand skills. The program targets recent high school graduates, high school stop outs and young adults looking to upskill or re-skill. Earn and Learn enables students to learn skills with little debt and while earning wages to support their families.”

Students who enroll in an Earn and Learn Career Pathway Certificate receive support from NICC to arrange interviews with business partners, and the students earn a wage while gaining valuable work-based learning experience. The best practice follows an apprenticeship model where students receive a wage for the time at the workplace and while in class. Most Earn and Learn students attend class 15 hours per week over the course of a 12 week certificate.

Earn and Learn helps employers hire workers now to fill their immediate needs while providing workers the skills they need to succeed in the long-term and secure a stable future.

Original Article by: Marcie Klomp; The Cresco Times. http://www.crescotimes.com/news/students-have-real-world-experience-simulator