3 Reasons Educators Choose guideWELD® VR Over Other Welding Simulators

If you had to list the training tools that today’s welding instructors rely on, what items would top your list?

Welding machines, surely… along with PPE and consumables… but what about virtual reality welding simulators?

Virtual reality welding simulators have become essential in welding training programs across the country. Instructors rely on these high-tech tools for many reasons, from increased student engagement to lower consumable costs.

These benefits matter when you consider the demand for skilled welders. As fewer young people seek out welding careers, and more members of the current workforce retire, the job outlook for welders in the United States will continue to grow. In fact, the American Welding Society estimates that there will be a shortage of more than 375,000 welders by 2023.

Tools that utilize simulation technology like virtual reality welding simulators can make a big impact on programs that focus on preparing students for success in welding and manufacturing careers. These tools offer the immersive, hands-on learning that Generation Z students crave. Additionally, virtual reality technology exposes students to the types of technologies today’s employers value. Plus, there are a host of other benefits to using virtual reality welding simulators, like increased practice time and improved student confidence.

If you’re convinced that welding simulators would benefit your students but aren’t sure which tool is best for you, consider the guideWELD® VR welding simulator.

We created this tool over five years ago to give educators a welding simulator designed specifically for classroom use. Budget-friendly, easy to use and able to assess individual students, guideWELD VR offers several advantages that other welding simulators, most of which are designed for industry use, do not provide. In fact, here are 3 reasons educators choose guideWELD VR over other virtual reality welding simulators.

Classroom competition increases student engagement

Because guideWELD VR assesses users on fundamental techniques like work angle, travel angle and speed, then immediately provides a cumulative score, it’s easy to facilitate classroom competitions – and encourage student participation. Instructors often share how determined their students are to beat their peers once they get started.

The icing on the cake of a classroom competition is achieving the “golden gun.” A unique feature to guideWELD VR, the “golden gun” occurs when the welding procedure specifications of a particular weld are correctly achieved. When that happens, the virtual welding gun glows yellow, instantly gratifying the user and encouraging others to do better.

Rodian Manjarres was a South Carolina high school welding student when we caught up with her at a National SkillsUSA competition. She told us of her own guideWELD VR use, “We were all trying to beat each other’s scores and kept taking more turns. Everyone was really excited about it.”

Instructors have found that competition encourages students to continue enhancing their form and technique and build muscle memory. The more students use this training tool, the more developed their technique becomes.

Increased practice time boosts student confidence

We know educators often have limited budgets, so we prioritized cost when creating guideWELD VR. Compared to higher-end competitor models, it’s possible to outfit a classroom with a half-dozen units for the price of other welding simulators on the market today. The more welding simulators you have, the more simulated arc time your students can get – and that extra time adds up. Instructors report not only improved welding techniques, but increased student confidence.

Michigan apprenticeship instructor Nate Christensen noticed an immediate decrease in new students’ anxiety levels after incorporating guideWELD VR into his curriculum.

“We’re getting more and more men and women fresh out of high school who have never spent time welding before,” said Christensen. “I use VR to get students started practicing puddle control, manipulation with the Stick or MIG gun, and other fundamentals. When they’re ready and comfortable, I’ll take them into the booth, but by then, they’ve already had that ‘prestep’ to ease them into it so anxiety isn’t as high.”

Portable systems make student recruitment (and fundraising) easier

Smaller and more portable than higher-end competitors, guideWELD VR transports easily from the classroom to career fairs and open houses. Plus, the video game-like system attracts attention and immediately engages users. Because of this, guideWELD VR is a popular option for instructors looking to recruit new students to trade skills programs.

John Paulus, a Mobile Manufacturing Lab Technician in western Wisconsin, makes sure to bring a guideWELD VR system with him when he travels to new schools to recruit students.

“We’re trying to get these kids excited about getting skilled and getting into manufacturing careers,” he said. “This equipment is enhancing our ability to do that.”

Some educators have even used the system to successfully fundraise for their programs. In this case, community members were able to use guideWELD VR at a school fair. They immediately understood the value of these training tools – and why they were worth the investment.

Resources for learning more

If you’re ready to bring guideWELD VR into your welding program, contact us. We’ll connect you with your local account manager and discuss the best options for your unique program.

Looking for more information on virtual reality welding simulators? Consider these resources:

• Learn what instructors across the country are doing to engage their students in welding and manufacturing careers in this case study
• Use this implementation guide to understand how 21st Century welding solutions can easily be integrated into any classroom
• Explore Realityworks’ welding training tools – and see what’s new in 2021 for trade skills programs – by browsing our 2021 Trade Skills Program Catalog