These Trade Skills Training Tools Top Our List

Trade skills careers are in demand. The American Welding Society estimates a shortage of more than 375,000 welders by 2023, while manufacturing app Tulip expects 2.2 million advanced manufacturing jobs to go unfilled in the next decade. What’s more, a recent analysis by staffing firm PeopleReady found that demand for certain skilled trades has doubled, even tripled, in the pandemic.

As demand for skilled workers increases, the pressure will be on our school systems to get more students into these career paths. One way that has shown to be successful is adding training tools that attract students to these programs, teach key skills… and ideally, get students excited about participating in class and exploring potential careers.

It’s not easy to find trade skills training tools that meet your budget and are easy to use. In fact, that’s why we created the guideWELD® VR welding simulator five years ago. We were responding to educator requests for an engaging, cost-effective tool to help them address the welding skills gap.

Since then, we’ve added a variety of other training tools to our trade skills product line. Using feedback from educators and industry leaders, we designed these tools to engage today’s tech-savvy, feedback-hungry students. We paired them with supporting materials like lesson plans and activities to aid in classroom management and help educators that might not have industry knowledge in these areas.

Keep reading to learn our favorite tools for engaging students in trade skills careers.

For teaching electrical wiring skills: The RealCareer™ Electrical Wiring Kit

The RealCareer Electrical Wiring Kit is a safe, hands-on learning aid for teaching students how to wire common electrical circuits. It includes a desktop-sized wall panel and a battery-operated assessment kit. It comes with everything an instructor needs to offer hands-on wiring practice in a classroom, from wires and outlets to activities and instructions. Better yet, the kit is entirely battery-operated. There’s no risk of shock as students learn these skills.

For recruiting welding students: The guideWELD VR welding simulator

guideWELD® VR uses a safe, virtual environment to engage students in welding and teach basic techniques. It assesses users on their work angle, travel angle, speed, nozzle-to-plate distance and straightness, then provides a cumulative score. Customers tell us the video game-like system garners attention at career fairs and open houses.

For improving measurement math skills: Measurement Math Training Kit

This new kit features manipulates, lessons and software to introduce students to over 250 different measurements. Students can practice with various rulers, tape measures and calipers, then assess their skills with workbooks and interactive online activities.

For boosting welding knowledge: Common Welding Joints Kit

This portable, 10-piece kit includes lightweight plastic replicas of common weld coupons, flashcards and curriculum. Students can study the SMAW and GMAW coupons, compare to their own welds, then test their knowledge with the flash cards. Lessons address common welding joint types, proper welding techniques and how to prevent welding issues.

For teaching soft skills: Online Employability Skills Programs

Whatever career path your students choose, they’ll need employability and leadership skills to succeed. In fact, Tulip lists soft skills as one of the skills manufacturing needs the most right now. Whether you’re teaching online or in person, our Online Employability Skills Program can help you incorporate real-world soft skills practice into your classroom.

Learn more

Looking for more information on trade skills training tools? Consider these resources:

• Our free, on-demand trade skills webinars cover a variety of trade skills topics, from the best ways to utilize technology in a welding lab to how to teach electrical wiring remotely
• Take a virtual tour of our trade skills exhibit booth and get a closer look at the tools we offer for these programs
• Explore training tools, program packages and resources for teaching trade skills in our 2021 Trade Skills Program Catalog