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Implementing Constructivist Pedagogy in Trades Education: Remington College’s Success with Interplay Learning

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At Interplay Learning, we’re inspired by how our customers innovate and adapt our platform to elevate student learning experiences. One notable example is Remington College, which has successfully implemented the Constructivist Pedagogy style into its trades education programs using Interplay’s VR simulations. Their approach demonstrates a forward-thinking commitment to hands-on, student-led learning, and we encourage other educators to explore their teaching strategies and empower students for the future.

What is Constructivist Pedagogy?

Constructivist Pedagogy centers around the idea that students learn best by constructing their own knowledge through active exploration and problem-solving. Rather than simply absorbing information through lectures, students take the lead in their learning, testing ideas and working through challenges in a dynamic, hands-on environment.

Remington College’s Transformation: Using Interplay to Implement Constructivist Pedagogy

At Remington College, this pedagogy has recently become integral to teaching trade skills due to using Interplay’s VR simulations. Sergio Cazares, Director of Faculty Development at Remington, explains how the old approach of lectures and quizzes was replaced with more interactive methods. “Most of the time, we’ve noticed that doing the traditional learning objectives—lectures, assignments, and quizzes—we lose students, especially in a short amount of time,” he says. To remedy this, Remington flipped the model and introduced students to lab experiences first.

By starting with hands-on VR simulations, students can directly engage with the material by testing and learning in a safe, immersive environment. This approach not only enhances their understanding but builds their confidence. “Utilizing VR simulations to teach them components is really assisting them in putting their hands on things and engaging in such a way that not only teaches them but makes them feel confident in what they’re doing,” Cazares emphasizes.

Students at Remington College, particularly the younger generation, are tech-savvy, making the VR-based learning model highly effective. “VR has helped students fully embrace the platform. The simulations engage students in a hands-on way and empower them to construct their own learning path,” notes Cazares. 

Supporting Students in Constructing Knowledge

While the Constructivist Pedagogy style promotes independent learning, it doesn’t leave students without guidance. Interplay Learning’s platform offers structured yet flexible support. “Interplay provides step-by-step guides that allow students to understand what they’re doing, even though they’re exploring and constructing their own results,” says Cazares. This balance ensures that while students experiment and learn from trial and error, they also have the necessary tools to succeed.

AI for the Skilled Trades Classroom 

Interplay Learning recently introduced SAM, an AI-powered mentor designed specifically for the skilled trades. SAM provides real-time, personalized guidance in the immersive simulations, helping students troubleshoot and solve problems as they move through their training. SAM can support the Constructivist Pedagogy by offering just-in-time support, allowing students to own their learning while still having quick access to a mentor that will ask thought-provoking questions and use the Socratic method to enhance learning. For instructors, SAM is a powerful tool to ensure that learners remain on track without requiring constant oversight.

Empowering Students with Real-World Skills

Interplay Learning has not only transformed how students engage with their learning but has also enhanced their understanding of key trade concepts. Cazares highlights how the platform offers procedural guidance, greatly shortening the learning curve. “Typically, when you are going through lectures, you have to sit and take notes. It takes time; then you’re asking the questions. Interplay has it all there—it’s giving you tips, resources, additional videos on ladder safety, three points of contact, proper PPE equipment safety on the job, and more,” he explains. This comprehensive support ensures students have the information they need right at their fingertips, leading to increased engagement.

Students at Remington College are also attending more classes because of the platform’s flexibility and the sense of community it fosters. “Yes, you can do this remotely. Yes, you have access to it from a computer, cell phone, or any kind of device, but they want to come in and learn more about it,” says Cazares. “They want to do this in a community-based learning environment, not just from home.”

Interplay’s simulations mirror real-world scenarios, giving students valuable hands-on experience that prepares them for the workforce. “They’re seeing something in action, then turning it into physical action themselves,” says Cazares. This preparation extends beyond the classroom and into employment, providing students with the skills they need to succeed on the job.

Bridging the Gap Between Classroom and Field

One of the greatest benefits of Interplay Learning is how it prepares students for real-life work environments. The VR simulations provide immersive experiences that resemble what students will face in the field. Cazares explains, “Interplay has played a vital role when it comes to helping our students prepare for the real world because they see real-life scenarios. They put the VR set on, and they are literally outside of a house or a building, which looks very similar to what they would see out in the field. Remington College couldn’t provide this aspect of the training on its own, which is why Interplay has been so essential.”

One of the benefits of the Constructivist Pedagogy is that it helps students find the confidence they will need in the real world faster. By putting students in a lab situation first, they quickly learn how to troubleshoot in unfamiliar situations. The benefit of Interplay Learning’s immersive simulations is that they can virtually be in that lab environment where it’s safe for them to experiment and try new things. No matter how much a student learns, they will likely encounter new problems out in the field. The combination of a Constructivist Pedagogy and Interplay Learning prepares students for those experiences. 

The Impact: Higher Engagement and Better Performance

Since introducing this new pedagogical style, Remington College has seen tangible improvements. Not only are students more engaged in their learning, but their academic performance has also increased. “As soon as the instructors see the way that we’ve engaged the students in their learning and that they’re really catching on and scoring higher on their tests, they really buy into it,” notes Cazares. This success has fueled more enthusiasm from both students and instructors, creating a feedback loop of engagement and achievement.

What began as a need to provide more lab time has become an essential part of Remington College’s core learning strategy for growing student knowledge. “Our new pedagogical style has been a game-changer. Now we can put these students in front of the material a lot sooner, a lot faster, and more often,” Cazares explains.

Encouraging Other Institutions to Adopt Constructivist Pedagogy

Remington College’s success story demonstrates how effective Constructivist Pedagogy, powered by Interplay Learning’s platform, can be in transforming trades education. The hands-on learning environment not only engages students but also helps them develop critical skills with confidence. This approach can be readily implemented by other educational institutions, enabling them to prepare their students for real-world challenges.

By utilizing Interplay’s VR simulations and introducing active learning environments sooner in a student’s learning process, educators can empower students to explore, experiment, and excel in their fields.

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