International Training Institute (ITI) Delivers Innovative Digital Training to Building Trades Apprentices

Key Successes

Attracted a new generation of apprentices with
innovative VR and simulation-based training.
Expanded access to hands-on training at facilities
lacking physical training labs.
Enabled detailed assessment of apprentice
proficiency with advanced tracking tools.
Established a new, measurable standard for
apprenticeship training and job readiness.

Summary

More than 14,000 apprentices are registered at
local training facilities (Joint Apprenticeship
Training Committees or JATCs) in the United
States and Canada.
HVAC service is offered at approximately 65
JATCs, many of which lack the resources for a
training lab
The International Training Institute (ITI)
partnered with Interplay Learning to provide
modern, hands-on, virtual HVAC training at 90%
of those JATCs
Recruiters and organizers from the union used
competency data from Interplay’s data insights
to expedite delivering qualified techs into the
field.

Virtual Training Attracts Younger Recruits

When ITI program administrator Michael Harris first encountered an Interplay VR demo, he saw
the strong value hands-on training could offer to
SMART members and apprentices. JATC facilities
vary dramatically in size, with some supporting
as few as ten students and others supporting as
many as 1,000.

Recruiting a younger generation of apprentices
is an industry necessity, and hands-on learning
and practice are essential to apprenticeships.
The ability to visualize and troubleshoot complex
scenarios is a challenge in smaller JATCs that
lack training labs, but simulations offer a
sophisticated answer that speaks to a generation
of digital natives.

Virtual Training Attracts Younger Recruits

ITI partnered with Interplay Learning to deliver
hands-on training to SMART apprentices and
members at JATC locations nationwide, online
through Interplay’s platform. Intending to attract a
new generation of apprentices, the organization
hoped the technology would change how the
workforce thinks about hands-on training.

Smaller JATCs can now offer comprehensive
training, giving their members and apprentices
experience parallel to what they might receive in a
service lab. They can also earn continuing
education credits in 21 specialty areas. With
Interplay’s suite of engagement and reporting
tools, ITI can now more easily assess, train, and
manage their growing number of apprentices, all
in one place. They can direct student learning
paths, track progress, and exercise control over
content.

“We’ve seen hundreds of VR products. We always
ask if they add value or if they’re just cool. You can
spend a lot of money on something that’s just
cool, but offers no real value. When we saw the
Interplay VR demo, we could see how it would
enhance training and learning retention for our
members.”
— Mike Harris

About ITI

ITI provides programs for training/retraining
and develops training materials to improve
sheet metal industry performance.
Jointly sponsored by SMART, the International
Association of Sheet Metal Air, Rail, and
Transportation Workers.
ITI oversees over 150 JATC locations, where
apprentices enroll in 4-5 y

Training Goals

Attract a younger generation of apprentices
with engaging, modern training tools.
Enhance the quality and accessibility of handson training across all JATCs.
Standardize the measurement of apprentice
skills and job readiness.
Provide flexible learning paths and continuing
education opportunities for apprentices.

Training Challenges

Difficulty in recruiting younger apprentices in
recent years.
Limited capacity of traditional, instructor-led
courses due to time and staffing constraints.
Varying JATC sizes, with smaller facilities
lacking physical training labs.
Lack of tools to assess and verify the skills and
experience of new apprentices.

Driving Recruitment and Setting New Training Standards

Recruiters successfully attracted a new
generation of digital-first apprentices by
leveraging simulations and VR training, making
apprenticeship programs more appealing to
younger audiences. JATC locations were able to
offer comprehensive technical, hands-on training
in facilities where it was previously not possible,
overcoming limitations due to space and resources.

The expanded Interplay Learning catalog
provided a wider range of training options for
SMART apprentices and members while giving
instructors greater control to direct and oversee
classes, manage student progress, and customize
learning paths. This approach established a new,
measurable standard for defining job readiness,
enhancing the overall effectiveness and reach of
the apprenticeship programs.

The comprehensive course offerings that JATCs
are now offering SMART members and
apprentices through Interplay give them access
to more opportunities and faster, more powerful
learning tools. At the same time, ITI is endowed
with a compelling recruiting tool and
sophisticated custom training. JATCs of all sizes
can provide hands-on learning opportunities that
are unrestricted by their available physical
resources. Instructors have more control in
assigning learning paths and observing students’
progress and development, elevating the
standards for the upcoming workforce.
“Virtual training gives students the ability to see
things from a perspective they typically can’t and
helps them understand. For example, when you
look at an HVAC system with exposed ducts, you
have no idea what’s going on inside, but with VR,
now you can see right inside!” — Mike Harris