EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Interplay Learning | February 16, 2023
On February 15, 2023, Interplay Learning, e-learning solutions provider for online and virtual training, launched a technology-based apprenticeship program with the Department of Labor's approval. This program solves the growing labor shortage and encourages employers in the skilled trades to join.
This program allows employers to enroll as participating employers in the Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Program of Interplay Learning. It will create a trained workforce, increase employee retention, and eliminate traditional managemental complexities of formal apprenticeship programs.
Employers can offer apprentices on-the-job training (OJT) with Interplay's digital training in a virtual classroom with technical instructions as a part of the program. The apprentices will have an impactful training experience with its video courses and 3D simulations. In addition, they will learn about new skills, effective troubleshooting, and practice in a virtual safe environment on any device like a laptop, desktop, tablet, or virtual reality headset.
Founder and CEO of Interplay Learning, Doug Donovan, said, "We're thrilled to introduce our innovative, tech-forward approach to apprenticeship." He added, "With one of the first digital and off-the-shelf solutions for apprenticeships, we seek to eliminate the pain points existing today for employers, while also providing them with a powerful training solution to address the skills gap problem in the U.S. What has traditionally been complex and especially daunting for small and medium businesses, we have streamlined the process to set up an apprenticeship program and given contractors a tool to build a better-trained workforce."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
About Interplay Learning
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Interplay Learning, an e-learning provider, has been offering digital learning simulations for training, career opportunities and life experiences of customers and employees, across industries like plumbing, electrical, solar and facilities maintenance, and HVAC, since 2016. Its virtual reality interfaces engage skilled trades workers with life-like experiences, making them more confident, professional, and efficient quickly. It provides learning solutions from beginner to mastery level at the same time. It was awarded the AL Breakthrough Award for Best Use of Virtual Reality for Enterprise Applications, AHR Expo – Innovations Awards 2020 and named in the 2020 Inc. Best in Business list.
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ONLINE EDUCATION
Interplay Learning | February 22, 2023
On February 21, 2023, Interplay Learning, a solution for virtual reality and online training of the actual skilled trades, announced its partnership with Warren Central High School (WCHS) to offer advanced learning opportunities for ninth-grade students through the school's technical education system. It would assist the school's career technical education (CTE) academy program and put fast-track students' hands-on introduction to successful careers in the construction industry.
Through the partnership, it would engage ninth-grade students for the WCHS Architecture, Construction, Mechatronics and Engineering (ACME) Academy with the immersive experience of its 3D virtual-reality simulations and the training content before the actual start of the complete construction CTE program. The WCHS's official CTE programs are conducted at an offsite technical education center for students in the tenth grade and above. In addition, WCHS is allowed to share awarded funds with its virtual reality simulations for students as a part of a district-level initiative to upgrade educational infrastructure in Vicksburg.
Coach in WCHS's ACME Academy, Traci Esparza, said, "With Interplay Learning's advanced, engaging platform and content, we can introduce younger students to sophisticated training simulations a year before they enter the official CTE program." She added, "That experience means they can get more out of the ACME program immediately and throughout their education. Before implementing Interplay Learning's VR technology, younger students had limited opportunities for the hands-on experience that is so critical to CTE and skilled trades learning."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
Founder and CEO of Interplay Learning, Doug Donovan, said, "Interplay is committed to helping educational institutions transform the training landscape for the skilled trades industries." He added, "With our innovative training platform, the instructors and leaders at Warren Central High School can equip students with valuable experience and skills that will help them build meaningful careers and will also help business owners in Vicksburg and the surrounding area meet the evolving workforce challenges of the 21st century."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
About Interplay Learning
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Interplay Learning, an e-learning services provider, has been delivering effective digital learning simulations in the HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Solar and Facilities Maintenance industries since 2016. In addition, it offers solutions for professional training, 3D simulations, virtual reality, skilled Trades, 3D sims, HVAC team training and learning, solar team training, HVACR, immersive education, and facility maintenance training. It recreates life-like VR scenarios for skilled trades workers to learn in an engaging environment. Its Comersive Learning solution offers courses from beginner to master level and trains massive workers in a short time.
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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Emtrain | January 09, 2023
Emtrain, an emerging revolutionary eLearning and analytics solution provider, announced it will serve as Cisco's exclusive diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training partner for a global initiative that will provide anti-discrimination and inclusive culture analytics and training to the company's partners and suppliers. The partnership builds on Cisco's promise to offer anti-discrimination and inclusive culture training to all of its employees and make it available to the rest of the Cisco ecosystem.
We've seen time and time again how companies can influence behavior and society beyond just their own workplace. At Cisco, we have made a commitment to promoting and advancing social justice within and outside the company, and we know we can lean into our ecosystem of partners and suppliers to join us on this journey," stated Cisco EVP and Chief Policy & Purpose Officer Fran Katsoudas. He also said, "We're choosing Emtrain to help us because they have been instrumental in helping us measure and improve our internal pro-social skills, which leads to increased diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we're confident they can do the same for our broader ecosystem." (Source – Cision PR Newswire)
According to Katsoudas, Emtrain was picked for this function because they have demonstrated success in acquiring employee perception data and delivering benchmarked DEI scorecards and analytics while concurrently engaging individuals with relevant, timely content. Cisco earned a 92% completion rate for their employee-inclusive culture training earlier this year.
"More than ever before, businesses are influencing our culture. Cisco has the size and reach to create a new standard and expectation for D&I."
Janine Yancey, Emtrain's founder and CEO.
The "Building Skills for a Conscious Culture" course was made available to Cisco partners at the 2022 Partner Summit on November 1 and is presently being implemented with select suppliers.
About Emtrain
Founded in 2004 by Janine Yancey, Emtrain is a provider of eLearning and analytics that quantify the impact of workplace social dynamics. The company's solutions go beyond compliance to foster inclusivity, ethics, and respect as professional competencies through the use of video-based skill-building training. Emtrain collaborates with industry professionals and uses current events to create video-based training content on themes including sexual harassment, unconscious bias, respect, and ethics.
More than 600 companies, including Bed Bath & Beyond, Genentech, and LiveNation, use Emtrain's platform. Recognized by Fast Company as one of the "World Changing Ideas 2020" and one of the "Inc. 5000 2021" fastest-growing companies. Emtrain is a woman-owned and driven firm funded by venture capital.
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