PEORIA,
Ill., April 1, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --
Simformotion™ LLC's Cat® Simulators systems and SimScholars™ heavy
equipment operator (HEO) curriculum are playing key roles in the
state of Georgia's newly launched
HEO simulator training program.
Cat® Simulators are the main focus of the
program because the simulators are so authentic to the real
equipment. The simulators, along with the SimScholars™ curriculum,
really put our students on the fast track to becoming operators.
Jeremy Whitaker, Director of
Training & Recruitment
The new HEO program is one of Georgia's 17 Career Clusters/Pathways which
provide a structure for organizing and delivering quality Career,
Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) programs in
Georgia's public high schools. The
HEO program provides a pathway for students in 12 high schools and
career technical centers throughout the state of Georgia to learn and enter the construction
industry.
C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc. recently piloted the program
with its employees and deemed the program as very effective in
placing individuals on the "fast track" to becoming heavy equipment
operators in the horizontal construction industry. Jeremy Whitaker, Director of Training &
Recruitment, attributes much of the program's success to the Cat®
Simulators systems and SimScholars™ curriculum.
"Cat® Simulators are the main focus of the program because the
simulators are so authentic to the real equipment," said Whitaker
who explained how the SimScholars curriculum provides instructors
with a course overview, exercise objectives, learning outcomes,
lesson plans, step-by-step procedures, checklists/schedules,
student management tools, quizzes and pre/post-tests. "The
simulators, along with the SimScholars curriculum, really put our
students on the fast track to becoming operators."
The program consists of three classes, Industry Fundamentals
& Occupational Safety (the beginning course for all
construction pathways in Georgia),
Intro to Heavy Equipment: Excavator and Heavy Equipment 1:
Bulldozer. Starting in the Intro to Heavy Equipment class,
instructors split the class into two groups.
Students in Group 1 complete in-class learning using the
SimScholars curriculum. They learn in-depth reasons on why they
need to operate machines a certain way. Meanwhile, students in
Group 2 experience hands-on excavator training on the Cat
Simulators systems and complete exercises like the Machine
Walkaround, Bench & Truck Loading, Trench Box & Pipe and
Trenching, just to name a few. Once both groups finish their
objectives, they switch places with the in-class students training
on the simulators and the simulator students completing the
in-class learning.
During the second and third classes in the HEO pathway, industry
partners provide "vision trips" to the students which benefit both
the industry partners and students. The partners have the
opportunity to build relationships with the students; the students
get to experience the real equipment and see skilled operators run
the machines.
Whitaker explained during the vision trips students see that the
controls on the simulators are the same as the controls on the real
iron. ‒Having the same controls on the simulator as the real
equipment is very important. It makes the learning curve less steep
when they move to the real equipment.–
At the end of the second and third classes in the pathway,
industry partners host students at real jobsites where students
perform their "Capstone Projects." The students' capstone projects
require them to perform the same series of tasks on the real
equipment as they did on the simulators. During the capstones,
seasoned operators observe the students and make sure they adhere
to strict safety guidelines.
"Students are familiar and comfortable with the real machines
because of the time they've spent learning and practicing on the
simulators," said Whitaker. "Transitioning from the simulator to
the real equipment is like putting on a comfortable pair of boots
that you've broken in. You're already familiar and comfortable with
them. The students are able to make an impact in the field on the
real equipment on day one."
Whitaker explained that students who successfully complete the
entire program, their capstone project and receive a favorable
evaluation and recommendation from their CTAE instructor will have
a variety of career opportunities in the horizontal construction
industry from contractors across the state.
"We are thankful for all the support this new pathway has
received," commented Whitaker. "Our intent is to continue to work
with the Georgia General Assembly to budget additional funding so
that more programs can be launched across the state to impact
students while meeting our industry's workforce demand."
About Simformotion™ LLC
Simformotion™ LLC is a leader in heavy equipment simulator
training solutions. Simulation can help address initiatives such as
safety and production; while ensuring training can be delivered
anytime day or night, regardless of weather conditions. Cat
Simulators are chosen as training solutions in such markets as
mining, construction, forestry, government, and trade and
vocational schools. Simformotion™ LLC is a licensee of Caterpillar
Inc. As used herein, ‒Simformotion– means Simformotion™ LLC, a
Delaware limited liability
company.
CAT, CATERPILLAR, LET'S DO THE WORK, their respective logos,
"Caterpillar Yellow," and the "Power Edge" and "Modern Hex" trade
dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are
trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.
www.cat.com / www.caterpillar.com Third party trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
Media Contact
Kim Roberts, Simformotion LLC, 1
3097136577, kroberts@simformotion.com, Simformotion LLC
SOURCE Simformotion LLC