Career and technical education (CTE) is a fundamental part of the high school experience, and with many businesses struggling to find skilled workers with the proficiencies needed for success, CTE is more important now than ever.
Among the topics that fall under the broad umbrella of CTE, robotics is at the forefront of some of the fastest-growing industry careers today. As businesses look for ways to boost productivity and remain competitive, the global market for industrial automation and control systems is expected to grow by more than 10 percent annually, reaching nearly $380 billion by 2030. With technology rapidly transforming industries such as manufacturing and logistics, businesses need graduates who are skilled in programming and operating industrial robotics equipment. Robotics and automation is penetrating much wider applications like retail, hospitality and healthcare. The need for skilled technicians will grow as these implementations do.
Yet, many barriers stand in the way of providing high-quality CTE instruction to students. The cost of the equipment needed to give students hands-on experience with the type of robotics devices and controllers used in manufacturing, logistics, and other modern industrial settings can be prohibitive for many schools, as this technology can cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars to purchase and implement.
In fact, a survey of school districts from the U.S. Department of Education found that the top barrier to offering CTE instruction in high school was a lack of funding, coupled with the high cost of specialized equipment.
What’s more, finding qualified teachers can also be challenging. School districts are competing with the private sector to hire instructors with industrial robotics experience, and these private-sector jobs often pay better. Not surprisingly, hiring qualified CTE instructors is harder than filling other teacher vacancies, Education Week reports. The publication notes that 28 states reported CTE teacher shortages during the 2023-24 school year.
These barriers raise equity concerns and can worsen the divide that already exists between schools in wealthier communities and those with access to fewer resources.
However, there is a solution available. Online training and simulation programs can help close this divide, allowing high schools to bring valuable CTE instruction to students at scale regardless of their budgets or limited resources. Three-dimensional simulations using realistic virtual robots are bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills, making it possible for students to achieve hands-on experience without investing in costly lab space or equipment.
An example is RoboX, an online training solution that uses 3D simulation in conjunction with engaging curricula to introduce students to industrial robotics and automation. This web-based system can be accessed from any browser in the classroom, in the lab, or from home to advance CTE classes to a broad audience.
The application includes gamified, realistic simulation and control of robotic arms and peripherals within a virtual 3D environment, providing a thorough learning experience for students. Of course, the virtual training can be paired in a lab with real robots if they are available so students can move to the next phase of hands on labs and credentialling.
Importantly, the solution is academically grounded with the program’s “Fundamentals of Robotics” curriculum, enabling students to gain valuable skills and experience in robotic operations and programming through the instruction and advanced simulation. This module gives students the knowledge they need to operate, maintain, program, and test robotic systems. Using the simulation, students learn how to perform skills such as manipulating a robotic arm, creating basic motion programs, resolving errors, and defining coordinate systems.
Building on the lessons learned in the first module, “Advanced Robotics” will explore more advanced robotic programming.
RoboX is a cost-effective way to introduce an advanced industrial training pathway for high school students without requiring lab space or costly equipment.
“This is a breakthrough for schools that want to teach industrial robotics,” says Jeff Hapgood, vice president and general manager at Technology Education Concepts Inc. of New Hampshire. “Until now, budgets, lab space, and having qualified instructors have been huge barriers to entry for high schools that want to introduce industrial robotics training. This solution will enable schools to offer robotics instruction to many more students without any space or cost limitations.”
As CTE instruction in rapidly growing industries becomes more critical, the traditional challenges to offering programs in costly and hard-to-staff pathways no longer have to stand in the way. Advanced online simulations make it possible for students from any high school or geographic area to get the hands-on training they need for success in burgeoning fields like industrial robotics—bringing equity to CTE instruction and creating many more opportunities for students.
Graham Celine is the Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for Intelitek.
