Would-be Plumbers are Being Offered a Revolutionary New Way to Train, on a Blended Learning Course From Train4Trade Skills That Uses Games Technology to Create a Virtual Reality House, in Which the Plumbing Students can Practice Their Skills at no Risk to Themselves or to the Public

The graphics and games technology used in today’s most advanced computer games is being used by trade skills training specialist, Train4Trade Skills, to train plumbers as part of a ’blended learning’ process that combines PC study with practical workshops and written theory.

By simulating typical plumbing scenarios on screen, such as burst pipes, overflowing water tanks and leaking radiators, Train4Trade Skills’ revolutionary new plumbing course enables students to study in a safe environment, without getting under the feet of a plumber or causing costly mistakes.

Majid Al-Kader from Skills2Learn, who applied the ’serious games’ technology to create a virtual house for on-screen exercises within the plumbing courses, said:

"Everyone has seen or played a computer game and we’re all very familiar with the technology. Using it to practice a skill, such as how to diagnose and remedy a burst pipe, helps endorse what has been learnt during the written, theory part of the course."

"By the time a student comes to actually repeat that skill for real, he will be very competent and far less likely to make mistakes."

Mike Head, marketing manager for Train4Trade Skills said,

"The ’virtual house’ is an important part of our blended learning plumbing course and has been enormously successful in helping students by giving them excellent visual recall of the steps necessary for the skill they are about to undertake."

"Train4Trade Skills is unique in offering virtual reality training on a plumbing course and this is a learning technique that students would never be able to experience on a traditional apprenticeship scheme."

For details of Train4Trade Skills’ plumbing courses visit http://www.train4tradeskills.com or by calling +44(0)845-055-1009