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The loss of hands-on training in trade schools worries me
Apprenticeships were all about getting your hands dirty. Now, too much focus is on computer sims. How do we make sure new mechanics get real experience?
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cora3657mo ago
My buddy's shop uses VR to train on rare engines, and @the_amy's rusted bolt problem is exactly what it fixes.
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the_amy7mo ago
I mean, I tried learning car stuff from a sim once and ended up trying to 'ctrl+z' a real oil change. So yeah, I see your point. Sims are great for theory, but they don't teach you the feel of a wrench or the smell of burnt coolant. You need that muscle memory from actually doing the job. Schools should balance sims with live projects on old engines. Let students make mistakes on beaters, not just perfect digital models. Otherwise, we'll have a generation of mechanics who can debug a virtual car but panic when a real bolt is rusted shut.
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lisayoung7mo ago
Ever try to learn how to swim from a video game? Sims are a safe start, but you can't replace the real mess and stress of a hands-on job. We're gonna have techs who know every error code but freeze up when a real hose bursts.
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