Tulsa Welding School Develops Virtual Reality Program For Students

The Tulsa Welding School has developed a new virtual reality tool for students they believe could change the industry.

A big part of trade school programs like the one at the Tulsa Welding School is practicing with the tools - getting hands-on experience.

In every class before this that all had to be done at the school's facilities, until now.

The Tulsa Welding School announced its next big teaching tool they call OcuWeld - a virtual reality program that teaches welding.

Director of Training Chris Schuler helped develop the program from the ground up.

"We're super proud of it," he said. "The material that we use, the equipment that we use, the machines, a lot of them don't have this at home. So they've got the Oculus at home, they can practice the same setup that we're doing here in a virtual world at home on their time, anywhere they want to."

The program is meant to supplement what students learn at the school's welding stations.

Different welds call for different patterns and techniques - both require repetition and muscle memory that the program helps build.

Virtual learning and online courses have become increasingly common.

But the trades - like welding - are hard to replicate digitally... Schuler says OcuWeld could change that.

"Think it's going to move the industry places it's never been before," Schuler said.

Starting in January, an Oculus headset with this program installed will be part of students' take-home kit.