Big Ideas comes to CHS
Introduces new MEWP simulator
Big Ideas executive director Deb Loverude stands at the entrance of one of two mobile career exploration labs parked near Cathedral High School, Wednesday. Cathederal students had a chance to work with simulator equipment. Photo by Clay Schuldt
Big Ideas instructor Jared Beranek shows Cathedral Student Jake Nosbush how to operate the new mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) simulator. Nosbush said the MEWP simulator was fun to use, but also very challenging. Photo by Clay Schuldt
A group of Cathedral High School students enter the Big Ideas mobile lab. Big Ideas travels across the country with the mobile labs hopeing to inspire young people to join the trades. Photo by Clay Schuldt
“It is fun and interesting,” Cathedral High School student Garrison Turvold said of the MEWP simulator. Photo by Clay Schuldt
Big Ideas executive director Deb Loverude stands at the entrance of one of two mobile career exploration labs parked near Cathedral High School, Wednesday. Cathederal students had a chance to work with simulator equipment. Photo by Clay Schuldt
Big Ideas instructor Jared Beranek shows Cathedral Student Jake Nosbush how to operate the new mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) simulator. Nosbush said the MEWP simulator was fun to use, but also very challenging. Photo by Clay Schuldt
A group of Cathedral High School students enter the Big Ideas mobile lab. Big Ideas travels across the country with the mobile labs hopeing to inspire young people to join the trades. Photo by Clay Schuldt
“It is fun and interesting,” Cathedral High School student Garrison Turvold said of the MEWP simulator. Photo by Clay Schuldt
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NEW ULM - Cathedral High School student got a chance to try out Big Ideas newest simulator equipment Wednesday.
The Big Ideas mobile career exploration labs were parked in front of the school in the morning for the Marketing and Industrial Art classes.
Every year, Big Ideas has traveled across the country with its trailer full of virtual reality (VR) technology that simulates construction and trade work. Students are able to simulate what its like to operate an excavator or crane. There is also welding simulator and industrial paint simulator.
Big Ideas executive Director Deb Loverude said their latest simulator technology is a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP). The MEWP simulates how to operate in devices similar to a scissor lift or lift basket. The MEWP comes with a VR headset and the user stands on a platform that rocks and shifts to simulate how the platform would move based on the user controls.
Loverude said they only acquired the MEWP two week ago. The Cathedral students are among the first to work with the simulator.
Loverude said the simulator is extremely realistic and serves as a safe method for training in workers. The equipment not only simulates how to perform certain tasks, but provides feedback for the users.
"The MEWP will tell a user if you are working to fast or slow," she said. "At the end it will provide you with a score of how your performed."
The industrial painting simulator also provide financial feedback, providing a cost estimate for the amount of paint used.
The other benefit of the simulator is safety. Loverude said it would not be safe for young people to operate the real-life version of this equipment, but in a simulating setting, it is a the prefect way to train.
In addition to the simulators, Big Ideas instructors were available to provide further feedback. All the instructors have worked in the trade professions.
"The simulators shows how hard it is to use the equipment," Instructor Chris DeVries said. "A lot of the kids are excited to try the simulators, but when they get in they see it really is a challenge."
This is the first time in a few years since the Big Ideas mobile lab has visited CHS, but it was a welcome return.
Principal Erica DeVries said the mobile unit was popular with the students.
"The kids love it," she said. "They get to try out the new technology and also see what's out there in terms of careers."
Loverude said this the overall goal for Big Ideas.
"Our goal is to inspire kids to into the trades," she said.
For years, students were encouraged to go on the four-year college path and many are unaware of the different career paths offered in the trades.
"We want to show them there are options in the trades and one of the best ways to do that is to give them the hands-on experience," Loverude said. "For some, it is their first exposure to the different type of trade work."
Later this month, Big Ideas mobile career exploration labs will travel Mississippi. They have 48 stops scheduled across the state over the next two months.
Loverude said they do travel across the country with the mobile labs, but they generally remain in the Midwest.
One of the mobile labs will be traveling to the Minnesota State Fair on Friday. Big Ideas is sponsoring a Future Farmers of America (FFA) small engine competition. FFA teams from around the state will compete to assemble a small engine the fastest.
Loverude said the competition will take place at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 near the Miracle of Birth Exhibit on the State Fair Grounds.