An update to yesterday’s post on Virtual Work Experience…

The group of fourth years at Queen Anne High School who piloted the Virtual Work Experience programme gave the 3-D simulations rave reviews.

These students had already completed their work experience and found the programme would have been extremely helpful to them before entering the world of work, said Shona Cochrane, principal teacher of Guidance at Queen Anne.

“It can be daunting going into a new environment. Some students find it almost terrifying,” Cochrane said.

Virtual Work Experience allows students to see what they can expect on their work placement – from the receptionist standing and greeting them when they arrive, to chatting with colleagues in the kitchen.

“It is an ideal opportunity to learn about social interactions,” Cochrane said.

While originally designed for students in remote locations unable to participate in a work experience, the programme can be used to teach all students about professionalism and employability skills, Cochrane said.

Students take a preparatory class before going on their work experience. They will be able to use the simulations in this class as another way to learn about working environments. If a student is unsure what type of placement they would like, they can test different settings virtually. Computer games are an effective teaching tool because it makes the material tangible to a wide array of learners – visual, audio and kinaesthetic – Cochrane said.

“We need to make our resources stimulating and varied,” Cochrane said. “Kids love going on the computers – it’s an area where they feel comfortable.”

But the benefits of Virtual Work Experience don’t stop there.

After testing the programme, students gave their feedback and suggestions to the designers and were “astounded” when they saw that their opinions were incorporated into the newest edition, Cochrane said. Seven students accompanied Scottish deputy first minister Nicol Stephen to the launch event last week.

“I can almost see them grown taller,” Cochrane said.