XR Opening at WSIB Centre of Excellence (Photo: Benjamin McFadden, XFM News)
Fanshawe College has opened a new extended reality training Centre designed to prepare students for high-stress situations they could encounter in frontline careers, students will use headsets to get a glimpse into pivotal scenarios they will experience in the field.
The Centre of Excellence was announced in partnership with the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) following an investment of $20 million coming from the board as part of a broader initiative which includes London’s Police and Firefighters launched by WSIB. Students using the Centre will utilize headsets to get a glimpse into pivotal scenarios they will experience in the field.
Construction began two years ago after the WSIB announced its partnership with Fanshawe and London’s emergency services.
Located on the college’s main campus, the Centre uses extended reality (XR) technology to simulate high-stress, real-world situations before students encounter them in their careers. The software developed will simulate scenarios about fires, shootings, and emergency room operations.
College officials said the Centre is designed to improve preparedness and support mental health outcomes among future frontline workers. “By using XR technology, we are pushing everything on the cutting edge,” said Pedro Nuez a professor with the Video Game Development program at Fanshawe.
WSIB Centre of Excellence, Respiratory Nursing students training (Photo: Benjamin McFadden, XFM News)
“I’ve always felt drawn toward something that can make actual change for people,” said Yeva Makhankova, a junior technical artist for the XR program, and a graduate of Fanshawe’s Game Development program.
This unique program is offered to the Police and Firefighting Foundations as well as Respiratory Nursing programs and will soon be available to other similar courses provided at Fanshawe.
“PTSD is a real problem, especially in emergency services. It makes life harder for them, their families and even the people they help every day,” said Makhankova. With students seeing these circumstances in a virtual setting, it will prepare them mentally for witnessing them on the job.
As the doors open students and working professionals alike will be able to further train their skills when the time comes to act in the real world.
WSIB Centre of Excellence, respiratory student (Photo: Benjamin McFadden, XFM News)
