As America begins to re-open, students and professionals may be eager to get back into classrooms for hands-on training. But in-person educational experiences bring their own challenges—namely, the costs and inconveniences of finding lodging and amenities. AINDT’s new “Digital Interactive Student Housing” seeks to streamline this process, creating an immersive NDT educational facility where students can learn from experts and one another throughout their experience.
AINDT’s Digital Interactive Student Housing, located in Brainerd, Minnesota, is a two-story, 16 000 square foot student housing complex which can house up to 26 students. It is a private campus only for AINDT students that is an 8 min. drive away from the training facility. AINDT CEO Don Booth saw the opportunity to help customers overcome the hurdles of sending personnel to complete their courses. Rather than having to pay high costs for nearby hotel rooms, customers can now package housing with their training costs. Full-time students enrolled in AINDT’s coursework will also have access to the campus.
AINDT’s Digital Interactive Student Housing features remodeled rooms (including desks where students can work, refrigerators, and microwaves), common study areas, a fitness room, and laundry facilities. As Booth describes it, his vision for the campus is to immerse students in the breadth of the NDT industry. The common areas are appointed with artwork depicting the different industries that NDT serves, and an interactive “Hall of History” where students can scan QR codes on portraits of the scientists foundational to the industry to learn more about each scientist’s contributions. Those featured include Marie Curie, Pierre Curie, Wilhelm Roentgen, Ernest Rutherford, James Clerk Maxwell, Michael Faraday, Hans Christian Orsted, Nikola Tesla, and Albert Einstein.
According to Booth, the return on investment for appointing this campus with artwork and digital interactive experiences is the immersive feeling for AINDT’s students.
“We’re trying to create passion and make [the student] feel like ‘wow, I’m really coming to something special here,’” Booth said.
Future plans for the campus include an AINDT study channel available on the TVs in each private room where students can watch quiz reviews of select specific chapters given by subject matter experts. Booth also envisions the campus as an “NDT event center” that can be used for company team-building retreats, where groups can also take advantage of the nearby Brainerd Lakes area.
To learn more about AINDT’s Digital Interactive Student Housing, visit https://www.trainingndt.com/digital-interactive-housing/
Just found this article. I head up in less than a week to complete my training at this facility. I am really looking forward to it now!