Improving Students’ Learning Outcomes in Safety Education through Interdepartmental Collaboration

It is critical to learn the theory to work safely. However, it is also important to learn how to apply such theories into the workplace. In addition, adults learn best when they are active partners in the learning process. The authors emphasize not to lecture adult learners but rather, get them involved in discussions, problem solving and hands-on activities. To assist this effort, Purdue University Calumet (PUC) has initiated interdepartmental collaboration between Organizational Leadership and Supervision (OLS) and Computer Information Technology and Graphic (CITG) departments to develop simulated virtual environment to enhance hazards identification and mitigation skills in safety related courses. A pilot study was conducted in three sections of Occupation Safety and Health course receiving the same lecture on commonly used equipment in manufacturing industry, “abrasive wheel.” One section received only lecture component; second section received lecture with laboratory exercises; and third section received lecture with developed simulated virtual environment. On average, the students who went through simulated virtual environment attained higher assessment scores compared to the students who went through other two teaching methods: lecture only and lecture with laboratory exercises.