Hands-On AR for Future Professionals: How Merge EDU Enhances CTE Programs

There’s a growing demand for innovative tools that help students in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs develop the exposure to, and the knowledge and hands-on skills they’ll need in the workforce. CTE programs cover everything from IT, engineering, healthcare, automotive technology, architecture, and more. By blending engaging augmented reality (AR) experiences with meaningful learning, Merge EDU empowers these programs in ways traditional teaching tools can’t match. Below, we’ll explore why more educators are using Merge EDU to prepare the next generation of skilled professionals.

Bringing Real-World Concepts to Life

In CTE classes, students often grapple with specialized equipment and abstract concepts. Merge EDU bridges the gap between theory and application:

• 3D Visualization of Complex Systems: Whether it’s examining the internal mechanisms of an engine, exploring human anatomy, or previewing architectural designs, Merge EDU allows students to hold and interact with 3D models in real time. Students can rotate, enlarge, and inspect these models from every angle, developing spatial awareness and deeper content mastery.
• Enhanced Engagement: Instead of passively watching demos, students use the Merge Cube to actively hold and interact with digital objects. This kinesthetic, visual, and tactile interaction makes even highly technical or intricate lessons captivating and tangible.

How Augmented Reality Helps Prepare Students for Medical Careers

Merge EDU engages students on multiple levels—cognitive, visual, and tactile—while strengthening their understanding of human anatomy and health concepts.

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Empowering Surgeons with Augmented Reality: Sira Medical’s Breakthrough

By incorporating the Merge Cube into their platform, Sira Medical not only enhances surgical training and patient education because of the hands-on nature of the Merge Cube, but also underscores the potential of AR technology in diverse professional settings.

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Enhancing the Engineering Design Process

Many CTE programs emphasize a cycle of ideation, prototyping, testing, and refinement—often referred to as the engineering design process. Merge EDU accelerates this process:

• Rapid Prototyping with 3D Model Previews: Students who create 3D models (in CAD/Tinkercad or other design software) can view their designs on the Merge Cube before investing time and money in physical prototypes. By spotting design flaws or opportunities for improvement early on, educators and students save resources and streamline the development cycle.
• Real-Time Feedback: Because students can quickly visualize their designs or scanned objects on the Merge Cube, instructors can offer immediate feedback and guidance. This leads to faster iteration, deeper problem-solving skills, and more robust final designs.

Developing Career-Ready Skills

Today’s students need technical literacy that sets them apart in the job market. Merge EDU delivers on that front by:

• Promoting Digital Literacy: As industries increasingly adopt AR and VR technologies, gaining hands-on experience with Merge EDU familiarizes students with advanced digital tools. This exposure builds confidence and helps students see the real-world applications of what they’re learning.
• Encouraging Collaboration: From team-based projects that require designing a new product, to scanning and uploading 3D models, to study groups, Merge EDU invites collaboration amongst students. Students practice communication, delegation, and constructive feedback—vital soft skills for every career pathway.
• Fostering Innovation: Many CTE pathways, including those in healthcare, automotive repair, or advanced manufacturing, thrive on creative, forward-looking solutions. When students can view, manipulate, and inspect 3D models or simulations in augmented reality, it sparks curiosity and an innovative mindset.

Visualize your 3D Print designs with a Merge Cube

The Merge Cube can be used to test and iterate designs in a virtual setting, allowing your students to make changes and improvements before committing to the final design.

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The Crab Nebula on the Merge Cube: A New Way to Explore the Cosmos

Using augmented reality and spectral data, astronomers have reconstructed the three-dimensional structure of the Crab Nebula, giving us a closer look at this celestial wonder.

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Making Learning Accessible

Hands-on engagement and 3D visualization doesn’t have to mean large, expensive equipment that requires a lot of work and time to maintain. 

• Interactive Learning Without Expensive Equipment: Traditional programs can require pricey, specialized tools that schools can’t always afford. Merge EDU offers a cost-effective, portable, and reusable alternative to large-scale equipment. Students can explore everything from the human circulatory system to engines, no matter the size or budget of the lab space.

Inspiring Future-Ready Mindsets

Merge EDU isn’t just about technology proficiency. When learners see they can hold complex 3D concepts in their hands, they’re more open to new ideas and solutions. By cultivating curiosity, resourcefulness, and self-confidence, Merge EDU helps CTE students envision the possibilities that lie ahead in their chosen career pathways.

Ready to Transform Your CTE Classroom?

Whether it’s virtual prototyping for an engineering project or exploring technical concepts in healthcare, Merge EDU brings immersive, future-focused learning to any CTE classroom. 

Interested in learning more? Visit mergeedu.com for details on subscriptions, apps, and resources that will help you bring CTE education to life with hands-on augmented reality. Let’s inspire the next generation of skilled professionals together!