Solutions
Solutions for
K-12
K-12
Learn MoreEducator & Staff Training
Educator & Staff Training
Improve compliance and deliver critical professional development with online courses and management system
Learn moreStudent Safety & Wellness Program NEW
Student Safety & Wellness Program
Keep students safe and healthy with safety, well-being, and social and emotional learning courses and lessons
Learn moreProfessional Growth Management
Professional Growth Management
Integrated software to manage and track evaluations and professional development and deliver online training
Learn moreAnonymous Reporting & Safety Communications
Anonymous Reporting & Safety Communications
Empower your school community to ask for help to improve school safety and prevent crises before they occur
Learn moreIncident & EHS Management
Incident & EHS Management
Streamline safety incident reporting and management to improve safety, reduce risk, and increase compliance
Learn moreHigher Education
Higher Education
Learn MoreStudent Training
Student Training
Increase safety, well-being, and belonging with proven-effective training on critical prevention topics
Learn moreFaculty & Staff Training
Faculty & Staff Training
Create a safe, healthy, and welcoming campus environment and improve compliance with online training courses
Learn moreCampus Climate Surveys
Campus Climate Surveys
Simplify VAWA compliance with easy, scalable survey deployment, tracking, and reporting
Learn moreAnonymous Reporting & Safety Communications
Anonymous Reporting & Safety Communications
Empower your faculty, staff, and students to take an active role in protecting themselves and others
Learn moreIncident & EHS Management
Incident & EHS Management
Streamline safety incident reporting and management to improve safety, reduce risk, and increase compliance
Learn moreManufacturing
Manufacturing
Learn MoreSafety Training NEW
Safety Training
Elevate performance and productivity while reducing risk across your entire organization with online training.
Learn moreIndustrial Skills Training NEW
Industrial Skills Training
Close skills gap, maximize production, and drive consistency with online training
Learn morePaper Manufactuing Training
Paper Manufactuing Training
Enhance worker expertise and problem-solving skills while ensuring optimal production efficiency.
Learn moreHR & Compliance
Provide role-specific knowledge, develop skills, and improve employee retention with career development training.
Learning Management System (LMS)
Learning Management System (LMS)
Assign, track, and report role-based skills and compliance training for the entire workforce
Learn moreEHS Management
EHS Management
Track, Analyze, Report Health and Safety Activities and Data for the Industrial Workforce
Learn moreSafety Communication
Safety Communication
Enhance the safety for the industrial workforce with two-way risk communications, tools, and resources
Learn moreFire Departments
Fire Departments
Learn MoreTraining Management
Training Management
A training management system tailored for the fire service--track all training, EMS recerts, skill evaluations, ISO, and more in one place
Learn moreCrew Shift Scheduling
Crew Shift Scheduling
Simplify 24/7 staffing and give firefighters the convenience of accepting callbacks and shifts from a mobile device
Learn moreChecks & Inventory Management
Checks & Inventory Management
Streamline truck checks, PPE inspections, controlled substance tracking, and equipment maintenance with a convenient mobile app
Learn moreExposure and Critical Incident Monitoring NEW
Exposure and Critical Incident Monitoring
Document exposures and critical incidents and protect your personnels’ mental and physical wellness
Learn moreEMS
EMS
Learn MoreTraining Management and Recertification
Training Management and Recertification
A training management system tailored for EMS services—EMS online courses for recerts, mobile-enabled skill evaluations, and more
Learn moreEMS Shift Scheduling
EMS Shift Scheduling
Simplify 24/7 staffing and give medics the convenience of managing their schedules from a mobile device
Learn moreInventory Management
Inventory Management
Streamline vehicle checks, controlled substance tracking, and equipment maintenance with a convenient mobile app
Learn moreWellness Monitoring & Exposure Tracking NEW
Wellness Monitoring & Exposure Tracking
Document exposures and critical incidents and protect your personnels’ mental and physical wellness
Learn moreLaw Enforcement
Law Enforcement
Learn MoreTraining and FTO Management
Training and FTO Management
Increase performance, reduce risk, and ensure compliance with a training management system tailored for your FTO/PTO and in-service training
Learn moreEarly Intervention & Performance Management
Early Intervention & Performance Management
Equip leaders with a tool for performance management and early intervention that helps build positive agency culture
Learn moreOfficer Shift Scheduling
Officer Shift Scheduling
Simplify 24/7 staffing and give officers the convenience of managing their schedules from a mobile device
Learn moreAsset Mangagement & Inspections
Asset Mangagement & Inspections
Streamline equipment checks and vehicle maintenance to ensure everything is working correctly and serviced regularly
Learn moreEnergy
Learn MoreSafety Training
Safety Training
Elevate performance and productivity while reducing risk across your entire organization with online training.
Learn moreEnergy Skills Training
Energy Skills Training
Empower your team with skills and safety training to ensure compliance and continuous advancement.
Learn moreHR & Compliance
Provide role-specific knowledge, develop skills, and improve employee retention with career development training.
Learning Management System (LMS)
Learning Management System (LMS)
Assign, track, and report role-based skills and compliance training for the entire workforce
Learn moreEHS Management
EHS Management
Track, analyze, report health and safety activities and data for the industrial workforce
Learn moreLone Worker Safety
Lone Worker Safety
Enhance lone worker safety with two way risk communications, tools, and resources
Learn moreGovernment
Learn MoreFederal Training Management
Federal Training Management
Lower training costs and increase readiness with a unified system designed for high-risk, complex training and compliance operations.
Learn moreMilitary Training Management
Military Training Management
Increase mission-readiness and operational efficiency with a unified system that optimizes military training and certification operations.
Learn moreLocal Government Training Management
Local Government Training Management
Technology to train, prepare, and retain your people
Learn moreFire Marshall Training & Compliance
Fire Marshall Training & Compliance
Improve fire service certification and renewal operations to ensure compliance and a get a comprehensive single source of truth.
Learn moreFire Academy Automation
Fire Academy Automation
Elevate fire academy training with automation software, enhancing efficiency and compliance.
Learn morePOST Training & Compliance
POST Training & Compliance
Streamline your training and standards operations to ensure compliance and put an end to siloed data.
Learn moreLaw Enforcement Academy Automation
Law Enforcement Academy Automation
Modernize law enforcement training with automation software that optimizing processes and centralizes academy information in one system.
Learn moreEHS Management
EHS Management
Simplify incident reporting to OSHA and reduce risk with detailed investigation management.
Learn moreArchitecture, Engineering & Construction
Architecture, Engineering & Construction
Learn MoreLearning Management System (LMS)
Learning Management System (LMS)
Ensure licensed professionals receive compliance and CE training via online courses and learning management.
Learn moreOnline Continuing Education
Online Continuing Education
Keep AEC staff licensed in all 50 states for 100+ certifications with online training
Learn moreTraining
Training
Drive organizational success with training that grows skills and aligns with the latest codes and standards
Learn moreEHS Management
EHS Management
Track, Analyze, Report Health and Safety Activities and Data for AEC Worksites
Learn moreHR & Compliance
HR & Compliance
Provide role-specific knowledge, develop skills, and improve employee retention with career development training.
Safety Communication
Safety Communication
Enhance AEC workforce safety with two-way risk communications, tools, and resources
Learn moreCasino
Casino
Learn MoreAnti-Money Laundering Training
Anti-Money Laundering Training
Reduce risk in casino operations with Title 31 and Anti-Money Laundering training compliance
Learn moreEmployee Training
Employee Training
Deliver our leading AML and casino-specific online courses to stay compliant with national and state standards
Learn moreLearning Management System (LMS)
Learning Management System (LMS)
Streamline training operations, increase employee effectiveness, and reduce liability with our LMS for casinos
Learn moreEHS Management
EHS Management
Simplify incident reporting to OSHA and reduce risk with detailed investigation management
Learn moreEmployee Scheduling
Employee Scheduling
Equip your employees with a mobile app to manage their schedules and simplify your 24/7 staff scheduling
Learn moreIndustries
Industry
Resources
Resource Center
Expert insights to boost training
Resource type
Course Catalogs
Company
Course Center
Last month, we excitedly shared on our social media channels our support and sponsorship of Union High School’s Geared Reaction robotics team in their quest to win big at the 2019 FIRST Championship, the world’s largest celebration of STEM for students who participate in K-12 robotics programs.
Based in Camas, Washington, Geared Reaction was introduced to the Vector Solutions family through our Convergence Training team, and quickly impressed everyone with their creations, competitive spirit, and … tons of awards. It was amazing to see the students using many of the same techniques found in Vector products – programming, 3D modeling, video compositing and more.
While the team had a very strong showing at Worlds, they narrowly missed advancing to the finals and finished in a very impressive 15th place in a division of 80 teams. We loved following them on their journey to Worlds, and can’t wait to continue building our relationship with them and see what they have in store for us next year.
But, more important, our partnership with Geared Reaction has demonstrated the need for STEM in education and the impact that STEM activities, including robotics, has on students.
According to the Pew Research Center, employment in STEM-related occupations has grown 79% over the last 20 years, outpacing overall U.S. job growth. Not only does STEM education in schools lead to increased job opportunities and higher incomes, but it also helps bridge the gender, ethnic, and socioeconomic gaps often found in science and math fields. Additionally, it builds confidence, drives creativity, and strengthens social and leadership skills in students, giving them the tools they need to be successful inside and outside of the classroom.
In between their trip to Worlds and studying for finals, the Geared Reaction team took some time to share with us what they’ve learned and experienced from their robotics work, as well as their career interests and their advice for robotics newcomers.
Jordan, Reporter & Senior Programmer: My family has several engineers of various fields from biomechanics to architecture. In addition to the inspiration provided by them, I began teaching myself basic Java and Javascript through middle school. This evolved into my interest of applying for the programming team.
Sam, Freshman: I enjoy problem solving and mathematics, so robotics was the perfect fit for me.
Amy, Outreach Captain: For me, it was a combination of different interests coming together leading up to something that would hopefully encompass it all. It initially started off with an interest in advancing my programming abilities since I kept starting, but not actually following through with building my skills. I thought that robotics would force me to finally advance. I was also interested in arts, and robotics surprisingly gave me the outlet of combining both STEM and graphic arts together.
Jasmine, Secretary: I heard about robotics in middle school, and it seemed like such a cool place to meet people with the same passion and interests! It also was a personal journey, in that I was shy and not sociable, and robotics provided me with a place to grow. The exposure to leadership and public speaking really helped me to overcome my fears. And, I was swayed by the artistic and creative opportunities offered to me. I don’t regret joining one bit.
Jordan, Reporter & Senior Programmer: As our world transforms in respect to technology, it is imperative that students develop a rudimentary understanding of these advances. After all, the technology of today will shape the world of tomorrow, and excelling early on in the STEM field increases your opportunities to be at the forefront later on.
Kyler, President & Build Captain: Learning robotics is important and beneficial in so many ways. For one, if you have technological aspirations for a career, from computer science to mechanical engineering, robotics is by far the best program to set you up for any of those fields. More important, in my opinion, robotics teaches you some of the most valuable skills including collaboration and self-initiative. In robotics, it is an absolute must for students to work together as all great innovations, developments, and progress come from teams, not single creators.
Additionally, you learn how to discover and learn, especially how to teach yourself, as there are endless opportunities to grow your individual skills. Last, robotics offers leadership opportunities that I believe are greater than other programs. Our program runs like a business and gives you insight into the corporate environment before you even graduate. All of these elements will help you in college, your career, and life in general.
Nene, Freshman: By being a member of Geared Reaction, I have learned that even if you feel like you have no special qualities or talents, there is always something that only you could do for the team, and that there is indeed something special about you that sets you apart from anyone else.
Jasmine, Secretary: Robotics is important due to the infinite opportunities offered. While it has shaped our world in terms of technological advancements, efficiency, exploration, and so much more, it ties in at the local community level. Kids today are able to explore their passion for invention and experiment in technology. The world has really opened up, and it has provided countless engineering, programming, and bonding opportunities.
The sense of connection I see among our team, of people from all different walks of life, all brought together with the opportunity to explore their passions – it really has made a huge impact.
Kyler, President & Build Captain: Robotics already has changed our world. The technology we take for granted like cell phones and cars are made possible by robotics being able to machine and craft products at insane levels of precision and consistency. Robotic prosthetics are giving new opportunities to people with disabilities, AI is leading to new medical discoveries daily, and so much more.
Kyler, President and Build Captain: A good FTC [First Tech Challenge] robot is made up of many things, but ultimately depends on the challenge each year. In order to be competitive at the higher levels of robotics competitions, the robot must achieve all parts of an acronym I like to refer to as FAR.
The first part is fast: the robot must be able to perform the desired pieces of the challenge, but also perform quickly. At a certain point, every strong FTC robot can complete the game, so speed will be the determinant in the match.
The second part is accurate: each year, there are game elements that require extreme precision where the robot must be very accurate in its movements and able to do again and again.
This leads to the third piece of a good robot, reliability: arguably the most important of the three, it doesn’t matter how good you are or were at one point if the robot isn’t consistent and reliable every match. As such, these three components are generally present in every top scoring robot in the FIRST Tech Challenge.
Sam, Freshman: 3D printing, especially with nylon, metals, and other strong materials.
Parker, Vice President: Innovations in space exploration, such as sustainable colonization, jet propulsion, and rovers.
Rashad, Junior: I would recommend a student to join their local FIRST team, or if they don’t have one, try to make one. It’s a great way to make friends and build your skills! For adults, you can also be a part of FIRST by mentoring or coaching.
Spencer, Sophomore: Don’t be afraid to speak out about your ideas to the group. When people vocalize their ideas and communicate with the group, new concepts and designs can come out of it. Another important piece of advice is to make sure you plan out how are you going to make your concept come to life.
Kyler, President & Build Captain: This is a big one for me. I could easily write a 20-page paper for this as I am always thinking years ahead of where I am. The gist, however, is to graduate with a masters in mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as a minor in business. Then, I plan to start out as an engineer for a company where I can learn more about the day-to-day operations of innovative companies.
However, my dream is to follow in my father’s entrepreneurial footsteps and start my own engineering firm to innovate solutions to better the lives of all.