HVAC Learning Platform Honored in Global Competition

HVAC Hero, an adaptive, simulation-based learning platform designed to provide training that expands pathways into the HVAC workforce, was recently named one of the winners of the Tools Competition, the world’s largest educational technology competition.

The Tools Competition is a multi-million dollar funding opportunity for educational technology innovation that leverages digital technology, big data, and learning science to meet the needs of learners. In all, 50 winners from 18 countries will receive more than $8 million in funding to reach an estimated 24 million learners around the globe, according to a press release from the Learning Agency, which administers the competition along with Georgia State University.

HVAC Hero was founded by Nina Chen and Angela Son and is based in California. The team will get $50,000, as a Tools Competition winner, to improve the HVAC Hero platform.

“HVAC Hero’s goal is to enhance the way skilled trades are taught, through customized assessments, learning plans, and learning environments,” said Kent Fischer, director of strategic communications at the Learning Agency. “Their long-term mission is to create pathways to well-paid, dignified jobs in the climate trades for underserved communities across the U.S. HVAC Hero aims to narrow two gaps simultaneously: the skilled trades talent gap, and the income inequality gap.”

“Winning tools stand out in their potential to both transform educational outcomes and build the field of learning engineering,” said Kumar Garg, president at Renaissance Philanthropy and a founding sponsor of the Tools Competition. “They are demonstrating the power of advanced technology to accelerate learning and are working with researchers to scale their impact for the benefit of the field at large.”