Interplay Learning: A Comprehensive Review of the SkillMill Platform

Interplay Learning's SkillMill is an online, on-demand learning platform designed for the skilled trades. It delivers an ever-expanding catalog of courses in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, facilities maintenance, and solar. The platform is designed to develop teams at all skill levels, providing a detailed, at-a-glance view into a technician's progress and field-readiness.

Overview of Interplay Learning

Interplay Learning is an on-demand learning management system (LMS) that provides online training courses and VR and AR training modules, allowing users to practice their skills in a simulated environment. The platform includes progress tracking, assessments, and certification, aiming to provide an engaging and immersive learning experience that helps users develop job skills.

The platform distinguishes itself through its Command Center feature, a customizable dashboard created to assess, manage, and train a workforce in one place. This allows businesses to gain insight and send the right people on the job using measurable data. Interplay Learning provides expert, current, and always-on training for anywhere, anytime skill development, making it a scalable solution for businesses of all sizes. It offers an immersive, fun, and safe environment that keeps learners interested and improving.

Key Features and Benefits

Comprehensive Course Catalog: Interplay Learning provides a comprehensive course catalog across various industries, making skill development seamless and efficient.
3D Simulations and VR Technology: With state-of-the-art 3D simulations and VR technology, it offers an immersive learning experience that prepares users for real-world scenarios. This immersive learning environment sets it apart from competitors, allowing users to practice hands-on skills on life-like equipment.
Command Center: A customizable dashboard designed to assess, manage, and train a workforce in one place.
Progress Tracking and Assessments: The platform includes progress tracking, assessments, and certification to ensure understanding of the material.
Mobile Accessibility: The software supports mobile devices, allowing for anytime, anywhere learning.
API Availability: Interplay Learning has an API available for use.

Who is Interplay Learning For?

Interplay Learning is designed for a wide range of users in the skilled trades industry. It caters to small, medium, and large businesses, as well as educational institutions and workforce development organizations. It caters to various industries, including:

HVAC
Solar
Plumbing
Electrical
Multi-family Maintenance
Facilities Maintenance

Pricing Plans

Interplay Learning offers several pricing plans tailored to different needs:

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Individual (Solo) Plan: \$54/user/month (billed monthly). This plan is designed for learners who want to train individually. It includes access to the full SkillMill catalog of over 300 hours of content, certificates of completion, and a results tracker. A 2-week free trial is also available.
Team Plan: This plan is designed for managers, technicians, and staff who want a platform for building skills together. 5 licenses are included in the starter pack. It includes access to the full content catalog with over 300 hours of material, Command Center access for custom learning paths, analytics, and reports, industry-specific learning paths, certificates of completion, CEU eligibility, EPA 608 and OSHA 10 packages available for purchase, skills assessments, virtual onboarding, and 24/7 technical support (with upgrade opportunities). Contact the sales team for a quote.
Custom (Enterprise) Plan: This plan is designed for enterprises and organizations looking for a tailored solution. Please contact Interplay Learning for a tailored pricing list.

Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.

How Interplay Learning Works

To get started with Interplay Learning:

Log in to Interplay Learning with your credentials.
Navigate to the dashboard, which provides an overview of your progress and courses.
Access the comprehensive course catalog to select a course in your industry.
Start a course and progress through the module.
Engage with 3D simulations and VR experiences for hands-on learning.
Complete knowledge checks and assessments to ensure understanding of the material.
Track your progress and skill development over time.
Earn certificates of completion and CEUs for completed courses.

Customer Service and Support

Interplay Learning's customer service group is highly responsive. The platform also offers virtual onboarding and 24/7 technical support with upgrade opportunities for team plans.

Integrations

The vendor has not disclosed its third-party integrations.

Success Stories and Partnerships

Interplay Learning has several success stories and partnerships that highlight its impact on the skilled trades industry:

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Temperature Control Institute (TCI): TCI, a skilled trades education program in Memphis, relies on Interplay Learning’s immersive training programs to help underemployed youth prepare for rewarding careers.
Warren Central High School: Interplay Learning enhances the career technical educational program at Warren Central High School in Vicksburg, Mississippi, helping fast-track students’ hands-on introduction to career pathways in the construction industry.
Southern Home Services Corporation: Southern Home Services Corporation, a leading residential home services provider, selected Interplay Learning as the exclusive content engine for technical training across the company’s growing network of more than 750 technicians.
DOL Apprenticeship Program: Participating in Interplay Learning’s DOL Apprenticeship Program allows companies to implement award-winning digital training that pairs on-the-job learning with immersive 3D simulations and video courses.

Recent Developments and Innovations

Interplay Learning continues to innovate and expand its offerings. Recent developments include:

Skill Advisor and Mentor (SAM): In June, Interplay’s Intelligence Lab introduced Skill Advisor and Mentor (SAM), the industry’s first AI-powered mentor for learning and skill development. SAM has been named the winner of the 2024 AHR Innovation Award for software.
Expanded Safety Training: Interplay Learning also expanded its leading selection of safety training in 2023, including new OSHA training offerings and an innovative driving safety program designed to protect workers and minimize risk on the job.

Addressing the Skills Gap

Interplay Learning helps bridge the skills gap faster by providing immersive, always-on training that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. This allows for continuous skill development, making workers job ready faster. The platform contributes to trades career success by offering a comprehensive trades training program. It provides immersive training and helps workers become job ready faster, leading to successful outcomes in their trades careers.

Immersive training, like the one offered by Interplay Learning, is crucial for trades training programs as it provides a realistic, hands-on learning experience. This helps workers become job ready faster and prepares them for widely recognized certification exams.

Potential Areas for Improvement

While Interplay Learning offers numerous benefits, some users have noted areas for improvement:

Graphical Awkwardness and User-Friendliness: Some users find the training sessions graphically awkward and user-unfriendly, noting that it can be frustrating to follow the exact step-by-step process to complete simple tasks.
Reporting Capabilities and Catalog Filtering: There is some room for improvement in the reporting capabilities and the filtering of the catalog courses for a desired outcome.

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