In a world gone virtual with the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, Plano-headquartered Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) is ramping up its support for e-learning.
TMNA has launched a new online education hub equipped with immersive experiences. It offers the chance to explore TMNA’s manufacturing facilities, learn from a series of free STEM-based curriculum through Toyota USA Foundation partners, and go on virtual field trips.
Visitors to the virtual experience can learn everything from how a Toyota vehicle is designed to what it’s like working in a modern manufacturing environment. There’s an opportunity to go inside Toyota’s vehicle plants to learn how models are made and unit plants responsible for producing cylinder heads, engines, transmissions, and more.
The intent is to inspire the exploration of careers in advanced manufacturing—and at Toyota.
According to Chris Reynolds, TMNA chief administrative officer, Manufacturing and Corporate Resources, the goal with the hub is to inspire many to “get really excited about a career in STEM.” That includes those groups who are often underrepresented in STEM fields or live in communities where job opportunities are needed.
But the virtual lessons are rich with the science behind some of Toyota’s core philosophies that, according to the company, go beyond just building cars and trucks. While the virtual hub is a “digital window” into the vast world of Toyota, it’s also a way to see what—like Continuous Improvement and Respect for People—guides the company.
READ NEXT First Look: Take a Photo Tour of the Toyota Experience Center
For instance: inside the hub, you can go behind-the-scenes at Toyota’s R&D Center in Ann Arbor or dive into the Toyota Research Institute to discover how the company is harnessing the power of AI to build the future of mobility.
“At Toyota, we believe in the importance of high-quality and accessible education,” Mike Goss, president of the Toyota USA Foundation, said in a statement. “As educators face new challenges during this unique time, we hope these virtual experiences and free resources will provide students, teachers, parents, and life long-learners alike, with engaging content that will help bring learning to life.”
All educational resources are available at no cost here.
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