Episode 288: Standardizing Immersive Learning for the Fire Service with Dr. Kate Kapalo

Episode • Sep 2 • 19m

What is the future of fire service training?

Hello Smart Firefighting Community!

Welcome to another episode of covering real world innovations via interviews with fire service and technology industry experts that empower YOU to develop your very own Smart Firefighting strategy!

In this episode:

What must immersive learning focus on for greater impact?
What tools help fire instructors measure performance consistently?
Why there’s a need for stronger collaboration between the fire service, industry, and academia

Hear from Dr. Kate Kapalo - a Course Instructor & Instructional Designer for the U.S. Fire Administration, and a Principal Investigator & Adjunct Professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology.

Kate shares her research and perspective on how immersive technologies like VR and simulation can transform fire service training. She highlights the need for standardized rubrics, national alignment, and stronger collaboration between industry and the fire service to ensure training delivers measurable outcomes.

Kate also emphasizes the importance of situational awareness, communication, and building infrastructure to make immersive learning sustainable. This conversation explores how rigorous research can move from academia into practical, real-world training that prepares firefighters for an all-hazards environment.

So take a listen to hear what she has to share!

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