Much elearning that currently is developed and delivered can be quite linear and can encourage content consumption and a ‘passive audience’ frame of mind for the individual.
Why virtual learning and training?
Digital technologies and the convergence of technologies not to mention gaming are redefining how people work, how they consume content, how they create (and co-create) content online, how they learn – and most importantly how they expect to be taught.
Using 3D or virtual environments for learning and training enables:
Creation of interactive and engaging experiences
In virtual environments people can undertake realistic role playing that occurs in a context where there are visual and auditory cues, which assist the desired behaviour to occur. This means that instead of people trying to imagine they are in an emergency situation (for e.g. a building on fire) without any cognitive cues to back this situation up, in a virtual environment they can have a high realistic experience of this emergency situation and in doing so in a safe place practise and consolidate learning on the recommended steps to take and procedures to follow.
Facilitates learning by doing
Virtual learning facilitates multi-sensory learning with the ability to provide highly sensory experiences for users including visual, auditory and tactile.
Replicates ‘real’ world – safely
Virtual learning enables the creation of scenarios that would be impossible or too costly to replicate in the “real” world. It provides a safe environment for people to fail and in doing so to learn from their mistakes.
Reach remote audiences
Virtual learning enables trainers to reach and connect with a dispersed audiences (rural and remote) via multi-user environments.
Improved learning outcomes
Research has showing that feeling “present” in a situation (“feeling that the consequences of actions played in virtual environments and simulations are real” ) as virtual learning can provide, can dramatically improve learning outcomes. (1).
Facilitates co-creation or participatory design
Research has found that virtual learning enables a participatory design approach, which can lead “to a meaningful experience within an authentic virtual training environment”.(2)
Snobal virtual environments can be exported to a range of Learning Management Systems including Saba, SCORM and Tin Can.
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(1) R. Schank, Virtual learning: A revolutionary approach to building a highly skilled workforce, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1997
(2) Lukosch, H.; van Ruijven, T.; Verbraeck, A., “The participatory design of a simulation training game,” Simulation Conference (WSC), Proceedings of the 2012 Winter , vol., no., pp.1,11, 9-12 Dec. 2012 doi: 10.1109/WSC.2012.6465218