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From touchscreen mobile devices to real-world experiences, virtual reality has paved a new way of working and collaborating across the enterprise. Innovation is constant in the e-learning domain, continuously evolving the way services are delivered across the globe.
Using Virtual Reality to Reshape Digital Landscape
In today’s digitized learning environment, virtual reality (VR) is poised to become a significant workplace tool. VR is being deployed to mobilize workforce across diverse industry domains. Companies are increasingly using VR-based solutions to deliver impactful training programs that boost employee productivity and engagement.
Virtual reality is termed as an interactive 3D program in a multimedia environment that delivers an immersion effect for the viewers. It enables human beings to interact in a graphical environment that simulates the real-world situations. The impact of VR is exponentially rising in plethora of industrial domains. Consequently, learners are fully engaged with personalized learning solutions, making the experience more fun.
Impact of Virtual Reality in E-Learning
The first ever virtual reality application introduced, came in the form of a head-mounted device to serve custom purposes. However, it was not accessible by common man, until recently with the availability of VR headsets including HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and more. These are easy to embed with smartphones or any other mobile device, thereby enabling learning on the go. Discussed below are some of the scenarios where VR is implemented wit e-courseware:
- VR is used to train employees who are involved in challenging tasks. For example, medical simulations offer ample potential benefits for practical training ensuring safer patient care. This helps mitigating risks involved, thereby reducing costs related to infrastructure and trainers.
- If learners are not aware of immersion level of VR, then training can be great fun for them. It is highly adapted in modern learning environment where 3D effects and high engagement level is involved. For example, short nuggets of video-based content is converted to VR-supported format, encouraging learners to access more courses.
- The increasing use of VR gadgets provides a completely new and engaging learning experience. It helps bridging the skills gap and improving competency to deal with hazardous wastes at accident-prone construction sites, avoiding further inconvenience.
Why Is Virtual Reality Essential for Corporate Training?
Now we know what VR is, let us discuss its ample benefits that can be applied to any organization in any sector:
1. Realistic learning environment
Traditional training programs were organized in a classroom or in front of a computer screen. This type of learning might convey the right information, but could not create a realistic experience. Here comes the significance of Virtual Reality, using which employees are able to experience a simulation of real-life workplace challenges and understand how to tackle them.
2. Boosts engagement
The idea to impart training using written materials or PPTs has become monotonous. VR captivates learners’ attention and delivers any message in a powerful way. As a result, learners interact more during the training session, resulting in more knowledge retention with improved workplace efficiency, for long and short term.
3. Increases collaboration
Why should training give you a solo experience? Most of the training programs are provided via videos, slideshows or reading formats. While these provide relevant information, but are not easy to retain. VR based training helps provide an experience that is tailored to individual learning needs. For instance, a new joined won’t feel isolated when working in the organization for the first time.
4. Data analytics
Traditional training programs do not provide real data such as on, completing a written document or PPT slide. VR programs track how long a learner took to complete a task, actions they choose for simulations and if he/she was able to accomplish the goal. All this analytical data allows Human Resources department and supervisors to analyze learners’ performance and improve their knowledge competency.
While only few Learning & Development organizations embed virtual reality in e-learning, technology in yet to redefine innovation. We discussed several advantages of VR in modern learning environments and how it can help taking e-learning applications to the next level. VR provides an imperative learning experience which improves learners’ interest by providing a certain degree of reality which cannot be achieved through 2D interfaces.
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