Virtual Reality Training

The future of training lies in immersive learning.

People learn best by doing. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote, "The things we must learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them." Since then, he has repeatedly proven that "active learning" helps people learn faster, retain information longer, and fail less often.

Today, virtual environments offer companies worldwide a safe, interactive space for active learning and training. The necessary technology is proven and affordable.

Learners can interact in a virtual 3D environment and learn procedural tasks or simulate interactions almost as naturally as they would at work. This helps people learn faster and remember for longer. Trainers are no longer limited by location (a major advantage during the pandemic), the environment, or risk. Furthermore, people can safely learn from their mistakes.

Thanks to the technology that powers virtual and mixed reality, Aristotle's paradox—the idea that we can only truly learn to do something by actually doing it—has finally become a reality.

The Benefits of Virtual Reality

Building a business case for VR would typically be based on some (or all) of the following benefits, depending on your specific industry and training scenario.

• Saves time: Immersive training experiences help people learn faster. A 2020 study by PwC found that VR learners completed training four times faster than in a classroom and 1.5 times faster than with online training.

• Saves money: Training can be rolled out across multiple locations and, unlike live training, can be easily scaled and repeated. A study on the use of VR for training neonatal intensive care nurses showed a 50% reduction in training costs over three years compared to traditional training.

• Increases engagement: A realistic environment is crucial for soft skills and procedural training. PwC found that learners were 3.75 times more emotionally engaged with training content when it was delivered in a virtual environment.

• Improves retention: When learners are fully engaged, both physically and emotionally, they retain more information for longer. Dr. Narendra Kini of Miami Children’s Health System found that retention rates can reach up to 80% one year after a virtual training session, compared to 20% just one week after classroom training.

• Improves safety: On-site training is challenging for industries where locations can be difficult to access or dangerous. If you are training wind turbine engineers or submarine operators, an immersive virtual environment is a much safer place to learn. Furthermore, people can repeat procedures as often as they like and learn from their mistakes without risk.

• Enhanced analytics: The digital nature of VR training captures data in real time. This can provide trainees with immediate feedback as well as a large-scale impact analysis that quickly proves the results to boards of directors and high-level stakeholders.

The Obstacles to VR Adoption

The possibilities for VR training are vast, and its benefits are proven. However, significant obstacles still exist within organizations that forward-thinking managers and innovators must overcome before widespread adoption is achieved.

Decision-makers in a company are often short on time and risk-averse. Understandably, they may be skeptical of investing in technology historically associated with gaming, which they may then have to defend to the CEO or board.

Trainees themselves may be nervous and similarly skeptical before their first VR training session—although they often become strong advocates immediately afterward.

Conclusion: The Potential of VR Training

Employee learning experiences are crucial for engagement, development, and ultimately, commercial success. VR training has been shown to reduce training time and costs, while improving outcomes across a range of initiatives. Welcome to the future of workplace learning.