Brittany
As kids, most of us had more fun during practical classes than in theoretical ones. Practical classes allowed us to get our hands dirty and totally immerse in the learning process. As adults, not much has changed when it comes to learning. Individuals always prefer hands-on practical learning experiences compared to theoretical knowledge.
This is the reason why immersive learning has emerged at the forefront of corporate learning programs. Immersive learning allows employees to get all involved in the learning process and learn a new concept in a “close to real” environment. If you are looking to create an immersive learning resource for your employees, this article is here to guide you. The article will help you understand what immersive learning definition is and how you can create learning resources that will help your employees upskill themselves.
What is Immersive Learning?
Most individuals will agree that it is difficult for them to relate to a situation in real life if they don’t experience it. Immersive learning is based on this principle and offers experiential learning to employees, allowing them to get fully involved in the learning process. Numerous technologies, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, are used to provide the employee with a close-to-real experience but in a controlled environment.
If you have ever been to a gaming parlor in a big shopping mall, you must have seen the VR gear that allows the player to indulge in a world of fantasy and sci-fi. The idea of immersive learning is the same. The only difference is that it aims to provide employees with the knowledge and experience they require to perform their jobs efficiently.
Immersive learning is an advanced learning technology that combines spatial design, data science, and artificial intelligence to provide employees with learning resources that allow them to experience on-the-job situations in a controlled environment.
How To Create Successful Immersive Learning Experiences?
The reason why immersive learning is being so widely accepted as one of the most popular methods of learning is because it makes the employees feel they are “there.” For instance, if a medical institution plans on providing practical knowledge about how a surgical procedure must be performed, it can use immersive learning. This technology will allow the medical professional to perform the surgery in a controlled environment without putting the well-being of the patient at risk.
Immersive learning is very crucial in almost every industry that involves high risk. Here is how you can create a successful immersive learning experience:
Introducing Effective Virtual Reality to the Learners
Virtual reality in immersive learning is more than just putting on the VR headset. Although the VR headset does play a significant role, the employee needs to feel like they are in a real-world scenario to make the experience more real. They need to feel that they are mentally and emotionally in that situation. Hence, you need to make the VR content as identical to the real world as possible.
You can make VR content using 360-degree video and Computer-Generated Images (CGI). Although 360-degree video provides a better experience, both technologies can be used to tailor a situation that is as real as possible.
Provide Engaging Experience to Make the Learning Attentive
Immersive learning is based on the simple principle of “learning while doing.” The cognitive capabilities of the brain are built in such a way that unless a person experiences a thing in real life, the chances of them retaining the information throughout their entire life are very low.
The learning experience in immersive programs is based on combining engagement with attention, which ensures that all the learner’s senses are used in the process. Along with this, all the emotions that a person can anticipate experiencing in the real world are provided in the learning process. The person feels stressed, nervous, anxious, and angry all at once, which enables them to get completely involved in the immersive experience.
Using Accurate Spatial Design to Create Real-World Experience
The spatial design enhances the experience of immersive learning. Spatial designs allow the person to actually be “present” in the situation.
Spatial design consists of three elements:
- Designing the environment around them: This is an element where the learner feels they are present in the actual situation. For instance, immersive learning has been introduced in the aeronautical industry. The aim of the training is to provide young pilots with hands-on experience in navigating through air turbulence. Here, the pilots actually feel like they are inside the aircraft after they put on the VR gear.
- The feeling of self-presence: The second element of spatial design is the feeling of self-awareness. When people start feeling that they are in a situation, they start interacting with themselves. Once the person starts believing that they are truly present in the situation, they will start looking around and finding ways to solve the problem that is in front of them.
- The feeling of social presence: Here, you can add elements that make the participants believe that there are people around them. For instance, if the sales team is given immersive learning training, you can create a situation where they feel that there are a lot of people in front of whom they need to pitch your product.
Using Data to Measure the Performance
You can effectively measure the performance of your immersive learning program. This learning approach is big on data, and you are also able to provide real-time feedback based on solid evidence.
Firstly, based on the time taken to complete the task, you can evaluate the performance gap of the learners. You can also evaluate where and how the learners have the maximum and the minimum engagement. Secondly, you can also understand how the learner reacts to a particular situation and the emotions they are processing when they are in the situation.
Conclusion
Immersive learning is revolutionizing the organization’s learning and development programs and HR functions. These learning experiences offer a full-body experience to the learner and provide real emotional responses to the situations that are presented to them. However, you need to carefully implement immersive learning into your L&D program for optimal effectiveness.
