Corporate Learning

The future of eLearning is being transformed by AR, VR, and AI. Explore how these technologies are changing the game in education.

Revolutionizing eLearning With AR, VR, And AI

eLearning has been growing rapidly in recent years, and it is expected to continue to grow in the future. This is due to a number of factors, including the increasing availability of high-speed internet, the growing popularity of mobile devices, and the increasing demand for personalized learning. The future of eLearning is here, and it’s not what you think; forget about boring lectures and dry textbooks. The future of eLearning is about immersive, interactive, and personalized learning experiences. Thanks to the latest technologies, like Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), learners can now experience things they never could before. They can step inside a virtual classroom, interact with 3D models, and get real-time feedback from their instructors.

AR and VR are like magic for eLearning. They don’t just teach; they take you on amazing adventures that you’ll remember forever. These cool technologies are getting really popular in many areas, and they’re about to change eLearning big time. It’s happening soon, and eLearning will never be the same. Get ready for a whole new way to learn! These technologies are not just making learning more fun, they’re also making it more effective. Studies have shown that learners who use AR, VR, and AI are more likely to retain information and apply it to their work.

Some Interesting Stats

• According to Grand View Research, the global AR and VR market is expected to reach $597.54 billion by 2030.
• According to Fortune Business Insights, the global AI market is expected to reach $2025.12 billion by 2030.
• 75% of learners are more likely to remember information when they learn it through AR or VR.
• 80% of learners are more engaged in eLearning that uses AI.
• 90% of businesses are planning to invest in AR and VR by 2025.

Benefits Of Using AR, VR, And AI In eLearning

1. Make Learning More Engaging And Immersive

Imagine being able to explore a historical site or dissect a frog without having to leave your classroom. Or being able to practice a new skill, such as surgery or public speaking, in a safe and controlled environment. AR, VR, and AI can create these kinds of immersive learning experiences that can help students learn more effectively and retain information better.

2. Personalize Learning Experiences

AI can be used to tailor learning content and activities to the individual needs of each student. For example, an AI-powered learning system could track a student’s progress and provide them with additional support in areas where they are struggling. AI could also be used to create personalized learning paths that match a student’s interests and goals.

3. Make Learning More Accessible

AR, VR, and AI can be used to create learning experiences that are accessible to students with disabilities or those who live in remote areas. For example, a student in a rural area could use VR to visit a museum or take a field trip to a foreign country.

4. Help Students Develop Critical Thinking And Problem-Solving Skills

AR, VR, and AI can be used to create simulations and challenges that help students learn how to think critically and solve problems. For example, a student could use an AR simulation to learn how to design and build a bridge, or a VR simulation to learn how to navigate a maze.

How AR, VR, And AI Are Used In eLearning

• Augmented Reality
  AR is being used to create interactive textbooks and workbooks. For example, students can use AR to scan a page in a textbook and bring up interactive animations, videos, and simulations.
• Virtual Reality
  VR is being used to create virtual field trips and lab experiences. For example, students can use VR to visit a historical site or to perform a science experiment in a safe and controlled environment.
• Artificial Intelligence
  AI is being used to create personalized learning paths and content. For example, AI can track student progress and recommend additional resources to help them succeed.

Some Specific Examples Of AR, VR, And AI In eLearning

• Duolingo
  A popular language-learning app that uses AR to allow learners to practice speaking and listening to a foreign language in a virtual environment.
• Google Earth VR
  A free VR application that allows users to explore the world from a bird’s-eye view. It can be used to teach students about geography, history, and culture.
• Labster
  A VR platform that provides students with access to virtual science labs where they can perform experiments and learn about scientific concepts.
• Immerse
  A VR platform that allows students to practice speaking and listening to a foreign language with native speakers.
• DreamBox Learning
  An AI-powered math-learning platform that personalizes the learning experience for each student.

The Future Of eLearning

The future of eLearning is bright. AR, VR, and AI are all rapidly evolving technologies, and they have the potential to revolutionize the way we learn. As these technologies become more affordable and accessible, we can expect to see them used more and more in eLearning. In the future, eLearning is likely to become more immersive, interactive, and personalized. Learners will be able to experience different environments and situations, and they will receive real-time feedback on their work. AI will be used to automate tasks and personalize learning, freeing up human instructors to focus on more creative and strategic tasks.

eLearning apps are already changing the way we learn, and the future is even more exciting. AR, VR, and AI are just a few of the technologies that are poised to revolutionize education. As these technologies continue to develop, we’re on the brink of witnessing a surge in innovative and highly effective methods of learning.

Conclusion

The future of eLearning is an exciting frontier where AR, VR, and AI are driving educational transformation. As these technologies continue to evolve and integrate, the boundaries of traditional education will blur, making learning more engaging, accessible, and personalized than ever before. Educators and learners alike should embrace these innovations to unlock the full potential of education in the 21st century. The journey has just begun, and the opportunities ahead are truly limitless.

Quelle:

Foto: Zyabich/Shutterstock.com

https://elearningindustry.com/future-of-elearning-how-ar-vr-and-ai-are-changing-the-game

Should you invest in immersive learning for your corporate training programs? Let’s discuss about the benefits but also key points to look out for before embracing this approach.

All About Immersive Technologies In Employee Training

Immersive learning is now a key component of many corporate learning strategies, and its popularity calls for a close examination of the advantages those technologies offer as well as their challenges. Through immersive learning, your employees participate in a distraction-free, interactive environment where they can practice what they’re learning on the spot. This is usually done with VR or AR equipment, which is needed for the full experience. Employees are placed in a first-person role that simulates a workplace environment in order to be as realistic as possible and achieve maximum engagement. So, let’s delve into the pros and cons of immersive learning in corporate training programs to help you decide if it’s the best practice for your needs.

The Pros Of Immersive Learning In Corporate Training Programs

Enhanced Engagement

Traditional training methods may consist of boring presentations and textbooks or outdated videos and graphics that keep employees from staying focused and retaining information. However, immersive learning changes the game entirely. Through the use of interactive and realistic simulations, employees become active participants in their own learning journey. So, whether it’s a simulated sales scenario or a virtual customer interaction regarding an imaginary project, your staffers will be motivated to apply their skills and knowledge. Additionally, immersive learning allows employees to learn at their own pace and according to their own learning preferences. For example, some people are visual learners, while others prefer a hands-on approach. A virtual experience can cater to every need and help learners absorb information much quicker.

Experiential Learning

Instead of merely listening to theories and lectures, employees will get to roll up their sleeves and engage in practical activities. Whether it’s assembling a product, doing experiments, or simulating a scenario, immersive learning allows learners to put the theory into practice. Through this experiential learning approach, employees have the chance to navigate every challenge concerning their job and be better prepared if those occur. Your workforce will also be able to enhance their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. When participants actively engage in the learning process, they have to face real-world problems and develop solutions. This will make them more confident in the workplace, too.

Personalized Experience

Immersive learning can tailor the training content to individual needs. By leveraging technology and data analytics, immersive learning platforms can assess participants‘ strengths, weaknesses, and learning preferences. Based on this, the content is adapted to their learner profiles. For example, when training the sales department, sales representatives will receive different content from the back-office agents who handle customer orders. This way, you ensure that every employee receives training suitable for their roles, allowing them to gain only useful and relevant skills. Furthermore, immersive learning provides real-time, personalized feedback, giving them the opportunity to improve their performance.

Collaboration

By providing virtual environments, immersive learning transforms the way your people collaborate and work together. Employees can enter virtual worlds where they interact and collaborate with their peers, regardless of their location. These environments are a safe and controlled space for group activities, problem-solving exercises, and project-based simulations. Immersive learning also breaks down geographical barriers and enables collaboration among remote or dispersed teams. This promotes cross-functional collaboration and creates a work environment with diverse perspectives and strong team skills.

Challenges Of Immersive Technologies In Employee Training

Resource Requirements

One of the primary hurdles to immersive learning is the cost and resource requirements. First, most costs are associated with acquiring and maintaining the necessary technology and infrastructure. Immersive learning relies on advanced technologies such as VR and AR devices, which are expensive. Additionally, your company will need computers with the latest technology and, of course, a high-speed internet connection. Moreover, high-quality immersive content requires expertise and time. You may even need to outsource subject matter experts, Instructional Designers, and other professionals to help you develop content.

Implementation

You should know about compatibility issues regarding your immersive learning equipment with existing systems. Your organization may already have established an LMS or other similar platforms for corporate training, so integrating other technologies into these systems may be challenging. For instance, if your immersive learning content isn’t compatible with the LMS, it will need extra technical work. Make sure that both your LMS and immersive learning equipment can provide you with tech support, and have your IT department ready in case there are issues they’ll need to troubleshoot.

Accessibility

Another crucial aspect to consider is the accessibility of immersive learning for a remote and diverse workforce. Remote employees, for example, may face challenges in accessing the content if they don’t have the necessary requirements, such as equipment and strong internet connections. Your company needs to consider that and provide them with the necessary hardware and software to participate. Similarly, you must be mindful of employees with disabilities or different learning styles. Design your content with accessibility features so that no one is excluded from the learning experience.

Resistance To Change

Implementing new initiatives, like immersive learning, may face resistance from employees and stakeholders. Your workforce may fear new technologies and whether they’ll be able to adapt to new learning methods. So, you should provide them with support regarding the new technologies‘ use and reassure them that they’ll have help every step of the way. However, if stakeholders and managers are unsure of such a program’s effectiveness, present them with successful case studies. You can also pilot the program with a few employees and monitor the process and the results.

How To Navigate The Challenges

Needs Assessment

Conducting a thorough needs assessment will help your organization identify its training goals, desired learning outcomes, and available resources. Begin by clearly defining what you want to achieve through immersive learning. Do you want to improve your staffers‘ performances or fill gaps in their knowledge? Once you know, you can select a program and evaluate its budget and requirements, like experts, hardware, software, etc. This process will help you with cost and resource management, so you can better plan your immersive learning initiatives.

Immersive Learning Providers

Immersive learning providers are experts in their field, allowing you to leverage their experience in developing and delivering immersive learning solutions. They will help you create high-quality personalized content so your employees have the best learning experience. Also, they know what works best for companies depending on different needs, and you’ll receive advice on how to convince employees and stakeholders to embrace the immersive learning approach.

Supportive Learning Culture

To successfully implement an immersive learning program, you need to foster an environment where learning itself is valued. Leaders need to demonstrate their commitment to Learning and Development by actively supporting new initiatives, like immersive learning. This includes providing resources, allocating budgets, and ensuring that employees have dedicated time for training. Additionally, your company should encourage continuous learning by providing constant training opportunities and innovative solutions.

Conclusion

The benefits of immersive learning in corporate training are undeniable. Organizations should embrace this approach if they want to step up their game in providing innovative training solutions to their workforce. Of course, there are many things to look out for if you want to be prepared and provide the optimum learning experience to your people, so make sure to follow the above tips and do thorough research concerning your immersive training plan.

Quelle:

Foto: Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com

https://elearningindustry.com/benefits-and-challenges-of-immersive-learning-in-corporate-training-programs

Summary.   

VR is increasingly being used to help train employees to do their jobs. Over the past year, especially, the Covid-19 pandemic has precipitated the need for virtual training applications. For example, VR is being used to train employees in “soft skills” to improve customer service and managerial skills. These use cases have a foundation in academic work; for example, many studies have used VR to teach public speaking. But given how expensive it is to assemble a room full of real people — which is also not feasible currently due to Covid-19 restrictions — VR is a game changer in terms of ease and cost. VR shows a unique balance across experiments — it is immersive enough for people to take the training seriously, but also a safe environment where learners are less self-conscious about speaking frankly compared to talking to real people. This article focused on three case studies on employee training — one based on learning physical procedures, one on conversational “soft skills,” and one on corporate culture.

Soldiers, surgeons, and astronauts have trained for decades in virtual reality (VR). People learn best by doing, and by getting feedback when they make mistakes, which is why these high-stakes lines of work are natural applications of the medium. But over the past few years, the cost to deploy VR has plummeted, and the technology has expanded into more general use at Fortune 500 corporations, where employees working in industries such as retail, logistics, and customer service are practicing in VR headsets to get better at their jobs.

In this article, I focus on three case studies on employee training: one based on learning physical procedures, one on conversational “soft skills,” and one on corporate culture. All three case studies have shown return on investment, and each involved thousands of employees — a sample size unheard of in academic studies of VR. They were conducted by Strivr, a VR-based immersive learning platform provider. [Disclosure: I cofounded Strivr and the examples given are clients of the company.]

A more efficient way to learn procedures.

There are hundreds of academic studies on procedural training, and the literature is mature enough to include a number of meta-analyses — for example comparing VR surgical training to other techniques. Findings generally support the equivalence of VR training to face-to-face training, the economic savings of VR, or the decreased amount of time needed to train with VR compared to traditional techniques, and larger applications of this academic research echo these trends.

As a recent example, Walmart has trained over a million of its associates in VR. One of the most frequently used modules is “The Pickup Tower,”— which is basically a large kiosk that lets customers pick up online orders. Trainees received step-by-step instruction on how to operate this new machine, with immediate feedback when they made mistakes. Before VR, each person spent an entire day on training inside specifically designated stores, with some hands-on training and some e-learning. VR reduced the training from eight hours to 15 minutes, with no drop in efficacy. Given the fact that all Walmart associates nationwide need to train on The Pickup Tower, VR should return over a million full days of work. To quote Heather Durtschi, senior director of content design and development at Walmart, “You can do the math as to what the savings would be.”

A safe place to learn soft skills.

Over the past year, demand has increased for training “soft skills” to improve customer service and managerial skills. These use cases have a foundation in academic work; for example many studies have used VR to teach public speaking. Given how expensive it is to assemble a room full of real people, VR is a game changer in terms of ease and cost. VR shows a unique balance across experiments — it is immersive enough for people to take the training seriously, but also a safe environment where learners are less self-conscious about speaking frankly compared to talking to real people.

For example, Verizon has built and implemented a module to train call-center employees on how to de-escalate a conversation with an upset customer. Trainees get to practice speaking and active listening as a customer conversation becomes increasingly tense. According to internal data collected by Verizon, VR increased the consistency and effectiveness of the training, and reduced employees’ time training from 10 hours per-person to just 30 minutes. According to Cleo Scott, Director of Global L&D for Verizon Business Services, “As they went back to work and we tracked their progress through the supervisors, the employees were much more confident, because they were more aware of themselves in how they were handling the customer.”

Sometimes even better than IRL.

One challenge for companies, especially during Covid-19, is to assimilate new employees into the cultural norms of the organization. While the two case studies discussed above are extensions of previously published research, the notion of training the overall feel and personality of a group is largely without academic precedent. Sprouts Farmers Market, the supermarket chain, relies on employee culture to distinguish their brand, focusing on core values such as “Respect and Serve One Another” and “Embrace Healthy Living.” As Sprouts continues to open new stores and hire across the country, they need to onboard new employees.

Sprouts created a canon of VR experiences designed to exemplify these core values — for example, an employee might teach an anxious mother who just discovered her son is allergic to gluten about how to shop for the new diet, or an employee may decide to deliver a watermelon to an elderly sick customer who can’t drive to pick up his favorite food. Instead of training specific skills, they have implemented what cognitive psychologists call an Exemplar Model, highlighting a number of very salient examples which work in tandem to shed light on an abstract theme. A subset of about 300 of employees were tested on their conceptual understanding of the core values, half of whom did VR and half of whom used PowerPoint training. Forty-eight percent of the trainees who did VR learned all six concepts perfectly, compared to only three percent who used traditional methods. Cindy Chikahisa, VP of Store Operations for Sprouts summed it up: “I’m so grateful we launched this before Covid-19. I can’t imagine hiring thousands of people — which we’ve done over the last few months — and trying to give them a great onboarding experience during a pandemic.”

VR was beginning to catch on before Covid-19, but the global pandemic and the push to remote work is fast-tracking the need for such tools. These three companies are growing despite the crisis, and their need to train employees safely, effectively and efficiently at scale grows as well. VR is the perfect medium for this moment.

Quelle:

Foto: Kilito Chan/Getty Images

https://hbr.org/2020/09/is-vr-the-future-of-corporate-training

Today’s workplace is unlike one we’ve ever seen or experienced before. Whether operating remotely, in-person or in a hybrid model, employers and employees alike have been put to the test to navigate different working conditions while still aiming to reach the same career goals. Technology has certainly come into play this past year to support, accelerating business communication methods like Zoom and Slack on a level we never expected. What hasn’t been talked about nearly enough, however, is the progress we’re seeing through technology in employee development and training programs – particularly with virtual reality (VR).

While it’s gained significant traction in recent years for its role in the entertainment space, VR is also an important component of the progress we’re seeing in the professional development space today. We’ll look at those use cases in this Q&A, along with how organizations can begin to implement the technology in their own industries moving forward.

To get a better grasp on the opportunities VR can bring to the workplace in these uncertain environments, I connected with Tim Massey, Engineering & VR Product Manager at Vicon, an Academy Award®-winning company specializing in developing accessible motion capture technology that delivers the most precise, reliable data in any movement analysis application. We spoke about what the VR industry looks like today and how it’s evolving to help organizations across the board adapt to changing environments and double down on employee success.

Gary Drenik: Virtual reality has gained a lot of momentum in recent years, and brands like Oculus have become household names. Can you share a bit more about the breakthroughs you’ve seen with the technology in a professional development setting?

Tim Massey: More than half (~57%) of U.S. adults say they regularly or occasionally play video games, according to a recent Prosper Insights & Analytics Survey. It’s safe to say the majority of these players are familiar with VR in the context of gaming, like Oculus headsets that can be used at home or even larger scale immersive VR installations in amusement parks and arcades. However, these use cases only scratch the surface of the potential impact VR can have on our everyday lives, including our careers.

In corporate settings, VR is now being tapped to upskill employees through engaging experiences. In fact, consulting firm PWC showed that VR training can achieve significant benefits in soft skills training in terms of speed of training, engagement and focus, all while being at cost parity with just 375 participants compared to classroom-based training.

However, conventional VR equipment doesn’t suit all tasks or roles. Alongside this, one of the fastest growing areas of VR is the technology behind location-based entertainment (LBE), which delivers “virtual-reality-meets-in-person-training” experiences where learners can engage in a physical space. We’re now seeing some significant projects adopting LBE technology to help participants learn in immersive environments for active roles or high-risk activities.

For example, to ensure the safety of themselves and others, miners need extensive training before traveling underground and encountering dangerous scenarios at blast walls. To better understand the harsh conditions they’ll be facing, LBE can be used to immerse miners in a lifelike “game” before they enter a mine where they are tasked with making quick decisions in a number of scenarios. This helps to rehearse in a safe, simulated environment as well as getting real-time feedback to assess their proficiency.

We also saw this when military service members joined us and our friends at VR Arcade for an event in the Netherlands where they engaged with the tech. They demonstrated that once exposed to LBE, even in an entertainment context, highly skilled professionals can immediately grasp the potential of this technology.

Drenik: I know you mentioned location-based entertainment or LBE is the next level in workplace training, can you provide a bit more information about what LBE is and how it’s different from a traditional virtual reality use case?

Massey: LBE allows users to roam freely and physically interact with their environment, which may include real handheld props or tools. In many cases, this means providing users with a VR headset within a custom-designed space where they can walk, jump, or ride through the space alone or with a group. While fully immersed in the environment, users can solve problems or engage in different storylines across various digital worlds, limited only by the imagination of the designers.

LBE lets users interact and share experiences with others in the same physical space. This offers a more lifelike component to users, while traditional VR is typically experienced in a small space without physical interaction or collaboration.

Drenik: Now that we have a good understanding of LBE, can you share a few examples of the technology in action? For comparison, it would be great to hear about some of the more established virtual reality training applications as well.

Massey: A great example of LBE is happening in Europa Park, the largest amusement park in Germany and second largest in Europe, which recently launched the world’s largest location-based VR entertainment platform that can simultaneously support up to 32 players. Unlike gaming consoles or PCs, LBE technology allows entire families or teams to enjoy VR experiences together.

We’ll likely see more widespread adoption of LBE platforms as pandemic-related restrictions are lifted and users are able to safely gather again. As for the more established VR training applications, you’d be surprised to hear some of the massive organizations that have added the technology into their training regimens. Walmart, for example, leverages VR in its training academy to help employees learn about and prepare for crisis situations like active shooters. And more recently, Bank of America has announced their participation in VR training, utilizing VR headsets to help employees master everyday assignments and work on better communication skills with customers.

Drenik: Today, in many cases, employers are working to navigate managing a completely remote workforce. Can you share a few examples of how LBE can help employers improve their training programs to be better suited in a work-from-home environment?

Massey: LBE can still benefit employers working to train new team members or help existing members prepare for the next level while employees are still working remotely. And according to recent Prosper Insights & Analytics data, 59.1% of U.S. adults would prefer to continue working from home post-pandemic. As I mentioned earlier, LBE for training in physical or high-risk environments is becoming increasingly diverse. And while employees working in office settings rarely face physical danger, they do encounter their own frightening situations, like public speaking. As we’ve already seen, the same LBE technology used to prepare a miner at a blast wall or someone climbing high ladders to complete cell phone tower maintenance in high winds can be used to facilitate realistic training experiences. But in corporate settings, the tech adds realism to bridge the gap between theory and the real world. For the case of virtual public speaking training, this could mean incorporating body language or stage presence into training.

The addition of full-body tracking and tools opens up whole new use cases, such as the ability to perform demonstrations of tasks in a 3D virtual environment for participants. They can watch as they would in real life from multiple positions and angles in a 3D VR demonstration from a trained subject matter expert, but all from a remote location.

Drenik: Similarly, employees who were new to a remote workplace in 2020 are finally adjusting to the different challenges. In some cases, they’re ready to take on new opportunities like continuing education courses or have interest in pursuing a new role. How can virtual reality help them do this?

Massey: In April 2021, Prosper Insights & Analytics found that nearly 9% of US adults have reordered their professional or working life priorities in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. For employees looking to grow in their career or begin a new one, virtual reality is a great place to start. For example, in the education field, teachers were faced with teaching class over Zoom or navigating a hybrid model that jumped between classroom and virtual settings throughout the pandemic. For teachers looking to learn new ways to navigate these evolving classroom obstacles, there are classroom simulations that pair teachers with actors to help them learn and adapt to new situations in real-time.

For employees looking to broaden their horizons, there are countless methods surfacing to help fine tune everyday skills. Not only do virtual reality training programs allow employers to track the progress of the trainee, giving real-time feedback and actionable tips for improvement, but they also have the ability to grow as the technology progresses. The newest virtual reality innovations, like eye-tracking or measuring natural responses from integrated sensors on the headsets, allow experiences to be dynamic and adjust to the stress or concentration levels of the trainee.

Drenik: Let’s talk about your predictions for virtual reality and LBE in 2021 and beyond. How do you think it will transform the workplace even more than it already has? Do you expect more business leaders and HR professionals to adopt this technology, and if so, how?

Massey: It’s undeniable that this has been a difficult year for in-person experiences, especially in retail contexts. However, this has focused all parts of the technology stack on refining the experience and has accelerated development that will be reapplied in other contexts.

I certainly think those providers who have managed to remain viable throughout a severe enforced shutdown will emerge extremely strong for the economic rebound that is to follow. And this will lead the international growth of LBE locations to every major city, which was already occurring prior to the pandemic.

Virtual reality has been a hot commodity in recent years through different entertainment applications. But as these breakthroughs continue to happen and more technology enters the market, the industry is bound to expand and the barrier to entry for use in different contexts is dropping all the time. According to a recent analysis by Deloitte, sales of wearable headsets used for digital reality by corporations and educational institutions are expected to grow by 100% in 2021 compared to 2019 adoption.

VR is now a mature technology and the biggest barrier to adoption is the lack of exposure to it and awareness (which is improving rapidly) of what it is now capable of.

Drenik: Thanks, Tim, for weighing in on location-based entertainment and what it means for corporate training today. I sure am looking forward to the breakthroughs we’ll see in this industry in the years to come!

Quelle:

Virtual RealityAdobeStock_148230845

#https://www.forbes.com/sites/garydrenik/2021/04/21/location-based-entertainment-and-how-it-is-revolutionizing-corporate-training/?sh=2bdb1e262594