The virtual reality (VR) industry will be worth $38 billion by 2026. And organizations across industries are beginning to rely on it to train their employees as it becomes more economical and easy to do so. However, implementing VR training itself is not enough to ensure your employees learn. You’ll also need to create virtual reality training content that sticks if you want your employees to learn. Continue reading to learn more.
General Tips
Here are a few general things you’ll want to do as you create your virtual reality training content if you want it to be effective:
- Ensure it is short and simple to understand.
- Make it interesting and compelling, but apply it to real-world scenarios.
- Create an experience that requires emotional responses.
- Don’t overdo it with graphics and enhanced images.
- Provide feedback at the right times in the right way.
Gamify VR Content
If you really want your learners to be engaged in your virtual reality training, make your content game-like and fun. Have learners advance to different levels, earn badges and rewards, or try to uncover some hidden information. Allowing them to use their own avatars and characters is a great way to keep them immersed in the game, too. And using controllers and handheld devices helps accentuate the game-like experience, as well as the learners’ overall tactile knowledge.
Tie VR Content to Learning Objectives
While learners should be having fun during their virtual reality training, don’t forget to include clear learning objectives that tie back to their everyday jobs. As they’re earning rewards and beating levels, make sure they know what it’s all for and how it relates to what they do every day. Otherwise, they will not understand the point of the virtual reality experience and how it will help them perform better at work, and they will become bored or disengaged.
Properly Test Knowledge in VR Simulations
The best way to test your learners’ knowledge in a virtual reality environment is to build experiences that will allow them to fail in a safe way. For instance, construction workers learning how to navigate a construction site 15 stories high should be allowed to fall or stumble during their virtual experience. And a surgeon should be able to make mistakes while conducting a complicated procedure, too. When learners gradually make fewer mistakes during their virtual reality training, you’ll know real learning is taking place.
If you want your virtual reality content to be effective and to stick with your learners, keep the above tips in mind.