Designing Digitally
08/15/2018
As a Learning & Development professional, you invest a great deal of time and effort creating training strategies for your organization. And once those are established, you put in even more time and effort to secure a budget to implement the strategies. But, do your strategies include simulation-based training? If not, you could be missing a key to success and an effective ROI.
Elearning has several benefits over traditional face-to-face training. It uses a variety of strategies to impart information to learners in a way that improves their knowledge and productivity. Your employees are provided with options for reading content, watching videos, listening to podcasts, etc. But, the best way to learn is still ‘learning-by-doing’.
It is not enough just to understand something. Your employees need to learn how to do it. Simulated training does just that. It encourages your employees to learn with the help of real-life situations. They have the opportunity to practice as much as they wish in a virtual environment. Learners can make numerous mistakes and learn from them.
Simulations are not a new concept. Hazardous jobs have been using training simulations for decades. For example, in the construction industry, workers began experimenting with crane simulators in the 1990s. They were not advanced enough, though. They had poor load dynamics and basic graphics. But, they have improved over time with cutting-edge technology. Similarly, the aviation and defense sectors has been using advanced simulators to train pilots and soldiers.
#1: Low training risks
Imagine what would happen if a pilot was asked to practice with a real aircraft full of passengers. One mistake and the result would be disastrous! Imagine the same scenario in the construction industry. There may not be passengers involved, but the life of the workers will be in grave danger. With simulations, people learning how to perform these critical jobs can have hands-on practice without the fear of causing collateral damage. Learners experience how it would feel in the real environment without the accompanying risks. They can practice without inhibitions. The more they practice, the better they get at the job.
#2: Immediate feedback
The simulator can screen candidates in the first level and make sure they have the right skill for the job. During the training, you can track employee performance with the help of metrics. Simulated training offers instant feedback. Your employees do not need to wait for the entire training to end before receiving feedback. They know immediately where they went wrong and what they did well.
#3: Faster training
Simulations are online training. As opposed to a real machine, simulators can train multiple learners simultaneously. They are accessible 24/7, which is a great advantage. You can train multiple people at different locations, at the same time. This way, you can cover more ground and train your people faster.
#4: Low cost
Real equipment is expensive. If you dedicate one to train people, there is bound to be wear and tear. Instead, simulators will cost you less money. You can free up your instructors to perform higher value-added work instead of spending time training learners. That adds to your bottom line too.
#5: Branch out
Everyone likes personal learning experiences. Simulation-based training can personalize the learning path of each learner based on the answers they provide. There are no right or wrong answers. Each learner will choose a response based on his experience and knowledge. The simulated training will branch out to the relevant topics depending on what skill the system determines is important for the learner.
Simulations help your employees complete tasks safely and correctly. For centuries, educators have asserted that “learning by doing” is the most effective way to gain knowledge. Technology now makes it possible to simulate true-to-life environments that are safe and affordable. When used in the right place, simulation based training can really work wonders and propel your employees in the right direction.
At Designing Digitally, Inc., our realistic custom training simulations are the perfect way to immerse learners and teach skilled procedures that are dangerous or costly to perform.
To learn more about how simulations can work for your business, get in touch with our experts today!
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