Immersion:

Extended reality will make training programs much more engaging simply because of how immersive they are. VR, AR, and MR all limit the number of distractions that may interrupt a trainee from completing their program. Additionally, this immersion causes the training to feel realistic, which is important for the training to be both engaging and effective. For instance, mechanics can practice performing maintenance on a realistic engine in a setting that is free of stress and distractions. The immersion of VR safety training in particular also helps individuals understand the importance of safety in the workplace.

Safety:

Some professions carry an inherent level of risk in gaining hands-on experience. An easy example of this is the medical industry. A young surgeon needs to earn hands-on experience to save lives but runs the risk of causing serious harm to get that experience. Training simulations in extended reality can provide a solution to this conundrum. With virtual simulations of surgery, young medical students can practice vital procedures without the risk of harming their patients. VR safety training can also be useful in industries where the trainee could be in danger. For example, helicopter pilots accept a high amount of risk just to learn to fly.

Accessibility:

AR, VR, and MR share many of the same advantages as other eLearning methods. Most notably, electronic forms of learning are much more accessible than traditional methods. One of the major shortcomings of traditional training programs is the fact that they must be held in person. This is especially true in the wake of Covid-19 when more people than ever are working from home. However, XR training can remove this barrier to professional development. These technologies can make remote collaboration easier than ever before. And with the technology continuing to become cheaper and more widely available, it will only become easier to use.

Skills Impacted By Leveraging XR Training Solutions

The skills improved through XR-powered solutions can be broken into two categories: job-specific hard skills, and universal soft skills. However, new applications for these technologies are constantly being discovered and more skills are likely to be impacted by these technologies as well.

Job-Specific Hard Skills:

The hard skills required for a job will vary depending on the occupation, but XR training can be applied in nearly every industry. Whether you’re learning to tune an engine, do heart surgery, or bake a cake, extended reality can provide in-depth realistic training modules. These training modules not only remove the risk associated with learning these skills but also limit the amount of resources spent on training materials. For example, tradesmen could learn to weld without wasting power or metal in the process.

Virtual reality in particular is adept at running mock situations that can be used to evaluate employee effectiveness. Pilots have been using VR-powered flight simulators to prepare new pilots for years. Augmented reality, on the other hand, can provide professionals with a HUD that keeps the worker on track. Continuing with our pilot example, AR can provide pilots with a checklist of actions for the pilot to follow without looking away from the controls of the plane.

Universal Soft Skills:

Since the pandemic has forced many of us to work from home, there has been a noticeable drop in workers’ soft skills. These are skills like communication and teamwork which may not be tied to the job directly but are still necessary for any role. Recently, AR, MR, and VR have proven to be effective for improving workers’ soft skills because they add a human element to the training. For example, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging training programs were found to be much more effective with the use of VR because individuals felt they witnessed the mistreatment directly.

Leverage Extended Reality Effectively With SkillSource Learning

AR, MR and VR may be powerful technologies, but they’re only as smart as the person using them. In order to effectively utilize XR training in your company, you’ll need to team up with some experts. SkillSource’s XR consultants create dynamic interactive learning experiences that leave a lasting impact on the learner. Additionally, our experience in instructional design and learning experience design gives us a unique perspective on professional development at large. Contact us today to speak with an XR expert about how your organization can benefit from XR training.