Virtual reality (VR) offers a novel approach to training employees in essential hard skills, bridging the gap between traditional learning methods and the demands of modern job roles.
As technology evolves, there's a growing need for employees to acquire hard skills, especially with the emergence of new job roles and processes. Traditional methods, which involve observation and practice, might not always be efficient or feasible.
VR allows employees to train remotely, simulating real-world environments and equipment, even in industries where physical presence is typically required.
Employees can practice using potentially hazardous equipment in a virtual space, reducing risks associated with trial and error in real-world scenarios.
VR is effective for training employees on emergency situations, like fires or medical emergencies, as it offers a more immersive experience than reading or watching presentations.
Provides simulations of working environments in firms like Deloitte and Linklaters, allowing students to gain practical experience.
Collaborated with Thales Group to use a game for teaching critical thinking, teamwork, and bomb defusal techniques.
Organizations can leverage VR to design effective training programs, helping employees develop hard skills in safe, virtual environments. VR training can be more cost-effective and practical than traditional methods while still offering a hands-on experience.
As technology continues to develop, employees often do not learn how to use new technologies, and fall behind. The need for hard skills also relates to more than just technology – new job roles and processes are also continually coming into existence. To address existing skills gaps, sufficient learning and training programmes must be designed and implemented. Unfortunately, new hires are often less likely to possess the hard skills needed for job roles when compared to broader soft skills that they may have developed in previous roles. Existing employees also often need to be trained in how to use new technologies and apparatus, and sometimes in new job roles and processes as well. Teaching hard skills traditionally involves observing others carrying out processes and then learning through practice. However, virtual reality (VR) is increasingly becoming used for the teaching and learning of hard skills.
One particular advantage of using VR is the ability to carry out training remotely. Even in highly location-specific industries like construction and manufacturing, remote work is sometimes still carried out (even if only temporarily). VR simulations of real-world spaces and equipment can help employees learn hard job skills even if they don’t have physical access to spaces and equipment (other than a VR headset, of course).
This also has health and safety benefits. Employees can practise using potentially dangerous equipment in a virtual environment for a while without having to use it in a physical space. Learning is often a case of trial and error and gradual improvement – going through these early stages using only virtual spaces and equipment can keep learners and their colleagues safe, and also help organisations avoid costly damages. VR is proving to be useful for training employees on how to respond to emergency situations, such as fires, robberies, and medical emergencies. The ability to practise physical responses in a representation of a real space can be much more effective for learning than simply reading a text or watching a presentation about the topic.
Forage is a provider of ‘virtual internship’ programmes. The company has designed courses based on the reality of working for firms like Deloitte and Linklaters, which enable students to experience simulations of working at those organisations. Students can learn and practise the skills specific to those roles and increase their experience and employability. Another VR training provider is VR Vision, which has carried out various training exercises. For French firm Thales Group, which designs and manufactures electrical systems, VR Vision used the game Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes to teach employees not only critical thinking and teamwork, but how to defuse a bomb in the event of a bomb scare.
The role of VR in our daily lives is likely to continue increasing, and this trend will also extend to our workplaces. For organisations and HR departments, the uses of VR for designing training programmes are particularly relevant. VR can be used to help employees develop essential hard skills in safe, risk-free virtual environments. Compared to traditional forms of training, VR training can be less expensive and impractical while still offering the benefits of ‘hands-on’ training.