Is Your Content Suitable for Simulation Training? Yes!

Okay, you’ve heard about immersive learning simulations and how more companies, academic institutions, and organizations are integrating them into their training and education plans. You’ve also read a number of reports and articles touting the benefits and highlighting the successes of simulation-based learning. However, you avoid using simulations because you believe YOUR content isn’t suitable for simulation learning. Sound familiar?

Don’t feel bad. You’re not the only person to make this mistake.

It’s true that immersive learning simulations are the perfect training tool to teach social-oriented content. Negotiating, communicating, interviewing, customer service or any real-world action that includes interacting with one person or more can be effectively recreated in a simulated environment. Now, some readers are probably thinking: “That’s great. Good for you. But I have to teach MY employees about accounting do’s and don’ts and trade sanction regulations.” Believe it or not, your content is suitable for simulation, too.

The key to creating “simable” content is to first develop “simable” objectives. Immersive learning simulations effectively measure higher levels of critical thinking. Do you want to know that your employees can simply recite the six-step procedure for replacing a mechanical part in the field? Or would you rather see how well they analyze a situation, asses the trouble, and perform the necessary steps to correct the problem?

Research tells us that 70 percent of all learning happens while people are going about their daily business—locating information, reading e-mails, faxes, articles, and books, and speaking with their fellow workers. These familiar interactions provide great opportunities for creating simulated content. Rather than try to figure out how to develop complex simulations to quiz employees about accounting X’s and O’s or legal definitions, concentrate on creating scenarios where employees apply their knowledge by identifying red flags and following specific company procedures—just as they’re expected to do during daily job responsibilities.

Active learning in simulations isn’t limited to interacting only with characters. Your simulated-learning experience may offer opportunities for users to interact with inanimate objects, such as documents, computer software or Web sites. You’re confined only by your level of creativity.

Since much of our educational experiences can be considered passive (teachers or instructors explain facts, procedures, or concepts while we feverishly scribble notes and anticipate test questions), simulation development requires a break from traditional approaches. When outlining your training programs, keep the word “experiential” in mind to create appropriate objectives for active learning opportunities. If you still think you have content unsuitable for simulation training, contact NexLearn and we’ll help you turn it into an effective immersive learning simulation.