Studies suggest that when you engage all your senses in the learning process, you retain the knowledge better and learn quickly. This is why immersive learning is becoming so popular in corporate training.
Immersive learning provides the learner with a “close to real” experience where the learner feels they are truly involved in a particular situation. Technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality, which are part of immersive learning, allow learners to get a taste of a real-life experience without facing the actual repercussions. One of the essential aspects of immersive learning is the environment. So, what does a perfect immersive learning environment consist of? Let us find out in the article below.
What Is Immersive Learning?
Before we learn about the perfect environment, we must first understand the accurate immersive learning meaning. Immersive learning is a training methodology that allows the learner to interact with a close-to-real environment.
The basic premise of this learning method is that practical knowledge enhances learning. However, it also considers that providing learners with practical knowledge may not always be the safest choice in every situation. This is why the learners are provided with an almost real situation while keeping in mind their safety.
Immersive learning focuses on creating an environment that replicates real-life scenarios and allows learners to experience realistic scenarios without any danger or consequences.
The immersive learning environment is the essence of the entire learning experience. But how does one create the perfect environment for immersive learning? In the following section, we will discuss the answer to this question.
Creating the Perfect Immersive Learning Environment
To create the perfect immersive learning environment, it must have the following elements:
- Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual reality is a technology in which learners interact with 3D visuals that make them feel like they are in a given environment. One of the most important tools required in virtual reality is VR gear, which plays a crucial role in providing the learner with the most immersive learning experience.
Virtual reality may feel futuristic, but at the present stage, it is very much part of our learning environment. VR offers realistic simulations, gamification, and other interactive elements.
The technology is used in high-risk jobs such as healthcare and aviation. For instance, doctors use VR to gain practical experience in performing complicated surgeries. The technology is also used in the aviation industry to help pilots experience how to navigate through bad weather conditions or turbulence.
- Augmented Reality
Augmented reality overlays a real-life scenario with digitalized content. It combines sound, visuals, and other sensory elements to create a situation that feels and looks real. Augmented reality merges the real and virtual worlds, provides real-time interaction, and represents 3D and real objects.
AR helps learners get a first-hand experience of complex tasks. For instance, with the help of augmented reality, you can use your mobile phone to paint the walls of your room virtually. This will allow you to determine which color will best suit your home without actually painting the walls.
- Self-Paced Learning
Another important aspect of immersive learning is that it is very accommodating. This means that it is flexible and enables every learner to learn at their own pace. If you want to revisit a particular concept that is too complex, you can easily do so multiple times until you have grasped it entirely. This leads to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and gives the learner the confidence to face a similar situation in the real world.
- Real-Life Application of the Knowledge
Since immersive learning is all about practical knowledge, it allows learners to apply what they have learned in the real world. For instance, practicing complex surgery with the help of virtual reality and augmented reality allows surgeons to implement what they have learned in a real-life surgery, ensuring there are no errors when the task is actually performed.
- Spatial Design
Spatial design involves creating a physical environment that replicates a real-world scenario. Its power to provide a close-to-real experience through interactive elements is immense. Spatial designs allow the learner to interact with the real environment, immerse themselves in instant thinking, and apply their presence of the mind to complete a task successfully.
All these five elements enable the creation of an immersive learning environment that offers the learner an enriched experience. The environment can be used to teach the learners different concepts and allow them to interact with the environment around them naturally and intuitively.
Why Is Immersive Learning Important?
Immersive learning takes the learning experience to another level. This is the reason why it is so popular in corporate learning and development. Here is why every organization must implement immersive learning in their training programs:
- It Offers Better Engagement
There is no point in spending hundreds of dollars on a training session that can’t engage the learner. Immersive learning is the solution to this problem. This learning approach has the potential to grab the attention of the learners, allowing them to involve themselves completely in the learning process, which results in better knowledge retention.
- Learners Are Provided With Immediate Feedback
With constructive feedback, learners can make the most of the training session. Feedback is even more effective when it is provided in real time. When the learners are actually engaged in the immersive learning experience, they can constantly receive real-time feedback that allows them to change their course of action and rectify their mistakes immediately.
- Provides Experiential Learning
With immersive learning, the learners get hands-on experience. When they learn about a complex topic in a realistic environment, it is easier for them to apply it in real life. The practical knowledge gives them the confidence to face similar situations efficiently.
- Enhanced Knowledge Retention
When you learn about a particular topic with practical implementation, no matter how complex it is, you are able to retain the information better. This is why immersive learning is so important in the corporate learning space. When you have a full-time job, retaining new information and engaging in numerous training sessions can be overwhelming. But when you perform the task practically in a controlled environment, it is easier to remember even the most minute information.
Paving the Way to Success
With people’s attention becoming shorter than that of a goldfish, immersive learning is the need of the hour. Immersive learning allows individuals to completely immerse themselves in the learning experience and gain practical knowledge about a concept. So, if you haven’t taken advantage of immersive learning for your organization, it is time to do so.