It is an exciting time for employee training. There are more ways to train than ever before – and many ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality.
Ed tech has made it even easier to implement advanced training tools and make them accessible from anywhere. If a team member has an internet connection, then they can access training materials.
The options continue to expand, offering better features that are smarter and capable of doing more of the heavy lifting for your training program.
The key is staying on top of eLearning developments so that you know which tech you need to use. What is trending in corporate training in 2022?
The Next Level of Virtual Reality Training
Virtual reality isn’t a new technology, but it is improving. Today’s VR tech is worlds better than what we had over 20 years ago. It’s becoming more affordable and significantly expands the training experience.
With VR, trainees can get nearly hands-on practice completing tasks without putting people or resources at risk. It’s already making waves in the business world, including the medical industry. Surgical training allows surgeons to practice their trade without putting a patient at risk
The University of California, Los Angeles conducted a study in 2019 that found that medical students who learned using VR completed an orthopedic procedure 20% faster than those that were taught through traditional methods only. They also completed 38% more steps correctly.
What makes this possible is how lifelike virtual reality has become. Graphical advancements create a better visual experience, with improvements using 3D scanning and photogrammetry. CGI has also helped make more believable characters with advanced movements and facial expressions.
The addition of haptic gloves also helps. These devices give tactile feedback. Instead of holding a controller, the user can wear the gloves and feel as well as hear and see a simulation.
The Augmented and Virtual Reality Trend Continues
Along with virtual reality, augmented reality also continues to trend in the eLearning space. Augmented reality brings VR into the real world. It creates a digital overlay that can provide instruction, display information, or otherwise guide a user through a process or lesson.
Both AR and VR increase employee engagement and productivity. They are highly customizable and immerse the user in the experience. Rather than answering test questions or writing essays, trainees can demonstrate their skills with the guidance of AR.
Personalized Training Enhances the Experience
Corporate training used to be treated as a one-size-fits-all process. Employees would go through the same training classes that usually relied on the same traditional learning methods. The eLearning industry has found that people often have different learning styles. Finding ways to meet those needs will get better results.
Many businesses now look for solutions that provide a personalized learning experience. Many LMS platforms are equipped with smart technology that adapts to the user. Material can be shared using different formats.
A good LMS should also encourage continuous learning. This is often done by recommending classes that match the user’s interests and skill set. This is a great tool for employee retention because it creates an opportunity for career development.
More Interactive Learning Elements
Employee engagement is important to success. If you want more engagement, then you want more interactivity. That’s why interactive learning elements are increasing in popularity.
One of the most common learning tools in this category are interactive videos. Video content is presented with interactive elements like questions, highlights, and supplemental information.
Another interactive tool is gamification. It turns training activities into a game, making them more interesting for the trainee. Leaderboards and personal scores also help employees determine how well they are doing and give them goals to work towards.
Interactive elements are a must-have in any modern training program.
Expanded Remote Training Options
Remote training is not a new concept but has been brought into the spotlight in recent years. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many businesses found themselves relying solely on remote learning for their training classes.
Now that things have opened again, remote training is still important. It gives trainees more flexibility and makes it possible to train people who don’t live in the immediate area. The demand for distance learning tools is constantly growing.
In the past, it was sometimes difficult to provide the same quality experience to both remote and in-person trainees. That has changed significantly. Now, it is possible to give remote learners nearly the same experience using ed tech. From online videos and webinars to VR and AR, anything can be accessed if there is an internet connection.
Mobile-first design has also become popular because it addresses the needs of the small screens that many remote learners rely on. Your LMS should adapt to different screen sizes and provide convenient solutions for remote trainees.
Prepare for Mixed Reality in the VR Space
As mentioned above, the emphasis on VR and AR is growing. The potential for a mixed reality experience is on the horizon. This would combine both technologies to give learners fully virtual simulations as well as real-life environments to train in.
This could be made possible using a passthrough feature. This feature lets a user step outside of the VR view into the real world. It uses sensors on a headset to adjust as the user moves.
This technology is still in its earlier stages and is not ready for mainstream use – yet. Given the increase in popularity of VR and AR, mixed reality has enormous potential in training. It’s worth keeping an eye on this year.
The Rise of the Metaverse
Many consider the metaverse to be the next phase of the internet. It uses VR and AR to create a 3D online world. It refers to a continuum of immersive experiences that let users engage in different ways.
Some elements of the metaverse are already out there and can be found in popular games like Minecraft, Fortnite, and Second Life. However, the potential to harness it for business and employee training is there. Companies like Microsoft and Meta (formerly Facebook) are investing heavily in this technology. They plan to build up social VR to establish platforms where people can learn, work, or otherwise engage remotely.
No matter which corporate training trends you implement in 2022, you need a solid LMS to back them up. Make sure the platform you choose is giving you the best value for your investment. Visit LMS.org to read LMS reviews and learn more about what’s coming in the eLearning industry.
