Simulations In Corporation Training: 6 Reasons Why This Is A Good Idea
Training simulations are highly effective tools to impart training. They are popular among corporate learners because they allow employees to practice their skills and guide them through scenarios in real time. Simulated learning can include images, graphics, and sound to create a game-like environment for the learners. Corporate training plans should include business simulations, so that employees can acquire relevant skills without any risk.
Here are 6 main reasons explaining why most corporations today are increasingly using simulations in their training.
According to learning researchers, 70% of what employees learn is from experience, 20% is from their social interactions, and 10% is from traditional learning sources. Simulations are tools that emulate the real work environment, so that employees can identify with it. They provide experiential learning. The learners acquire knowledge faster, and retain it longer, because they can experience and apply concepts learned in a realistic, controlled environment.
2. Simulations Drive Change In Behavior
Driving change in behavior is a large feat because it challenges how the body behaves on a regular basis. In order to change learner behavior and make it stick, you have to make them practice the new behavior repeatedly. Learning simulations are cost-effective tools to standardize content that aims to change the learners' behavior.
Learners can practice, repeatedly, in a controlled environment. They can make mistakes and learn from them. They can experiment with new ways to deal with the same solution. The moment they are confident of their actions, they will be ready for a behavior change.
3. Simulations Are An Ideal Way To Train Large Numbers
Corporations with a large number of learners may find it expensive to implement traditional training programs organization-wide. The difficulty may not only be with the number of employees, but also with their geographical dispersion. Spending money on a venue, travel, and accommodations, to assemble everyone in one location for training, quickly adds up to a sizeable tab.
Simulated teaching can be launched via digital platforms. As long as your learners have access to the internet, they can receive training. In addition, new-age learners actually prefer learning from mobile devices. They may not be comfortable with physical limitations. Employees can learn at their workstations when their schedules allow, rather than having to carve out time for classroom training.
4. Simulations Are Risk-Free
Business simulations allow learners to perform tasks in the same way they will on-the-job. The catch here is that if they make wrong moves, there will not be any real-world consequences, since the simulations are in a controlled virtual environment.
Employees are not encouraged to experiment in their real-world job role because they could harm the company brand, or worse, other people. But in a simulated environment, they are not afraid to try out new things. If they fail, they are given a multiple numbers of retrials to correct their decision. They are provided with instant feedback and their wrong behavior is not committed to long-term memory. This feedback loop helps learners gain confidence to address their work in the real world.
5. Simulations Improve Knowledge Retention
Everybody remembers an entertaining experience. If they enjoy doing something they like, they will remember it for a long time. Simulations make learning fun. They create favorable emotions with the learner and the training content. Learners will retain knowledge for a longer time. They will also be able to recall the concepts and apply them on their job. So, take away boring traditional formats from your training strategy and offer your employees fun and engaging simulations.
6. Simulations Offer Immediate Feedback
Business simulations offer immediate feedback from the instructors, as well as from the platform. As a result, your learners have the opportunity to know their weaknesses and improve on them. They are, also, made aware of their strengths and encouraged to capitalize on them. Constructive feedback should be offered as soon as possible if you want your learners to avoid the same error in the future. Instant feedback ensures that the wrong behavior is not committed to their long-term memory. Instead, they absorb the correct behavior and apply it to their work.
At Designing Digitally, Inc. our realistic training simulations are the perfect way to teach skills and procedures that are dangerous or costly to perform. Learners can practice in a safe environment and gain confidence without the fear of substantial consequences.
For further information, you can get in touch with our experts who can create simulated training solutions specific to your requirements.
