Using simulations to deliver employee training is one of the most effective training methods as it provides a safe way for organizations to help their employees to learn vital skills needed. By facilitating a learning environment with the most realistic experiences similar to their workspace can help employees to reinforce theoretical knowledge with hands-on-training, giving them a better understanding of the concepts. Hence, enabling them to master the skills needed on the job.
What is Simulation & Use of Simulations to Improve Corporate Learning
Simulations fall under experiential learning where the learner is placed in a situation or model that imitates real-life process or system. They are applied in a variety of disciplines for practice and learning.
The important thing to understand about simulation is that it is a technique and not a technology which is used to replace or amplify real experiences with guided make-believe ones. Simulation by definition need not rely on computers, although computer simulations have gained enough popularity to become a discipline of its own. Since technology is a good asset to the field of simulation, most simulations rely greatly on it. There are many reasons why educational simulations are used. Some important ones are given below:
Simulations are comparatively less expensive than their real-life counterparts. For example, installing flight simulation software in a flight school is way cheaper than buying practice jet for each group of students.
Simulations are less risky. For example, practicing medical procedures on a patient simulator like SimMan poses no danger to human beings.
Simulations are guided scenarios and thus controllable. Even if it was possible to practice in a real-life scenario, the teacher and learner will have less control over it. Simulations can be paused and also controlled in many ways giving learners more time to register what they have learnt and practice in varied scenarios.
How are simulations used for training and learning new skills?
Simulation-based training is a highly effective way of transferring key skills to employees by immersing them in a learning environment that mirrors real-life work scenarios. It offers an optimum way for employers to assess the effectiveness of their training modules by putting the learned skills into practice. Employees can choose which skills to improve on and take specific training resources depending on the skills they require for their job.
Simulation training provides a virtual environment that allows employees to access the training module from any place at their convenience with minimal disruption during their work day. It allows the employees to track their progress and provide standardized feedback that can aid in developing skills. As these are cloud-based training modules, the organizations can easily update, modify or add new training materials regardless of time or place.
Benefits of simulations
The benefits of simulations are briefly described below:
Empirical knowledge: Learning cannot be complete by theoretical knowledge alone. Simulations help develop the practical knowledge of the learners as these techniques are the closest you can get to practical situations.
Immersive experience: Simulations are fully interactive like the real-life scenarios helping learners to get more involved in what they are learning.
Participation: Simulation provides hands-on practice and training for learners.
Motivation: Learner-involvement makes simulation more interesting and hence it acts as a motivator.
Personalization: Simulations are guided scenarios offering control. It has the ability to tailor to the needs of the learner.
Simulations are techniques that have redefined the traditional training module. With rapid improvements in technology, new opportunities to apply simulation-based training have emerged across various industries. Organizations can take advantage of this technological evolution and apply it to their training modules to improve their employees’ skills and efficiency.
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