The journey of a story starts with WOW and completes its loop with a NOW.
This is often expressed by Harris III, a storyteller, creative entrepreneur, and mentor to many.
Let’s explore what he means by that.
Typically, when we dream of a story in this context of designing for VR training solutions, we start with -
Can we build safe realistic-world environments for our blue and grey collar workers to feel immersed in learning?
Can it spark curiosity in them to dive deeper and unlock new competent on-ground skills, keeping them better prepared to handle 'n' number of harsh situations thrown at them at their hazardous jobs?
Does the 'Safety First' slogan not clearly convey that their lives are precious and that it matters the most?
Why is the training industry at the backbench?
Why is the training not fun?
Why are senior supervisors of the blue collar industry still the ones that don't practice safe standard operating procedures while monitoring the tasks in these day-to-day high-stakes situations?
Why are their names still coming up in compliance with past incidental learnings?
Why are training activities still producing the most boring redundant mediums like PPT and textual forms that don't make the workers wonder, "Wow, I learnt something today? What more can I unlock and explore in this field of work that I do so that I can be a conscious contributor to the team.”
The answers to all these curious questions lay deep within the mystery box of conscious user-centric self-learning.
Where they unravel the worlds of simulative scenes one by one. Where they take ownership and work together in a peer learning multi-player environment. Where they learn what clear effective communication truly means. Where their critical thinking skills and response skills work at their highest potency.
We aim to uplift conscious decision/action choices in our target audience (trainees) when they go through these trainings.
What do we plan to achieve in this journey of upskilling the workforce?
Enhanced Readiness: Understanding challenges at their tasks without any discrepancies.
Risk Mitigation: Training in VR gives opportunity to employees and workers to make mistakes and learn from their errors without real-world consequences. Through VR haptics and pass-through mode, it becomes a great visual and tactile practice ground to understand real-life tasks without the natural danger of traditional on-the-job training;
Cost Efficiency: Factories undergo downtime to train the workforce through conventional methods of training. Without disturbing ongoing operations, we minimize the need for physical resources and downtime through our users’ SEL(social-emotional learning) concrete VR training syllabi and curriculums. These curriculums serve the user's learning levels based on their engagement, retention, sentiment (human holistic well-being), exertion, and digital screen exposures.
How do we increase engagement and motivation to complete the training? And How to Design Narratives for Industrial Training?
Present dynamic scenarios that require quick thinking and problem-solving, keeping trainees/learners alert, engaged and actively involved.
Engagement is key to effective training. Workers are more likely to remember skills learned in an interactive environment. To foster muscle memory and build a sense of mastery, they are challenged to practice their tasks repeatedly. This repetition enhances their confidence in handling real-life situations, leading to improved job performance and increased safety metrics. Implement immediate feedback within the VR experience to correct unsafe practices in real-time. This cultivates a continuous learning cycle, helping workers understand the importance of safety and encouraging them to make better decisions on the job.
Workers can train at their own pace, revisiting challenging scenarios as needed. This flexibility helps accommodate diverse learning styles and schedules. Instead of sitting through lectures or scrolling through e-learning modules, workers find themselves in interactive scenarios that draw them in and encourage critical thinking. This hands-on approach not only makes learning more enjoyable but also helps with information retention and skill development.
Many VR platforms include progress metrics, allowing workers to visualize their improvement over time. This tracking fosters motivation, as employees can see how far they’ve come and set new targets for themselves.
Incorporate game-like features such as points, levels, scoring systems and rewards to motivate trainees and create a sense of friendly competition. By fostering this motivation, organizations encourage employees to complete their training and strive for excellence, resulting in a more committed and skilled workforce.
Enable multiplayer VR experiences for team-building and collaborative problem-solving to promote camaraderie and communication among workers. Ultimately, better-prepared workers are more likely to complete high-risk tasks safely, saving lives and preventing long-term disabilities that can impact their families and income.
Now an engaged workforce is a productive one.
The OSHA and ISO 45001 play a vital role in ensuring workplace safety across various industries. They set international standards for occupational health and safety management systems. By implementing these global benchmarks into VR training, organizations not only reflect the latest in safety management and achieve compliance but also cultivate a strong culture of safety that benefits everyone involved.
Best Practices for Implementing VR Training Aligned with Global Standards
Before implementing VR training, assess the specific needs of your workforce. Identify the skills and knowledge gaps that VR training can address.
Design VR modules that adhere to international standards, making your training relevant for multinational organizations.
Partner with professionals who have a solid understanding of OSHA and ISO standards. Their expertise will ensure that your VR training aligns with compliance regulations and industry best practices.
Also involve on-ground employees in developing the VR content to ensure it meets their needs and adheres to ISO principles, fostering a sense of ownership in the training process.
Design VR simulations that mirror real-life situations and feedback consequences employees might face. This realism increases the effectiveness of the training and enhances retention.
Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of your VR training programs. Conduct frequent user tests and collect feedback from participants/learners to identify areas for improvement and ensure the training meets its objectives.
Utilize data analytics from VR training sessions to pinpoint areas for enhancement, aligning with ISO's focus on continual improvement.
Regulations and standards are constantly evolving. Keep yourself informed about changes in OSHA and ISO guidelines to ensure your VR training remains compliant and relevant.
Laying the Groundwork for Certifications
VR is not the space for limiting our end-user's wonder and preparedness. Aligning VR training with OSHA and ISO standards prepares workers for valuable certifications recognized in the real-world market.
The real-world market could be a certified HEMM operator from Ultratech, a Certified Lancer from JSW, a Certified Chemical Handling expert from Tata Power, a Certified Tower Crane Operator from ABG and many more.
We create these platforms for our primary stakeholders, our industry workers to connect with the recognitions they choose to aspire to. That is why this is our Now!
Best Practices for Certification Readiness
Certification-Aligned Content: Ensure that training is relevant and practical, so develop VR modules and curriculums that cover the competencies required for industry certifications.
Use VR to conduct practical exams, providing a realistic assessment environment that accurately reflects workplace challenges.
Collaborate with certifying bodies to ensure VR training meets all necessary criteria, paving the way for valid certifications.
These credentials not only enhance employee qualifications but also strengthen the organization's reputation for prioritizing safety. Ultimately, immersive, standards-aligned training experiences can boost worker satisfaction, confidence, and engagement, laying a solid foundation for success in blue and grey-collar industries.
