Training Industry Magazine - March/April 2019 - 9

GUEST EDITOR
ELIZABETH GREENE

TAKING A LEAP INTO
VIRTUAL REALITY

More and more organizations are turning
to innovative technologies to differentiate
themselves from the competition that is
swimming with similar products, services
and sales pitches. As organizations
focus on new initiatives and innovative
ideas, intended to drive the future of the
company to new heights, the excitement
can be heard from executive memos to
employee hallway conversations. If there
were a time to break away from traditional
training philosophies to a new training
dimension, the time is now!
Company initiatives involving new systems,
new technology or new processes often
involve acquiring new skills for employees.
As companies modernize and implement
technologies from machine learning to
humanoid robots, the employee skill
set required to keep up is significantly
changing. According to the World Economic
Forum, "By 2022, no less than 54 percent
of all employees will require significant reand upskilling."
Not only are the skill sets and job
categories changing during the Fourth
Industrial Revolution, the way in which
people learn is changing. Millennials are
playing a major role in the revamped
learning strategies taking place in many
organizations right now. Microlearning,
experiential learning, collaborative learning
cohorts, and virtual learning environments
are all methods recently implemented
in corporate learning programs with
the increasing numbers of millennials in
the workforce.
Take Action!
Acknowledging changing skill sets,
implementing training programs, and
addressing the evolving learning needs of
millennials can be a monumental task. So

how do you know what the best approach
is for your organization? The obvious
answer: Determine the best approach by
taking a close look at company initiatives,
resources and perceived adoption by
leadership and employees. Select the
options that are in highest alignment. The
not so obvious answer: Take a risk and
leap into another training dimension with
virtual reality (VR)!
If the thought of VR scares you, you're
not alone. The concept of VR and its
application in the corporate learning
environment is fairly new and can be
overwhelming. Learning about the basics
of VR is a good starting point. Luckily,
there are companies testing the waters
and sharing their results to prove that the
benefits outweigh the initial hurdles
of implementation:
*	 Bechtel - Safety and crane operator
training
*	 Fidelity - Empathy training for call
center employees
*	 KFC - Chicken frying skills training for
new employees
*	 NASA - Spacewalk training for NASA
astronauts
*	 UPS - Safety training for new drivers
*	 Walmart - New technology, customer
service, and compliance training for
new associates
It is only a matter of time before VR
becomes commonplace in all training
depar tments. After all, successful
applications of VR are already present
in corporate learning environments and
tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg are

supporting the movement toward VR with
ambitious company goals: "We want to
get a billion people in virtual reality."
The expanding use of VR coupled with
millennials' belief that VR products will
increase productivity could mean the
implementation of virtual reality in the
workplace may not be as hard pressed
as in earlier years. Millennials are already
using VR for gaming and are twice as
likely than other generations to
purchase a VR headset. With the
expansion of personal use, employees
will be less intimidated to use VR in a
professional setting.

THE TIME IS NOW
TO BREAK AWAY
FROM TRADITIONAL
TRAINING
PHILOSOPHIES TO
A NEW TRAINING
DIMENSION.
Each year the world of learning and
development takes on a new form.
Keeping abreast of the latest trends in
learning technology is one of the most
important requirements of a training
professional. There is no better time
than the present to take the leap and try
something new, bold, and innovative!
As Anthony de Mello once said, "Take
the Leap! You cannot cross a chasm in
two jumps!"

Elizabeth Greene is the director of global learning
and development at ON Semiconductor, with
15 years of experience in reinventing corporate
learning programs. Email Elizabeth.

T RAIN IN G I N DU STR Y M AGAZ INE - TRAINING IN ANOTHER DIMENSION 20 1 9 I WWW. T RAI NINGINDU S T RY . C OM/ MAGAZ I NE

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewarnold/2018/02/26/the-one-reason-why-many-millennials-would-use-virtual-reality-products-at-work/ https://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/pr-09072016 https://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/pr-09072016 https://www.pocket-lint.com/ar-vr/news/136540-what-is-vr-virtual-reality-explained https://www.pocket-lint.com/ar-vr/news/136540-what-is-vr-virtual-reality-explained http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2018.pdf https://www.bechtel.com/blog/innovation/november-2018/using-extended-reality-improve-safety-construction/ http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2018.pdf https://www.fidelitylabs.com/2017/10/13/exploring-virtual-reality-for-empathy-training/ http://www.fortune.com/2017/08/24/kfc-virtual-reality-chicken/ https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2018/05/10/virtual-reality-training-and-global-robotics-work-before-spacewalk/ http://www.fortune.com/2018/04/11/virtual-reality-ups-trucks-safety/ https://blog.walmart.com/innovation/20180920/how-vr-is-transforming-the-way-we-train-associates https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/11/16459636/mark-zuckerberg-oculus-rift-connect https://www.trainingindustry.com/magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Training Industry Magazine - March/April 2019

https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_winter2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_fall2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_summer2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_spring2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_winter2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_fall2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_summer2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_spring2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_winter2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20210910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20210708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20210506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20210304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20171112_se
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2016summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2016sales
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2016winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2015outsourcing
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2015leadership
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2015winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2014winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2013summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2013winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2012summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2012winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2011summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2011spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2011winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2010summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2010spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2010winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2009summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2009spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2009winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2008fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2008summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trainingindustry/tiq_2008spring
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com