Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

The immersive technology market continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Over $6 billion has been invested in AR, VR, and related technologies since 2012; this has fueled a transformation in how we will interact with media. The changes will open up huge opportunities for education and training, but they will also introduce new questions and challenges. It’s critical that we understand this evolving landscape before we take our first steps.

In this opening keynote, you will explore research from ARtillry, SuperData, and The eLearning Guild that will shed light on the growing landscape of immersive technology. Starting with the adage of “follow the money,” you will examine investments into these technologies and then dig deeper to see how actual platforms are evolving in both the consumer and enterprise spaces. You will also be exposed to information including hardware sales figures and survey data to gain an understanding of what the short-term and long-term opportunities are for learning and development. 

In a highly technical or complex classroom, trainers struggle to pass knowledge to learners in a manner that is both impactful and engaging. Technical classrooms include elaborate and costly pieces of equipment that are not easily shared among all learners in the classroom at the same time. Technical classes may also include diverse learners of varying technical ability and comprehension. How can AR help in this environment?

This session will explore the use of AR in Aristocrat Technologies’ innovative teaching experience for casino games repair. You will be shown step-by-step how AR was used to turn a technical “Games 101” class into a learner-focused, interactive experience modeled directly after the employees’ daily work responsibilities. You will explore scenarios in which AR worked well or presented challenges to trainers and learners. Finally, you will learn how AR became a cost-saving tool for the learning solutions department.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to utilize AR to engage learners of varying technical skills and technical backgrounds
• How to cut technical classroom costs using AR
• How to take learners out of the classroom into real-time work environments
• How BYOP (bring your own phone) can work in a technical classroom
• How to incorporate AR into a technical curriculum
• How AR and the instructor can work together in a technical training environment

Audience:

Designers, developers, and managers.

Technology discussed in this session:

Zappar application, 360-degree digital cameras, smartphones, and tablets.

Confused about 360-degree video? Not sure where to start, what hardware to use, what software to edit with, where to publish it, or how to use it in your next eLearning course? This session will address all these questions using a hands-on approach.

In this session, participants will identify a project, identify issues with shooting 360-degree video, shoot the video (using a 360-degree camera), edit the video, and publish it using the latest tools and resources. At the end of the workshop, you’ll know exactly what to do to shoot and publish your next 360 video.

In this session, you will learn:

• What 360-degree video is, and how it’s different from VR
• How to shoot 360-degree video and its drawbacks
• How to edit 360-degree video
• How to publish 360-degree video

Audience:

Designers, developers, and managers.

Technology discussed in this session:

360-degree video, Ricoh Theta V camera, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, and YouTube publishing using Adobe Media Encoder.

Technology required:

Laptop running Adobe Premiere Pro (latest version) or Final Cut Pro with 360-degree plugin.

You’re building VR simulators, and you need to either scale up your company’s production capabilities or get more productivity out of the staff you have. Join this session to discuss a real-world case study that demonstrates the steps followed to accomplish both goals.

This session will use AAA video game development practices as a guide to help define best practices around building teams and increasing productivity. You will learn how to address changing needs, as well as the best ways to maintain motivation when working in complexity.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to build a multi-disciplinary team
• How to conduct performance management
• How to manage change as you build for scalability
• How to motivate and reward staff working on complex technical projects

Audience:

Managers and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Virtual reality.

3-D content is phenomenally cool—from basic polygonal models to full human-like characters, buildings, vehicles, and even complete environments. Because 3-D content has historically taken vast resources (i.e., time and money) to create, 3-D resources are often relegated to video games, simulations, and/or VR only. However, creating, editing, or obtaining 3-D models for everyday use in eLearning doesn’t have to be cost-prohibitive or take a lot of time.

This session will discuss tools, software, and online sites that allow you to create, edit, customize, and display 3-D models—all available to use right now. You’ll explore what’s out there, what each tool does, and possible ways to use the elements within your existing content. These resources are free or “near-free,” requiring little in up-front costs. You’ll also learn how to use 3-D content in photos, images, animations, vignettes, and even VR demos and full-blown simulations. Finally, you’ll explore real-world solutions and possible ways to use 3-D: reusable characters with editable facial expressions and poses, customized 3-D objects and backgrounds, and embedded real-time 3-D object viewers.

In this session, you will learn:

• About available tools, software, and resources to create 3-D content
• About the basics of 3-D character creation
• What rigging/posing is
• What blendshapes are
• About various open-source 3-D tools
• How to easily add 3-D to eLearning

Audience:

Designers, developers, and managers.

Technology discussed in this session:

Mixamo, TurboSquid, and Sketchfab. Participants may download the following solutions prior to the session, though they are not required: Blender, Adobe Fuse CC, and MakeHuman.

Virtual reality has exploded over the past year, extending to conversations in the mobile, gaming, and video landscape. There’s a rapidly rising interest in how to use this new technology for learning and performance. With “VR” now one of the hottest buzzwords, how much is hype and how much is substance?

In this session, you will explore the current state of virtual reality in 2018. You will see examples of virtual reality in practice in both the consumer and enterprise markets. You will examine what’s working—and what’s not—and how you can apply those lessons to learning and development.

In this session you will learn:

• About the critical components of a virtual reality experience
• How early adopters are using VR for L&D
• About common mistakes to avoid
• What questions to ask to determine whether VR is right for your organization
• How consumer-led VR is shaping VR’s use in training

Audience:

Novice to advanced designers, developers, managers, and executives.

Technology discussed in this session:

Virtual reality platforms, including multiple types of hardware and software.

Some job requirements can be hard to practice. Simulating tasks may be too dangerous, too expensive to set up, or too hard to distribute to employees across geographies. Vistual reality is a viable solution to address such challenges. In VR, risks are free, design and development can be cheaper than setting up real-world training scenarios, and, as VR headsets can easily be shipped to different places, the need to fly people into locations for training is reduced.

In this session, you will expolore a VR simulation case study from the military, in which a VR simulation is used to improve communication and operator compliance with the expectation of saving lives. Lessons learned and best practices will be shared with the audience.

In this session you will learn:

• The ROI potential of VR simulations
• How VR can be used to reduce training and operations risks
• How communication can be improved in VR simulations
• The process of taking a VR training idea from concept to implementation

Audience:

Managers and senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Virtual reality, augmented reality, 3-D immersion.

We’ve all heard that VR training experiences have a proven higher retention rate, with retention gains reaching 75 percent in comparison to standard video, eLearning, or textbook training. What we need to know is how to create and deploy VR training quickly and cost effectively, with the systems we have today. This session will cover the creation, editing, publishing, and tracking of VR training using 360 video.

In this session, you will learn about the creation, editing, publishing, and tracking of VR training using 360 video. You will explore the potential learning applications for using VR, and how it can be integrated into your current learning environment.

In this session, you will learn:

• The differences between VR, AR, and MR
• About CenarioVR, a new tool for creating VR training
• How to link multiple 360 videos together to create a story
• How to add interaction and instruction to your VR project

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).

Getting started with augmented reality can be hard and can require complex code. What if you are not a coder and still want to build some level of augmented reality for your learners? Luckily, Wikitude Studio makes it easy to build augmented reality experiences.

In this hands-on session, you will gain the experience of what it takes to get started with Wikitude Studio; how to build markers, and content that shows when those markers are visible; and how to publish your content for your learners. In the end, you will walk away with your own AR app!

In this session, you will learn:

• How to get started using Wikitude Studio
• How to create markers
• How to create content that shows up when markers are visible
• How to publish your content for your learners

Audience:

Designers, developers, and managers.

Technology required:

Wikitude Studio.

You’ve heard the buzz: Virtual reality for learning and development is coming! Are you intrigued? Do you really want to hear about a successful VR learning program and how it was developed, start to finish? Join this informative session with a case study to help you make the leap from theory to practice.

In this session, you’ll learn about the journey to create Hilton’s business simulation and, through this, what types of business and learning challenges are a good fit for VR; how to be a pioneer and get buy-in from senior leaders; and lessons learned related to technology, process, and resources. Through this case study session, you’ll learn best practices to help you bring your content to life with VR.

In this session, you will learn:

• How an effective VR learning solution was developed to meet a critical business need
• What types of business and learning challenges may be solved by VR solutions
• How to get buy-in from senior leaders for a VR solution
• Best practices that will help you launch VR in your organization

Audience:

Managers and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

360 immersive experiences and 3-D immersive environments for Oculus.

VR and AR are here. Apple ARKit and Google ARCore are turning two billion phones into a magic lens that can arm your workforce with superpowers. Full-body VR offers a digital rehearsal space of such convincing verisimilitude that learners feel they are actually there. How are Fortune 500 companies driving business results by leaving the glowing rectangular screens behind to step into the virtual and augmented reality of the future?

The new-generation phone-based AR can make the real world the canvas of any number of learning activities, from scavenger hunts to performance support. Meanwhile, VR is used as a “flight simulator” for any technical task that’s too dangerous, expensive, or inconvenient to practice in real life. It is also hailed as the “ultimate empathy machine” for any soft skill training. In this session, you will learn how industry leaders from healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing are ushering in a new era of experiential and visceral learning with mixed reality.

In this session, you will learn:

• How a large number of enterprise-scale organizations have already demonstrated dramatic performance improvements with VR learning
• How to leverage the cost of developing for VR and AR by deploying the same simulation to any flat-screen device, including desktops, tablets, and phones
• How to develop VR and AR learning programs, along with typical timelines and budgets
• How to make the business case for virtual and augmented reality learning

Audience:

Managers and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

ARKit, ARCore, Unity, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift.

Virtual reality is a developing medium that requires a fresh approach and planning for case-based learning projects. Unlike traditional framed video, there are no close-ups, no pans, no reveal; everything is in frame all the time. Every aspect, from storyboarding to the design process to filming, must be approached from a new perspective and refined as you learn from previous projects.

Using a case study as an example, this session will walk you through the new challenges of shooting 360 video. Over 100 years of film rules no longer apply. You’ll see how using layering and virtual reality objects can further enhance the user experience. You will learn a process for designing, storyboarding, and preparing for whatever new wrinkles 360 video production brings.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to approach storyboarding for a 360 video with embedded VR elements
• How to utilize layering in the design process to augment your 360 video with virtual reality
• About some of the challenges of filming 360 video
• How to further refine your virtual reality production

Audience:

Designers.

Technology discussed in this session:

360 video, virtual reality, LG 360 Cam (R105), Samsung Gear 360 (2017), Samsung Gear VR (v2), Google Daydream View, GoPro 360 rig, Wonda VR storyboarder, and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Instructional videos are an important tool when frontloading instructional content, but they are limited when it comes to engaging learners with real-world simulations. This session will provide an in-depth examination of how one team expanded their content offerings by developing a gamified driving simulation. The simulation was designed to introduce Honda sales consultants to a new advanced-powertrain vehicle, and show them how its complex powertrain operates when driving in different environments.

In this session, you’ll learn of the challenge to support a recent advanced-powertrain vehicle launch with a major OEM, and how the team wanted to expand content offerings beyond video instruction. You’ll learn how they developed a gamified driving simulation that applied the company’s national advertising research. You’ll see the result, an interactive driving simulation that instructs players on the vehicle’s powertrain technology and how different driving conditions affect its operation. The game was developed as a downloadable iOS app and was included as part of in-dealership training prior to consultants’ first test drive of the car.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to craft instructional content into gamified simulations using available cutting-edge technologies
• How to leverage available audience research to better meet instructional goals
• Three tips for thinking like a game player
• Three tricks for maintaining user engagement in gamified simulations
• How to measure learner success

Audience:

Designers and managers.

Technology discussed in this session:

Computers, tablets, mobile devices, Adobe After Effects, and Adobe Photoshop.

Choosing between AR and VR for better learning experiences and efficacy is very important for digital learning. Once the concept or content is finalized, deciding the correct approach for developing AR or VR is vital. Selecting the best developmental tool and workflow can be tricky considering the diverse options available in tools, devices, platforms, and standards in the digital space.

In this session, you will learn various developmental workflows for AR, VR, and 360-degree videos and images, and methods to develop effective AR/VR applications. You will gain insight on developing AR/VR learning apps of different complexity, and you’ll examine sample demos for all workflow stages discussed.

In this session, you will learn:

• Augmented reality app development workflows for different complexity levels
• Virtual reality app development workflows for different complexity levels
• Interactive 360 video/image development workflows for different complexity levels
• How to select the development tools and target devices for AR and VR

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Augmented reality, virtual reality, and 360-degree videos, Oculus Rift, Oculus Go, Google Daydream, iOS and Android devices.

Virtual reality (VR) is predicted to be the next big thing in learning, but can this trend really impact the way people learn? When should you consider adopting VR as a strategy? Which tools and technologies should you invest in? What design approach should you follow? This session will answer all your questions and more, positioning you for success as you kick off your VR project.

In this session you will also explore common questions like, How does this relate to learning, especially in the corporate world? Can VR really be used in training? How does one go about bringing this together? Are there any design principles to follow?

In this session, you will learn:

• When to consider VR for a training program
• How to design a VR learning experience
• Tools, technologies, and platforms to consider
• Insights into VR content development
• How to measure the effectiveness of VR

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Unity 3-D, smart glasses, VR head gear (PC tethered, mobile).

Augmented reality (AR) is a widely used technology in games, marketing, and everyday apps, but what about learning and development? Where do you get started? Where do you use it? How should you use it? Finding answers to these questions can cause developers to overlook the potential this technology holds and just how easy, effective, and affordable it can be to get started.

In this session, you will see how easy it is to get started using augmented reality (AR) in development. You will be introduced to free and low-cost tools and resources that will make developing an AR project simple, effective, and engaging. During this session you will have the opportunity to create an AR experience and live-test some existing AR projects. You will leave this session with the working knowledge of how to plan, build, and share an AR project with the world.

In this session, you will learn:

• The difference between augmented, mixed, and virtual reality
• About free and low-cost tools that are available to create an AR project
• What elements makes a successful AR project
• How to incorporate AR into your design workflow
• About AR project ideas that can be implemented into your organization
• How to build an interactive AR project you can showcase after the conference

Audience:

Designers, developers, and managers.

Technology discussed in this session:

Augmented reality, mixed reality, Google, AR, Core Unity development tool, Zappar Designer, Zappar Mobile App, Zapworks Studio.

Participant technology requirements:

Laptop or mobile device.

Virtual reality will lead to a revolution in business, professional development, education, and entertainment. But VR raises a new set of challenges due to the deeply compelling nature of immersive environments. Unlike media on a screen, VR hijacks your senses, turning the virtual into reality. What are some of the ethical issues VR creates? How do you address the emotional impact of deeply realistic, immersive environments?

This session explores ethical challenges that are coming up in the early stages of VR development. You will examine how to create learning experiences, advocacy messages, and campaigns in VR without projecting a single point of view and exclusivity. You will learn from specific examples where the failure to consider user reactions or larger social issues has resulted in controversial VR projects. Finally, you will examine how the rapidly evolving developments in social VR will not only foster new social connections and virtual communities, but also open the door to bad-faith actors trying to break those bonds.

In this session, you will learn:

• How the novelty of VR can lead to its misapplication in specific settings and audiences
• About major projects that led to controversy when designers did not consider the larger cultural issues at play
• About the characteristics of messaging campaigns that effectively leverage VR experiences
• How social VR will not only create new opportunities for organizations, but also new challenges for virtual communities

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

VR apps and projects; 360-degree videos.

A large, US-based quick-service restaurant chain was entering the Indian market, planning to open about 1,500 stores in India. The number of trainers was not sufficient to cover the vast geography, and the organization decided to convert 50 to 70 percent of experiential and on-the-job training to simulated workbenches. The plan was to carve out simulations on point of sale (POS) using a limited number of trainers.

In this session, you will learn how to create simulations from actual IT applications for learners to use after they finish the training. You will also learn how to plan the training mix to decide which part of training to allocate to simulated learning. You’ll learn about simple operation research (OR) techniques for planning any large critical investment in simulations. Finally, you’ll see an actual working simulation creation process, demonstrated with a rapid authoring tool such as Articulate 360.

In this session, you will learn:

• Operation research techniques to plan your training mix
• How to use Articulate for application-based simulations
• How to use Articulate 360 to create non-system-based simulations
• How to create simulations using non-technical business resources

Audience:

Developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Articulate 360.

As technology delivers content directly into the hectic world of target audiences, user experience designers are faced with the challenge of presenting information that is disruptive and helpful all at once. With AR and VR, the UX is unique in that the designer builds the context on a screenless platform with nonlinear content. Attendees of this session will see proven methods and innovative examples of smart UX design for AR/VR.

In this session, you will analyze how to prioritize the ACT connection (audience, context, and technology) for effective user experience in AR/VR use cases. This includes practicing audience empathy, understanding user reaction to new technology, and evaluating contextual requirements and technology opportunities and limitations. You will have the opportunity to explore the new UX challenges of 360-degree context, screenless interfaces, new interaction standards, gesture input, and interactivity with the surrounding world (AR) or a newly created world (VR). Finally, you will evaluate actual use cases of AR and VR training successes and failures as delivered by industry leaders.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to know and understand target users by using audience empathy practices
• How to meet user reluctance or pushback to new technology and ways of learning
• What types of use cases and environments are best suited for AR and VR delivery
• About new styles and approaches for human interaction in a screenless context
• About design components in VR such as head tracking, acceleration, reticles, scale, audio, and more

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Google Glass for Enterprise, Microsoft HoloLens HUD, and HMD devices.

Moving your organization forward with new approaches to learning and development can be challenging—especially when the new approaches involve nontraditional ideas or technologies. Our Overcoming Barriers sessions bring together people who have already walked this path to share what they have learned. Join our panel of experts as they discuss how you can overcome the most common barriers to incorporating virtual reality into your training and development programs.

Audience:

Novice to advanced designers, developers, managers, and executives.

Technology discussed in this session:

Virtual reality platforms, including multiple types of hardware and software.

You don’t have to look very long to find reports and studies that say there is widespread dissatisfaction with the learning function inside organizations around the world. A 2017 study found that 91 percent of learning and development professionals believe new approaches to learning and new technologies are needed. And as the workplace continues its rapid changes, the need to upskill and develop employees has never been greater.

Enter virtual reality, which has become the solution to corporate learning’s problems. In its infancy as a new technology, VR has drastically improved the way individuals learn and retain information. In this session, STRIVR VP of product Yelena Drabkin will discuss how employee training can be accelerated and improved upon using VR technology. In this session, you’ll learn why some of the world’s biggest companies are turning to VR to train their workforce, the science behind VR, and why it’s such a great fit for learning, as well as the importance of the data insights VR provides.

In this session, you will learn:

• The data that proves VR to be a highly effective learning tool
• Why VR is a great tool for workplace L&D
• Why VR is such a powerful training tool
• How STRIVR is utilizing VR for effective learning

Audience:

Managers and senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

VR (Oculus).

Virtual reality-based training offers a potent opportunity to place workers in a close approximation of the point of work, where learning has the greatest impact. However, since this still is an emerging technology, there is a lack of long-term data and case studies, and there are many misconceptions surrounding cost and best operating practices.

In this session, you will explore the global disruption being caused by virtual reality as a medium for training and professional development. You’ll examine the myths surrounding virtual reality through an exploration of case studies and the latest data available. You will receive an overview of the start-up cost and the best operating practices to allow you to evaluate the ROI of virtual, computer, and mobile-based simulations.

In this session, you will learn:

• About game-based training
• About virtual reality training
• About computer and mobile-based simulations
• About gamification

Audience:

Designers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Virtual reality simulations, computer and mobile-based simulations.

Learning to program using a new software development kit (SDK) requires a time commitment large enough to discourage new AR developers. This is compounded by the fact that there are multiple AR SDKs to choose from. Understanding the features, pros, and cons of Vuforia will help you determine whether it’s the right platform for you and will serve as a frame of reference for comparison if you explore other SDKs.

In this session, you’ll gain an overview of the features available in the Vuforia SDK for augmented reality. You’ll explore how these features are beneficial for developing performance support solutions. You’ll see examples of how you can use Vuforia’s recognition capabilities to see and react to objects, images, text, and shapes. You’ll learn about the platforms and development approaches supported by Vuforia.

In this session, you will learn:

• About the features available in Vuforia
• How Vuforia’s features benefit performance support solutions
• Which platforms Vuforia supports
• Which development approaches Vuforia supports
• About pitfalls to avoid when getting started with Vuforia

Audience:

Designers and developers.

Technology discussed in this session:

Vuforia and Unity.

Augmented reality is “new,” but it’s already stuck in a rut. Games and entertainment abound, simple marker-based AR experiences are getting attention, but where are the truly groundbreaking applications? Join this session to explore some of the more advanced things that are possible when you add computer vision and machine learning to AR in order to bridge performance and learning.

In this session, examples from outside the learning world that allow people to do fantastic things with advanced technologies like computer vision, machine learning, and associated next-gen systems will be brought forth and positioned as “what-if” scenarios. Hypothetical performance issues will be discussed with ideas on how to close those gaps with those technologies. You will be encouraged to share tough challenges, and the group will ideate together on how to solve some of those dicey problems collaboratively.

In this session, you will learn:

• How AR can be augmented with computer vision and machine learning
• Where AR, computer vision, and machine learning are being used outside the learning industry to great effect
• How to ideate solutions for closing performance gaps using computer vision and machine learning
• What key computer vision and machine learning tools are available

Audience:

Managers and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

AR, ARCore, ARKit, CoreVision, computer vision, OCR, Core ML, TensorFlow, and machine learning.

You can have the best trainers possible, but the fact remains that most effective learning happens on the job. The ideal situation would be to immerse new employees into the job right away while minimizing the risk of mistakes. Virtual reality training has the potential to make this a reality. VR training immerses participants into a fun and engaging environment that closely simulates actual work situations.

Faculty and staff from North Carolina State University recently partnered with PNC Arena to create a 360 VR video-based training program for their guest relations employees. This session will show how the program was created, what guided the development process, and how trainees are currently using it to learn and make decisions without fear of mistakes. You will be able to experience the VR training firsthand, and you’ll learn how to create your own VR training program with a design and production process model.

In this session, you will learn:

• About the results of a creative partnership between academia and the private sector
• About the development steps undertaken to create a VR training environment for performance improvement
• How to facilitate a VR training module in your program
• About the platforms and technology used to create and experience the program

Audience:

Designers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

360 video production equipment, classroom-ready VR headsets, interactive 360 video authoring (WondaVR).

In today’s workplace, one-size-fits-all onboarding methods won’t fit. There is a need to optimize the time-to-contribution metric: the time it takes employees to be productive. Role-specific and realistic onboarding becomes imperative. Ericsson’s multi-path learning platform, Jumpstart, is undergoing an extreme makeover. The original platform allows for role-specific onboarding experiences using multimedia content. Version 2.0 amplifies the learning by recreating real-life scenarios using 360 VR experiences, anchored in a multi-path environment.

In this session, you will learn how to identify ideal multi-path learning use cases for virtual reality learning solutions. You will discover a new process for creating multi-path VR learning solutions from concept to development. You’ll examine the pitfalls that can thwart your robust multi-path VR solution (and how to avoid them), as well as how to incorporate a fail-fast, fail-often process into project management.

In this session, you will learn:

• About ideal use cases for multi-path virtual reality learning solutions
• How to create multi-path VR learning solutions
• How to avoid typical hazards to the project
• Change management techniques to successfully drive adoption

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Multi-path virtual reality, VR development, Unity, video editing and production, 3-D rendering tools, KanbanFlow, and VR headsets (e.g., Vive and HooToo).

You’ve heard the proverb, “You give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. You teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” How can this be accomplished quickly, scalably, and effectively using simulations, both as team-based and self-directed learning activities?

In this session, you will learn how PwC uses simulations to gain insights into team and individual performance. You’ll see how PwC designs simulations supported by healthy competition and evaluated with robust analytics. You will experience the effectiveness of simulations through a team-based competitive activity, then explore how gaming and analytics can help you determine learning effectiveness and strategies for addressing performance gaps.

In this session, you will learn:

• How PwC uses simulations in creative ways
• How analytics provide insights into performance gaps and strategies to address them
• About the strategies PwC uses to address and remediate performance gaps
• About rapid design simulation builder tools and their features

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

BranchTrack and EmpowerTheUser.

Technology required:

Laptop with internet connection.

Augmented and virtual reality technologies are exciting. They offer new opportunities to support learning and performance, which is why training and education professionals are so interested in these emerging tools. While the technologies themselves are becoming more affordable, it’s still a significant expense to add AR and/or VR to your organizational learning strategy. How can you make sure you allocate your spending wisely?

In this session, you will explore the questions that need to be answered in order to maximize your investment in AR or VR hardware. You will examine the limitations of existing hardware and how they can be addressed. You will discover the content limitations of different hardware and what is the best fit for your goals. You will look at the evolving hardware road map and to determine the right time for you to invest. You will leave this session better prepared to make investments in AR and VR technologies.

In this session, you will learn:

• The limitations of existing hardware and how they can be addressed
• Content limitations for different hardware
• How hardware is evolving
• The right time for you to invest
• The scope of the hardware and peripherals ecosystem

Audience:
Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.). 

Technology discussed in this session:
Various AR and VR hardware and applications.

There’s fast-growing interest in the usage of AR and VR for education and training. According to SuperData Research, investments in AR and VR technologies will grow from $1.6 billion in 2017 to over $3.1 billion in 2020. Much of that investment is being funneled towards projects built with education and training in mind. AR and VR are emerging quickly, but what does it mean for today’s learning organizations?

In this session, you will examine the current and future opportunities posed by augmented and virtual reality. Using recent research from The eLearning Guild, you will learn about how organizations are using these technologies today and how organizations intend to use these technologies tomorrow. You will explore examples from early adopters, as well as advancements in these technologies that are transforming how we look at learning and development. Join us to understand why these technologies are so powerful, and how you can prepare yourself for the changes they will bring to your work.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Kick-start your day with Morning Buzz, the ever-popular “Early Bird” discussions. This is your chance to grab a cup of coffee and meet other conference attendees in a relaxed, casual environment, so you can share your best practices, insights, and tips while learning from one another’s experiences.

Bridging the gap between tech mania and the experience of being inside the human body, Jaron Lanier’s inspiring keynote takes a look at what it means to be human at a moment of unprecedented technological possibility. Through a fascinating look back over his life in technology, Mr. Lanier exposes VR’s ability to illuminate and amplify our understanding of our species, providing a new perspective on how the brain and body connect to the world. Join us as the father of virtual reality explains its dazzling possibilities by reflecting on his own lifelong relationship with technology, and discover how VR can actually make our lives richer and fuller.

Producing immersive augmented reality (iAR) learning experiences requires a skill set that many instructional designers have not yet acquired. Determining that training efficacy can benefit from iAR is one thing, but producing an effective experience can be daunting when you haven’t made one before. How does a designer get started? What tools are available to learn how? Can designers learn it on their own?

In this session, you will learn about self-teaching the basics of producing an iAR learning experience. You’ll walk through a workflow using off-the-shelf tools available at stores like Best Buy and the iOS App Store. And you will explore how to get the finished piece to work within a typical learning management system.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to determine when an iAR activity can increase efficacy
• How to select a 360 camera you can afford
• What goes into making a spherical panoramic image
• How to add interactivity with ThingLink 360
• How a drone can add to an immersive experience

Audience:

Designers, developers, and managers.

Technology discussed in this session:

Panorama cameras (airborne and mounted), stitching software (Macintosh and Windows), mobile workflow (iPad), and ThingLink 360.

In preparation for the launch of a brand-new regional haul truck in their key markets, Volvo Trucks had both a dealer training and customer engagement challenge ahead of them. A geographically dispersed dealer base made in-person sales training within the launch timeframe challenging. Similarly, the complexity and availability of the new trucks made it unwieldy to engage customers in live product demonstrations.

In this session, you will learn how Volvo Trucks and LearningMate used a blended VR and mobile learning approach to create effective learning and customer engagement experiences. You’ll find out why Volvo chose a VR solution, hear the pitch for internal stakeholder buy-in, and learn how a successful partnership with their marketing team resulted in a holistic, cost-effective solution for both dealers and customers. You’ll also take a closer look at the development cycle, the decision-making process behind the design, the technologies used, and a proposed analytics solution to help drive business engagement in the future.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to create a business case for the organization to embrace immersive learning methods
• How a blended VR-mobile approach can make for more effective learning experiences
• Key guiding principles of VR design
• How to address deployment challenges

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Unity 3D.

Both augmented reality and virtual reality technologies address a world that is 3-D, while most traditional digital learning technology addressed a flat landscape. The movement to 3-D landscapes is going to require new skill sets, including new coding skills. With many possible solutions out there for producing 3-D graphics, digital learning needs a way of producing 3-D that is congruent with tools and presentation methods in current use.

In this session, you’ll learn the fundamentals of coding 3-D graphics with JavaScript and the BabylonJS library. Babylon, with just a few lines of code, can have you producing 3-D objects that display in any contemporary web browser. You’ll code along with the instructor as you learn to leverage JavaScript coding to produce 3-D models that can be used in both education and gaming. After this hands-on session, you’ll be able to create fundamental 3-D shapes, position camera objects, and create textures. You’ll be well positioned to go on to more advanced study of JavaScript and BabylonJS.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to use the BabylonJS library
• How to create set shapes
• How to create parametric shapes
• How to use a solid particle system
• How to apply camera behaviors
• How to use the BabylonJS documentation
• Where to go next to further learning

Audience:

Designers and developers.

Technology discussed in this session:

JavaScript and BabylonJS.

Technology required:

Windows or Mac with text editor and web browser. Brackets (free at Brackets.io) and Chrome are preferred.

Training firefighters in the field is an expensive endeavor. Traditional field training exercises involve large teams of firefighters, their equipment, a dedicated training ground, and set-up and tear-down time for each field exercise. When training exercises are not performed frequently and with precision to shift tactical knowledge to long-term memory, lives are at stake on the fireground. Additionally, firefighters simply do not experience fires every day.

In this session, you will learn how TargetSolutions, a Vector Solutions brand, is transforming firefighter training by developing the industry’s first immersive, interactive virtual reality experience for firefighters. You will examine a prototype microcourse developed in collaboration with a fire house and a video production company on the concept of smoke reading, i.e., how to attack a fire based on what the smoke tells you. In the prototype, firefighters receive instruction on smoke types and then face several scenarios where they must decide how to best attack the fires presented.

In this session, you will learn:

• About the benefits and challenges of using VR for firefighting simulation
• How to implement decision-making into your VR project
• How to manage a large-scale VR project

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executives, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Virtual reality with 360-degree video.

Social VR has the opportunity to bring learners from all over the world into a shared environment for collaboration, simulations, and serious games. While the potential is immense, broad-scale adoption of VR hardware will take some time. This session will describe how companies are accommodating this adoption life cycle by offering social learning experiences that people can log in to on mobile (2-D), desktop, and fully immersive VR.

In this session, you will learn how you can deliver education through a social virtual reality platform. You’ll learn about the issue of VR hardware adoption and how it is possible to bring learners together, whether they’re on a mobile device (non-VR), on a desktop computer, or inside a head-mounted VR device. There will be examples and demonstrations, including from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and eXp Realty.

In this session, you will learn:

• About the benefits of social VR for learning
• How companies can offer a shared distance learning experience via mobile, desktop, and fully immersive VR
• About examples of return on investment from a social virtual reality platform
• About the current state-of-the-art social VR platforms and where they are headed
• About opportunities for new approaches to learning assessment via VR

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

iOS, Android, PC, Mac, Oculus, HTC Vive, AltspaceVR, VirBELA, High Fidelity, and Engage.

For millennia learning has been a social experience, and this critical factor has not been supported well in first-generation eLearning solutions. Until now, it was difficult to replicate the power of the live experience online in a scalable, replicable, and affordable way. However, multi-user VR opens the door to truly immersive collaboration and social learning.

In this session, the Sinespace Learning team will build and publish a unique, multi-user virtual learning environment before your eyes. VR has exponentially more value in a multi-user scanario. Learning is social, and the most complicated part is how people behave and react, and how they contribute to the overall experience. Bringing people together to collaborate and explore makes learning more contextual, effective, and engaging.  We’ll show how easy it is to create a multi-user environment using the Sinespace platform. Attendees will participate in the creation of the environment in an exciting improv session and leave with access to it.

In this session, you will learn:

• How easy and scalable creating muti-user VR environments can be
• Best practices for building engaging multi-user training scenarios
• Ways to create a replicable environment that can be used across projects and initiatives
• Tips for affordable approaches to VR development

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Sinespace Learning VR headsets, multi-user VR.

Training professionals in many organizations face similar challenges: how to ensure training is engaging, meaningful, and applied on the job. VR and AR can help ensure learner engagement, but how can they be leveraged to create meaningful experiences that are transferred to the job? We will consider these challenges in this session and view examples of VR and AR that create meaningful engagements that have immediate application to the job.

During this session we will examine these questions through a broad range of case studies developed for the life sciences for diverse audiences, including physicians, sales leadership, sales personnel, caregivers, and patients. These case studies illustrate how augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) can be used to build skills and knowledge, create empathy, and engage learners at the highest levels of their professions in learning that has immediate transfer to the business.

In this session, you will learn:

• How VR can be used to build skills and knowledge in a wide range of areas
• How VR is changing our approach to patient education and patient advocacy
• How to communicate the value of AR and VR to gain buy-in from stakeholders
• How to develop AR and VR experiences that have immediate transfer of learning to the job.

Technology discussed in this session:

Oculus, HTC Vive, iOS, Android.

While YouTube and others make viewing online 360 video easy, creating these videos requires special cameras, equipment, setup, and forethought. But did you know that you can simulate this same look and feel using Blender, the open-source 3-D editing software, to create 360 video?

In this session, you will learn how to create 360 videos leveraging the power of Blender. While you can certainly insert video captured with a specialized 360 video camera, this session will focus on how to create, simulate, and edit 360 video using Blender’s animation and compositing tools. The final product will be rendered using Blender’s equirectangular camera to facilitate the 360-degree viewable perspective, then uploaded to YouTube.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to create 360 video using Blender
• How to animate, composite, and render video in Blender
• The basics of 3-D image mapping, and what HDRI maps are
• How to prepare and upload 360 video for YouTube

Audience:

Designers and developers.

Technology discussed in this session:

YouTube, 360 video, Blender, animation, keyframes, compositing, rendering, equirectangular camera, Python (code snippet), video codecs (AVI, MP4, etc.), audio files (WAV, MP3, etc.), 3-D image mapping, spherical mapping, HDRI maps.

Technology Required:

Participants should have Blender installed on a laptop or mobile device that meets the minimum requirements for running this software. Download Blender from https://www.blender.org/download/ prior to the session. Be advised that, while not mandatory, the Blender user interface typically works best with a three-button mouse with scroll wheel. This session will also likely make use of HDRI maps. Thus, it is recommended that at least one open-source HDRI map be downloaded from https://hdrihaven.com/hdris/ (or similar “CC0” source) prior to the session.

Virtual reality (VR) has been a hot topic in the L&D space. Its use in the field is growing, and now you can move past theory and explore real examples of VR as a learning solution. You can see the real-world experience that incorporates VR, and find out what exactly you need to create a meaningful learning experience.

In this session, you’ll get an inside look at a real VR project from idea to launch. You’ll learn how a team planned out the VR solution, what design and development processes they used, what obstacles they encountered, how they tested and implemented the final project, and what feedback they received. This behind-the-scenes look will give you insights on the lessons learned from this project and show you what you’ll need to think about as you start your own VR project.

People with laptops, tablets, or smartphones will be able to follow along with creation of assets, but it is not required for the session.

In this session, you will learn:

• About the technical requirements for building a VR learning solution
• How to develop a visual, detailed design document for a VR learning solution
• About the various components used to create a 3-D VR solution
• Best practices for creating a VR learning solution

Audience:

Designers and developers.

Technology discussed in this session:

Google Cardboard, 3-D graphics, and VR environments.

It’s that herculean challenge, the digital makeover. Take a bi-weekly face-to-face simulation, costing the firm millions of dollars in travel expenses and staffing, and turn it into a rich digital experience. Prepare learners with tools, resources, and training to begin their careers. Also, make sure they feel welcomed, understand expectations, and are grounded in the company structure, priorities, and methodologies. Oh, you have four months to do it!

In this case study session, find out how a large professional services firm transformed an in-person consulting simulation for experienced hires from face-to-face into a virtual experience by using design thinking and agile project management approaches to the development. You’ll explore creating simulations, including when not to use them. You’ll learn how to develop an engaging and competitive experience to promote team building, relationship development and collaboration in a virtual environment. You’ll also practice identifying opportunities for phased development that sometimes leads to a faster, less expensive way to engage learners.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to use design thinking for the challenges of converting face-to-face activities to digital
• How to design and structure branching scenarios to meet learning objectives in differing competencies
• How to implement a phased approach to asset creation to meet any development timeline
• How to increase engagement with competitive simulations
• How to leverage web-based tools to foster collaboration and networking

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.),

Technology discussed in this session:

Branchtrack, WebEx, Training Center, Articulate Storyline, Cornerstone on Demand, PowerPoint.

Cybersickness is a term for motion sickness that you feel in a virtual environment. The potential for experiencing cybersickness often prevents learners from engaging in VR experiences, and experiencing it can decrease learners’ motivation and possibly leave them with negative after-effects that hinder learning. Understanding how cybersickness can impact learners, and how to prevent it, is critical as VR gains broader use.

In this session, you will learn why cybersickness occurs and what impact it has on the learner. You will learn how elements of the VR equipment, the simulation environment, and the activities that learners engage in in that environment can impact the onset or experience of cybersickness. Finally, you will learn different techniques for assessing learners’ susceptibility to cybersickness; how to mitigate the symptoms if someone begins to feel the effects; and what guidelines to follow to create experiences that have the best chance of avoiding cybersickness.

In this session, you will learn:

• What cybersickness is
• What elements of VR environments can lead to cybersickness
• What impact cybersickness can have on a learner
• How to assess a learner’s susceptibility to cybersickness
• How to mitigate the potential for cybersickness in a VR learning environment

Audience:

Designers and developers.

Technology discussed in this session:

General VR environments and equipment.

Moving your organization forward with new approaches to learning and development can be challenging—especially when the new approaches involve nontraditional ideas or technologies. Our Overcoming Barriers sessions bring together people who have already walked this path to share what they have learned. Join our panel of experts as they discuss how you can overcome the most common barriers to incorporating simulations into your training and development programs.

Audience:

Novice to advanced designers, developers, managers, and executives.

Technology discussed in this session:

Simulations platforms, including multiple types of hardware and software.

A key technology component of augmented reality that enables devices to “see” and make sense of the world around them is computer vision (CV). CV by itself is a powerful tool for creating useful performance support solutions for your audience. Understanding the tech’s pitfalls and then designing scalable, easy-to-use tools for your organization isn’t something widely shared or discussed in the learning industry at this point.

Join Steve Richey, a mobile, augmented reality and computer vision expert from Float in a session focused on illustrating the value proposition of performance support that utilizes computer vision. Over the course of the session he will uncover issues that may arise during design and development, highlight testing, and quality assurance processes you should consider, and give you practical technical tips that your developers can implement immediately to unlock this amazing technology in your organization.

In this session, you will learn:

• What computer vision is and why it is important
• Key components needed for computer vision
• Some example use cases where computer vision excels at delivering great performance support
• Where issues may arise when you embark on a computer vision project
• High-level design and development tips for implementing great CV-powered performance support
• Understanding the value in eschewing training in favor of smart, powerful performance support

Audience:

Designers, developers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Computer vision, text detection, optical character recognition, iOS, CoreVision, mobile design and development.

Strong interpersonal skills are essential now more than ever as impending disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning change the workplace. However, interpersonal skills can be hard to find and a challenge to develop quickly at scale. Most learning programs may do a good job teaching what to do, but rarely give opportunities for learners to practice doing it, especially in “true-to-life” situations.

This session will address the challenges of soft skills training and how VR simulation provides a safe practice space to learn from mistakes and improve day-to-day performance quickly, resulting in lasting behavior change. Once only used in aviation and military sectors, virtual simulation is becoming a prominent and scalable tool in a multitude of sectors for different learning needs. This session will focus on why and how virtual simulation is being integrated into learning programs as a tool to improve and assess complex interpersonal skills.

In this session, you will learn:

• How virtual simulations for soft skills can be delivered at the scale and speed of business today
• Strategies to incorporate virtual simulations into current programs
• The facts on where artificial intelligence stands today, and what it means for soft skills training
• Why VR simulation is a necessary adult learning tool

Audience:

Designers, managers, and senior leaders (directors, VPs, CLOs, executives, etc.).

Technology discussed in this session:

Mursion’s VR simulation platform, Oculus rift, browser-based software.