Many L&D organizations are struggling with how to evaluate virtual and other immersive technologies for their learning and training initiatives. Options abound, and with a lot of pressure on corporate training organizations to include VR in their training, today's learning leaders need help in choosing the right solution. A successful evaluation process includes: 1) understanding of how to establish organizational and learner needs criteria to evaluate the immersive technology options, 2) knowing the strengths of the different approaches from both a cognitive science and technical perspective, and 3) recognizing the impacts of how the technology is brought into the organization. The best way to illustrate this process is through hands-on examples in diverse learning situations.

In this session, you'll learn how to evaluate immersive technologies to super-charge your learning and training initiatives. The session will be an unvarnished look at where these technologies are today and what we can do with them. Rather than a didactic lecture, we'll dive into specific learning and training examples and consider when 2D/3D simulations, VR, AR, and virtual game technology are a good fit. A useful evaluation framework will be utilized to evaluate each example. This framework includes organizational and/or learner needs, supporting cognitive science principles, and the strengths of the various technology options. Finally, we'll discuss options to bring the technology into your organization, including build-your-own, a custom project, and incorporating platform technologies.  

In this session, you will learn:

• How to use organizational and/or learner needs to evaluate alignment of immersive learning technologies
• The strengths of 2D/3D simulation, VR, AR, and virtual game technology  
• Why cognitive science learning methodologies impact technology decisions
• How to navigate implementation options, including build-your-own, custom builds, and technology platforms 

Audience:

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

Technology discussed:

2D and 3D simulations, VR/AR technologies, virtual game technologies, virtual options for mobile devices