Simulation based training has been around forever.  It has been used in various capacities to help students of all types to learn new skills, create habits and develop confidence.  It has been used in most industries where the tasks are complicated and unpredictable such as emergency services, healthcare practitioners, military applications and flight training.  

Simulation based training places students in realistic situations in controlled conditions representing real life to learn new skills, create habits and for evaluation.  It includes virtual technologies, role playing and/or physical equipment.  Providing students safe learning environments. 

It has been found students learn better with a wider understanding and ability to alter thought processes when placed in low stress environments while learning a complicated task. Thel low stress environment allows the brain to consider various options, choose the most likely one and determine the result of the action.  If it was successful it will use that option in similar situations, whereas if it was unsuccessful it will discard the option and next time try another.

In high stress situations, such as landing a plane on an aircraft carrier for the first time, if an error is made the student may be seriously injured or killed.  In these situations if the student is successful in performing the action the specific actions are imprinted on their memory and are much harder to change.

This can lead to poor learning, inability to alter habits or consider alternatives in high stress situations. In short the student becomes locked into specific habits which are not ideal and could lead to disaster given slightly different circumstances.   By using simulation based training the student will have lower stress levels and will be able to make better decisions and have a wider view of similar situations.

Three types of  simulation based training

Simulation based training is familiar to most students, sometimes called role-playing, scenarios or game-theory learning.  It provides students with a realistic learning and low stress environment.  It can be implemented through low tech methods such as students acting out situations (role playing), using mannequins such as the ANNIE doll used in CPR training or high tech simulations which places the student in a simulator which closely replicates the real environment and providing a variety of problems for them to overcome.

Role-playing simulation training

Role-playing simulation training is used in a variety of industries including sales, health and military.  They can be as simple as defining roles and a situation the participants are to perform in such as a sales situation (door to door vacuum sales) or as complicated as performing a medical procedure or simulating an enemy attack.  This type of simulation training can be used to train students in a low stress environment, test new theories of action within the discipline or for evaluation.  

Mannequin represented simulation

Although these are mostly used in the healthcare industry they are also used in military simulations.  Mannequins are used to represent patients to allow health practitioners to perform invasive procedures which require practice.  

Procedures like taking blood, injecting a syringe or using a scalpel can all be represented using mannequins.  The ANNIE doll is a good example of how first aid students can learn how to perform CPR using a simulated victim.

In the military simulated situations can include neutralizing enemy fighters using mannequins setup throughout a simulated environment.  The goal is to provide the soldier with a realistic experience of how to make quick decisions of friend or foe, to practice military training and enable teamwork training without endangering the soldier.  

High tech simulators

High tech simulators can be anything from a laptop application simulating a simple environment to an immersive environment which simulates a complex training situation.  Such simulators are pilot training simulators, surgical operations, cyber security training and operating military equipment.  

Many of these simulators are game-based simulations which provide harder and more complicated situations for the student as their skills and knowledge improves.  Providing feedback, repetitive actions and instruction for students to become proficient in a skill prior to attempting the skill in real life.  This is used in situations where the skill can be dangerous, expensive or highly complex.  They reduce the stress on the student providing a better learning environment.

Examples of simulation based training

Pilot training

Pilot training has developed from crude mockups of airplane cockpits to teach where instruments were and what they meant.  They added motion by simulating the action of the stick to the position of the mockup.

Today there are full blown cockpit environments which emoerse the trainee in a realistic environment where the instruments provide the appropriate resonance to the position of the simulated plane throughout the task.  

Pilot training simulators are high tech simulated environments which provide pilots with situations which are both common such as landing and takeoff as well as emergency situations like engine failure or severe weather conditions.  This allows the trainee with the opportunity to try and fail without expensive or hazardous results.

Military Games

The military of every country wants to protect itself from those who are hostile to them.  To do that they must have a well trained military which can defend and repulse invaders.  There are two ways to have a well trained military.

1. On the job training

This is where the soldier is put into battle.  This is called becoming battle hardened.  The soldier will learn through close calls or loss of personnel how to perform in an effective manner.  This is a very expensive and tragic method of learning, one which is to be avoided if possible.

2. Military game simulations

During military exercises personnel are divided into sides and given a goal to complete and prevent the other side from achieving theirs.  

Military games provide valuable insights into tactical decisions, equipment effectiveness and military personnel training level.  

First Aid training

Everyone who has enrolled into a first aid course has experienced roleplaying simulation training.  Skills like CPR performed on the ANNIE doll, co-students pretending to be injured and quickly determining who is of higher priority in an emergency situation are used to train and evaluate students.

First aid training has used CPR training dolls for over 50 years which provide the student with visual feedback with printed readouts of their compressions and the timing.  This can help the student to understand how they can improve their performance.

Surgery

Simulators which are designed to provide training for surgeons are expensive.  They can be anything from simple mannequins to high tech virtual reality environments.  If simple mannequins are used they are dedicated mannequins to specific operations whereas virtual reality systems can be configured for a variety of procedures.

Nursing

There are many situations where simulations can be used in nurse training such as installing IV’s, getting blood and bandaging wounds.  The simulation can include role-playing by the students, low tech mannequins and high tech virtual reality systems for surgery training.

Advantages and disadvantages of simulation based training

Lowers stress levels while learning new skills

Learning in high stress situations can lead to poor performance later.  The technique of throwing someone into the water to teach them to swim does not work for providing them with the best habits later.  This situation is repeated in all aspects of skill learning.  In low stress situations the trainee will be able to consider options, try solutions and have a better understanding of the environment around them and which aspects to pay attention to for a successful result.

Learning in high stress situations tends to produce myoptic solutions which only succeed in a small frequency of similar cases. 

Improves student retention of skills long term

Using simulators to reinforce knowledge provides another modality of learning which helps to cement knowledge learned either through demonstration or lecture.  Performing a task after learning the correct response provides the trainee with a physical representation of the learning.

Timely instruction

A simulation can be halted or altered during the simulation in order for the instructor to provide correction or clarification to the trainee without damage to the equipment or student.  In real life situations this is not alway possible and can lead to the learning of poor habits which can detract from the trainees efficiency.

Allows repetition to master difficult skills

Skills which have many aspects or complex solutions can be repeated until a base level of competency is reached.  This provides the trainee with confidence to perform the skill in real life situations and enables better outcomes.

Skills such as landing a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier or performing a surgical procedure require practice but are high stress situations where an error can have catastrophic results.  Learning such skills in a simulated environment provides the student with an environment to learn progressively harder and varying situations.

Encourages cooperation between students

Teamwork is an important part of most entities’ success.  Whether it is a sales team, surgical unit or military company being able to cooperate to successfully accomplish a goal teamwork is vital.  By providing simulation training for real life situations trainees can learn what their roles are, what skills they have to contribute and how to work together to complete the task.

Trainees can be trained for specific situations 

Training for emergency situations is a good example of why this type of training is valuable.  Pilot training for how to deal with engine failure or fuselage decompression is valid and important although few pilots will ever need to deal with either situation.  Training in specific situations can be done for a variety of reasons:

• The trainee has a high chance of needing the skill 
• The trainee needs to know what to do if something happens
• A specific skill needs to be learned to perform more complicated skills

Virtual instructor based training has become a popular method of teaching and learning.  It enables the instructor and students to attend leaching sessions without consideration of location, enables easy recording of a teaching session and can provide two way communication between the students and instructor.  Although there are many challenges and disadvantages of this type of training such as:

• Technology requisites
• Limited communication modalities
• Time zone affects
• Lower social connections

Instructor led training is thought to be one of the primary methods of training as it provides the instructor the best opportunity to connect with students, provide them with valid and timely lessons and allow open communication between both instructors and students.  

With the advent of virtual communication methods which include audio/video technologies virtual instructor led training has become more popular, especially with the advent of remote working conditions for businesses and technology schools but virtual instructor led training has several problems which need consideration to be truly effective.

A simple explanation of instructor led training

This type of training is most like the traditional classroom model which has been used for training for the last hundred years or so.  The instructor is in charge of the lesson, pace and delivery method.  Students are muted most of the time and allowed to ask questions via text which the instructor may or may not answer immediately or at all.  

Instructor led training includes any method of virtually connecting an instructor and students through online technology in real time.  This includes technologies like video communication systems, audio communication systems and text based communication.  The most used of the three is video communication represented by companies like Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.

The instructor manages the meeting by presenting a teaching lecture or instigating the topic discussion.  Students can text questions or voice their responses using audio.  Depending on how the instructor wants to run the learning session the questions may be answered immediately or left to the end.

How to improve the effectiveness of virtual training

Virtual training is difficult to manage well as there are many factors which can lower its benefits.  The standard considerations which are similar to those of any training method include:

Have a clear goal for each training session

There are many goals for a training session such as meeting legal standards, onboarding new employees, obtaining new skills or knowledge and standardizing base level knowledge throughout an organization.  

No matter what the goal it needs to be clear, communicated to all participants and have a specific criteria of success.  Without these three a training session will have little chance of success.

Keep the sessions as short as possible

The attention span of the average student is less than 20 minutes, especially when the student is learning something which is determined as mandatory and not of any real interest to them.  By keeping the sessions as short as possible the instructor will have a much better chance of imparting their knowledge onto the students in the session.

If the lesson must be longer than 30-60 minutes ensure there are frequent breaks, changes in learning modalities and discussion throughout the session.  The normal consciousness state fluctuates on average every 90 minutes from fully aware to semi-unconscious.  This fluctuation is necessary to take in new information and commit to long term memory.

Trying to maintain a student’s attention for the entire time will hinder their ability to maintain the information long term.

Maintain good rapport with students and instructor(s)

Communication is easier when the students and instructor(s) have a good relationship.  Students are much more likely to accept new information from instructors which they get along with and trust so maintaining good rapport is critical to a learning session’s success.

Make discussion inclusive and positive

Students which are relaxed and in a positive state are able to learn faster and have a better chance of maintaining the information provided in the session. Having a positive learning environment helps to support the students ability to be interested in the topic and therefore better able to absorb the information provided.

Being inclusive during the session requires the instructor to be aware of the various learning modalities of their students.  Every student has a different primary learning modality mix so leading a learning session needs to include a variety of learning opportunities such as; lecture style, discussion, active learning and debate.  

Inclusivity also requires consideration of all participants strengths and weaknesses such as; attention span, known disabilities, personality style and confidence level.

Include assignments that are specific, interesting and practical

A learning session is only as valuable as the information is made practical.  Without real world uses the learning a student obtains in a classroom is either lost or useless.  By providing assignments which are specific to the learning session the students will have a better chance of making the connection with the information and the value it could provide in their work.

Interest is also important as if the assignment is not interesting it is either too easy (providing limited learning opportunities for the student) or too difficult (providing a barrier to the students motivation).

Without taking care of these items it will not matter what you do the learning session will not be valuable for the student, instructor or business.  Communicate directly with the students about what the value for them is and be honest about the reason for the training.

Once the above has been met to the best of your ability there are some additional considerations for virtual learning sessions which can make them more effective.

Ensure connection is maintained throughout the session

Nothing is more distracting and frustrating than the connection between the students and instructor(s) to be flaky.  When the audio drops off in mid-sentence or the video freezes during a demonstration it destroys the concentration of the students and requires repetition which slows the session’s pace.

To ensure a solid connection do not use wireless connections.  Wired connections are less likely to suffer from poor signals, delays and dropped packets, making the learning session much less likely to suffer untimely distractions.

If students are able it is also recommended that they connect directly as well as the connection will be faster and provide them with a better experience all round.

Match the lesson with the communication method

Not all learning sessions require the same communication protocol.  Sometimes it is necessary to include audio/visual capabilities to the instructors and students but in some cases using only audio can be valuable.  

Other methods of communication can be utilized throughout a session such as phone text, email, questionnaires, quizzes and power-point slides (death by powerpoint).  In cases where only the lecture style of teaching is being used (not recommended for most cases) only using audio can provide enough contact for the lesson.  

Provide strict rules for discussion and questions

At the beginning of the session it is important for the instructor to inform the class how discussions will be moderated and how questions will be answered.  Since virtual communication systems are disjointed and have some element of delay a set of rules needs to be in place to ensure everyone has a chance to communicate their perspective or ask their question.

Whatever the rules they must be strictly adhered to by the leader of the session as soon as an exception is made the classroom will deteriorate quickly.

If using audio/visual protocols use video of all participants 

Teaching is a difficult activity even when the participants are all in one place.  The instructor must be able to read the students body language, encourage participation and provide a variety of explanations for the students until they see they understand the lesson.

When virtual communication methods are added the level of difficulty for the instructor increases exponentially.  They lose about 50% of the communication signals coming from students.  This includes body posture, eye contact and agitation level.  By including the video of all participants the instructor has a better chance of reading the students level of interest and understanding of the material.

Keep the classroom size as small as possible

As the classroom size increases so do the technological challenges.  The communication protocol needs to decide who to prioritize, how often to switch views and a myriad of other things.  As the number of participants increases this challenge goes up quickly.  

By keeping the classrooms small this gives the technology the best chance of providing a positive learning environment.

How to effectively lead a virtual training session

When organizing a virtual training session there is a higher level of organization, preparedness and setup required.  You will have to have all the training materials in digital form which can be distributed to the students either prior to the session time or efficiently during the session.  Anticipating and preparing answers of the common questions asked during the session is important 

To effectively lead a virtual training session prepare all materials, organize notes, disperse notes to students and organize technology prior to the session.  During the session ensure strict adherence to rules but provide for different learning modalities where possible.

Being prepared is the most important thing an instructor can do no matter what the venue but for virtual instructor led-training it is paramount.  When a student is in a classroom they are essentially obligated to stay in the class until the end or some natural break presents itself but in virtual training students can (and do) leave the learning environment whenever they wish.  This can happen in any number of ways from leaving the meeting officially, muting the sound and focusing on something else or just getting up and moving to another space.

Anytime an instructor pauses to either locate something misplaced, send class notes or create something on the fly they will lose students attention and risk them leaving the classroom.  By being prepared the instructor has a better chance of maintaining interest and participation with the group.

What to do prior to the learning session

• Prepare all notes students will need for the class and send them out to all participants.

This gives the students a chance to review the notes and become familiar with any topics they need for the class.

• Create any teaching aids needed including charts, graphs and images

Having teaching aids available can help students visualize the information presented and assist the instructor in the explanation of a concept.

• Create the meeting on the protocol you are using and send the link to all students

Every protocol is set up a little differently so ensure the students have access to the invite well ahead of the class time so they can ensure they can join properly. 

• Prepare the space to represent a professional image 

Virtual meetings allow the work from home environment but students expect a certain level of professionalism from their instructors.  Having animals or children wandering around, messy or disorganized backgrounds and unkempt appearance erodes the students confidence in the instructor.

What to do during the learning session

• Give specific instructions regarding the class rules and how questions or discussions will be handled

Establishing a set of rules will give the students a feeling of security.  When they know how to raise a question, interrupt the instructor or participate in a discussion they are more likely to become involved.  Once the rules have been set DO NOT make concessions.  Concessions will lead to a poor learning environment. 

• Provide a good introduction to the instructors background

Instructors in the traditional environment benefit from the status of the organization they are associated with, be it a school, university or business.  Virtual training does not have the same effect on the students in the session so a good introduction including the background of the instructor will improve the confidence the students have in the information they receive.

• Maintain contact with all participants as much as possible

In a typical classroom it is easy to discern if a student is present and interested in the topic.  An instructor can see students nodding off when they are tired or are talking to another student during class.  In virtual training this is not so easy to see so to combat this try to engage all the students throughout the class time.  Ask questions, request opinions and start discussions to maintain interest.

• Use as many different learning modalities as possible

Use questions, quizzes, discussion periods and lecture style delivery to provide as many learning opportunities for the students as possible.  It is important to remember that the instructor is being paid to teach, whereas the students have paid to be taught.  If the students do not learn it is the instructor which is not doing their job.

What to do after the learning session

• Fulfill all promises made to the class

When discussion or questions are asked during the session there will be times when the instructor does not know the answer or would like to add additional information to the topic.  When this happens it falls to the instructor to find the answers of information requested and pass it along to the participants of the class.

• Make notes for making improvements

There are always ways to improve something.  A way of explaining something, a better image or another resource could be added (or removed).  By taking notes the instructor will have a written record of how to improve the teaching session.

• Contact students with updates or changes

Remain in contact with students by updating them with any changes, be it in the subject itself or the method of delivery.  

Advantages and disadvantages of virtual instructor-led training

Virtual instructor-led training is becoming more popular as the technology improves, remote working opportunities increase and students are from different locations.  Universities and career colleges have discovered the benefits of virtual training in aspects of classroom space scheduling and cost effectiveness, although the value of the learning is still uncertain.

Benefit	Students	Instructor(s)	Organization
Can be located anywhere	✔	✔	✔
High maximum classroom size			✔
Availability of free technology systems	✔	✔	✔
Can be recorded and used later	✔		✔
Low production costs		✔	✔
Low material costs		✔	✔
Can be updated quickly		✔	✔
Easy access to instructor(s)			✔
Students progress can be monitored		✔	✔

Disadvantage	Students	Instructor(s)	Organization
Must have internet connectivity	✔	✔	✔
Some technological knowledge required	✔	✔	✔
Class times can be inconvenient	✔	✔
Limited learning modalities	✔	✔
Hard to maintain interest	✔
Effective class sizes are small		✔	✔
Information can be inconsistent	✔	✔	✔
Ease of access lowers commitment level	✔	✔	✔
Difficult to create rapport		✔

Technology based training has a wide variety of uses and depending on the purpose of their use can be considered a valuable addition to a training course.  It has been touted as a cost effective method of training students, employees and a means of self-education.  Like any other training method it has benefits and drawbacks which vary depending on the subject, method of technology used and quality of the training materials/delivery system.

Technology based training has a positive effect on students’ learning outcomes.  Students have more control, higher interest levels and access to training methods suitable to their learning modality.  This increases their ability to develop and retain required skills.

Technology based training has been used for many decades in a variety of ways to cut down on training costs, provide consistent training material and enable laypeople to deliver the content.  It varies from recorded content, simulated environments, interactive delivery and hybrid methods.  

It has been used to train soldiers, pilots, medical and rescue personnel without risking the loss or injury of the student or subject during the training process.  Recently it has been expanded to include almost every subject of interest through many different platforms including video content, audio content and interactive methodologies.

Today students with access to an internet connection have unlimited access to knowledge on almost any topic or course of study.  Through platforms like Youtube, Coursera and spotify content can be accessed in video, written and audio form.  In addition content is deliverable through simulation based technology such as flight, driving and patient simulators.  Providing students with access to lessons without placing anyone at risk.

Different types of technology based training

There are many different types of technology based training which can be used in a variety of ways.  They all have benefits and drawbacks which need to be taken into account before they are implemented.  Not all technology based training has benefits to the employee and employer. 

Instructor led virtual training

Instructor led virtual training provides a way for companies to train employees as a group without having to have all employees in the same location.  This method provides access to a virtual classroom where students can log in to the platform and take part in the lesson which is delivered in a different location.  The students need ont be in the same location so long as they have an internet connection and access to the platform which is being used to deliver the content.  

The instructor can deliver a lecture, answer questions and get feedback from students during the presentation.  

Benefits of using instructor led virtual training

1. It is familiar

This is the closest form of training to the traditional school format so it is familiar.  The students “attend”  class by signing in to the platform which gives access to the live lecture or discussion.

2. It is inexpensive

Currently there are many virtual meeting platforms which are available online.  Most of which are free for limited use or for a small fee.  This enables people to be anywhere in the connected world.  This saves on travel expenses, loss of productivity during travel and conference room space.

3. It can be quickly updated and changed

Since this type of content is being delivered live the instructor can make changes to the program on the fly to tailor the lecture to those in attendance.  They can also make changes to the program with limited expense for each subsequent presentation.

4. It is easy to organize

Teaching sessions can be organized quickly and without the typical considerations most in person lectures have.  The space needed is ont a consideration as the attendees are virtual, the time can be chosen to best suit the organizer without consideration to the availability of space and it can be as simple as broadcasting an invite through whatever communication channels the organization uses.

Drawbacks of using instructor led virtual training

1. Attendees place a low value on content

Content which is easy to access has a lower value placed upon it.  Since low effort was used to access the information the attendee may not pay attention, reserve time specifically for the meeting or make the effort to learn the information presented.

2. Platform quality out of lecturers control

Virtual delivery systems are dependent on many variables such as the band width of the participants, network congestion and platform usage.  Since these variables are not in the control of the users this can cause poor quality audio/video which distracts or prevents participants from attendance.

3. Inconsistent information

As the lecture is being done in real time there may be inconsistencies depending on the presenter.  The information may vary because:

• The presenter makes conscious or unconscious alterations to the content

• The identity of the presenter changes
• The attendees questions change

Simulation based training

Simulation based training is used in pilot training, military applications, transportation and health care to name a few industries.  This is due to its ability to lower costs, reduce risk of injury and to improve the confidence of the participants.  

The concept is to place students in a simulated environment which closely replicates that which they may find themselves in and provide instruction, practice and skill learning in a safe environment.  Pilots use flight simulators, new drivers use car simulators and surgeons can be trained on surgical simulators.  

Benefits of simulation based training

1. Less risk to students, trainers and subjects

In highly risky or skill based health courses simulation provides an opportunity for the student to practice the skill without the risk.  This is applicable in many fields such as pilot training, medical procedures and military operations.  

A pilot first learning how to land on an aircraft carrier has a high risk of failure.  If this maneuver is performed without simulation the loss of the pilot and the equipment has a high cost whereas when a simulator is used the student and trainer have a more subjective vantage to evaluate mistakes and improve performance. 

2. Cheaper long run cost

Maintaining and replacing losses in a large training fleet is expensive and depending on the degree of risk replacement of damaged equipment can be formidably expensive.  Simulators become cheap methods of training once the equipment is purchased and optimized for the use.  

3. Faster skill acquisition 

Due to the lower risk of performing the required skills, performance pressure is lower.  This enables the student to learn more rapidly and be able to obtain a wider perspective.  It has been shown that skills learned under high pressure are learned quickly but are difficult to alter.

When learning is done in lower stress environments the student is able to consider alternatives and develop better skills.

4. Confidence building

By being able to practice a skill repetitively the students’ confidence will improve.  By avoiding the trauma of failure and being able to analyze performance and gain experience through trainers’ experience and suggestions the student will be able to incrementally improve their performance.

Drawbacks of simulation based training

1. High short term cost

Simulators are expensive to purchase and set up.  They require a dedicated space which often cannot be used for other purposes.  This may require additional space and renovation costs.

If the simulation required is unique it will also need development of software which can be a large investment in both time and money.

2. Lower student interest

Due to the lack of risk the student may not be able to maintain a high concentration level.  This affects their retention of knowledge when under high stress situations.  Students may not feel the simulation is realistic enough to provide any real value (in some cases this is true) so they will not take the simulation seriously and fail to acquire the knowledge needed to perform the required tasks.

Simulators need to be as realistic as possible for them to be effective at skill training which is difficult to maintain and improve.

3. Requires trained personnel to maintain

Dedicated personnel need to be trained, available and knowledgeable in both the skill or knowledge needed by the student and the simulator itself.  They must be able to operate the simulator, solve technical problems and provide the most realistic environment possible.  Such personnel demand high salaries and can be hard to find and keep.

4. Limited simulated experiences available

Simulators are dedicated to specific skills and industries.  A simulator for pilot training can be used for basic pilot knowledge but cannot be interchangeably used for the various planes on the market.  Medical simulators are also specific to the medical emergency the student is training for.  To provide simulations for all contingencies is not possible and can therefore provide value only for those skills most often used in the industry.

They also cannot be used for purely knowledge based learning.  Theoretical information is of high value in the development of highly technical goods and services but simulators cannot be used to acquire such knowledge and there is inherently no trainable skill required to learn.

Static content delivery

This makes up most of the technology based training content.  It represents video content from platforms like Youtube, Vimeo and others, audio content through podcasts.  The information is recorded ahead of time and presented to the student on demand.  The information can be reviewed at any time during the study time without concern for disturbing other students and the delivery can be slowed or increased depending on the students needs.

Benefits of static technology based training

1. Consistent content 

Each student will get the same information delivered in a consistent way.  The content can be used indefinitely with predictable results.  This makes it easy for instructors to augment the content as needed to provide the student with the knowledge they need to succeed.  

2. Inexpensive to develop and deliver

This type of training material can be developed simply by recording lectures which are already performed or can be professionally produced if required.  The content can be delivered in many formats from teaching video formats or audio content.  

Once the content is produced it can be delivered through web based platforms for little or no cost. 

3. Available 24/7 worldwide

Online content is available anytime the student requires them.  The student can be anywhere where there is internet connection and the platform is available in the state they reside.  This provides the student with the ability to access the information when they are best suited to learning.

4. Vast amount of pre-existing content

When developing a training program the curriculum requires access to training materials which cover the subject.  To develop a program from scratch is expensive and time consuming.  Fortunately much of any program has already been developed by others and that content is free to access.

Drawbacks of static technology based training

1. Can become outdated quickly

Static content is immutable, it cannot change, whereas the knowledge of the subject changes.  This means that the content can become outdated as the world changes around it and at some point the content can become unusable.

2. Attributed a low value by students

Currently there is more information available online than anyone can learn in many lifetimes.  The content is available on demand and covers every subject possible but few access this resuvwire of information without a driving demand.  Since it is always available and easy to access little value is attributed to it and therefore not used effectively.

3. No interaction with presenter and student

Static content is a one way communication pathway.  The student listens or watches the content without being able to ask questions to clarify the subject.  

4. Hard to maintain and update 

There are two aspects of this:

• When it gets outdated it needs to be destroyed and developed again.  
• It must be reviewed regularly to ascertain its value

Game based technology training

Game theory is a big industry which has been applied to many different markets.  Entertainment has been changed through the adaptation of what makes a game interesting and addictive.  This is used in the gambling, marketing and movie/television industries.  Recently it has been adapted for use in education.

Game based training is not a new addition to education, it has been used by teachers of all levels to reinforce skills and learning by adding an element of competition to a learning program.  They have taken the form of spelling bees, athletic competitions and math competitions but with the addition of computer based technology the opportunity has exploded.

By marrying game theory with educational goals, game based technology training strives to engage students for longer periods, improve knowledge retention and develop needed skills.  To do this game developers need to understand the goals of the training course and what skills knowledge the trainee needs.

Benefits of game technology training

1. Students are highly engaged

Games are designed to be engaging and stimulating which facilitates the students ability to learn a subject.  When a student becomes invested in the game they spend more time and cognitive energy “playing” the game.  

2. Wide variety of training opportunities available

Gameplay can include solo and well as multi-player environments which can provide a wide variety of situations for students to learn from.  This can include programmed solutions, creative thinking and group cooperation tasks.  By preparing the environment interactively the game rules can provide the skeleton which is filled in with the actions and skills of each player.

3. Less discipline needed to engage in the program

Games are considered recreation activities, avoiding the stigma of it being a class or course needed to be memorized.  Although the skills and knowledge which the student needs to progress in the game requires study and practice, the student will find the learning easier when motivated by the possibility of immediate improvement in the game.

4. Habits are developed with greater efficiency

When the game is designed correctly it will provide the student with immediate feedback when correct or incorrect actions are taken.  This immediate feedback helps them to form habits quicker.  Learning is a process of trying, failing and adjusting until the skill is learned.  Once it is learned, performing it with regularity produces a habit.  Since to progress in a game such habits need to be developed and refined students are motivated to repeat the process until a habit is developed.

Drawbacks of game technology training

1. High implementation cost

Game development is a highly technical industry which requires skilled software developers, theorists and computation power.  All these lead to a high cost of implementation of any game.  When the game is designed to provide skills and knowledge usable quickly while still accessing the benefits of game theory the cost gets extremely high.

2. Connection to high speed internet required

For a game to command a student’s attention today it needs to be of high quality.  This includes graphics, motion and real time reactions to commands.  Without a high speed connection this is impossible.  With limited bandwidth the student may experience lag, lowering the interest level of the game. 

3. Training opportunities are limited 

No matter how sophisticated the program is, a game cannot foresee all the training situations a student requires.  Opportunities are limited to skills which can be performed or theoretical knowledge which can be used in a tangible way within the game play.  

4. High degree of maintenance required

Software needs to be maintained and improved constantly.  It is said that in every 1000 lines of code there are 15-50 bugs.  Some of these bugs do not appear until very specific circumstances arrive.  This means that once a game has been developed it needs maintenance and upgrading.  This not only costs money but also requires knowledgeable staff.

Hybrid training methods

This type of training involves a combination of two or more technology based training methods.  Such training could include virtual seminars delivered live through instructors in real time with simulated training experiences related to the topic of the lecture or static content prior to real time lectures.

Combining technology based training methods improves the retention of the students, provides a wider experience base for students and helps students to retain information better due to the varying modalities the information is delivered.