Simulation Training: The New Era of Employee Education

In the movies, we have seen scenes of bank robberies or plane crashes and probably thought, "What if I were in that situation?” The idea about our future profession is formed since early childhood; we get specialized through traditional education in the relevant field, receive degrees and diplomas, and consider ourselves prepared for work. However, circumstances alter cases, and we often face unexpected situations baffling us. Traditional lectures or manuals are no longer sufficient to equip future employees with the necessary skills. Here is where a revolutionary approach to employee education, i.e., simulation training, steps in by offering us a blend of learning with real-world experience.

Let’s start our eye-opening journey into simulation training and explore why it became a cornerstone of modern employee development. 

What is Simulation Training?

Simulation training, or simulation-based training, is a method that places employees in real-world situations to handle real tasks and problems, as well as develops decision-making skills in a controlled, risk-free environment. It uses models or interactive exercises that allow employees to engage in experiential learning without the fear of making mistakes. Just like in scenario-based learning, participants of this approach gain hands-on experience in their field of expertise, facilitating competence and boosting critical thinking. Simulation training involves a participant, software, and hardware to practice on and is widely used across industries like healthcare, aviation, manufacturing, and corporate training, allowing to take the professionalism of any business to the next level. 

In short, we employees act like children playing role games (simulation training) on the playground, but all on a professional level.

How Simulation Training Works

There are two categories of simulation training: virtual simulation, which includes technology-based tools to recreate realistic scenarios and situations, and physical simulation with physical models and replicas. Both methods enable learners to engage, respond, and act as they would in real life. Effective implementation of simulation training in terms of corporate learning is a 3-phase strategy—a “Watch, Try, Do” model that introduces the new concepts to the employees, then offers to practice the tasks under supervision, and finally reinforces the skills and competence through independent work in replicated situations.

Through simulations, for example, medical professionals perform virtual surgeries, future pilots practice troubleshooting a breakage on a virtual plane during a visualized flight, and plumpers unclog a tube in an interactive bathroom. All these practical assignments are designed based on real-life situations that employees are likely to encounter in their jobs and aim to enhance both skill retention and understanding and contribute to continuous learning.

Types of Simulation Training

Several types of simulation training are intended for different industries. So let’s take a look at each type and identify its unique purpose:

Interactive Web-Based Simulations

During interactive web-based simulation, learners can access training via the internet and become a part of complex processes through a computer interface. For example, SimScale is an engineering simulation software that allows specialists in engineering, manufacturing, and construction to perform various 3D processes in a virtual cloud before moving to the physical prototype stage. 

Web-based simulations are a powerful tool in industries where accurate modeling and performance analysis are crucial. 

Game-Based Simulations

If you have played (or still play) computer games, you have probably heard about SimCity, which inspired educators to create a game-based product called SimCityEDU: Pollution Challenge! This is a typical example of a game-based simulation, whose basic principle is to increase engagement through gamification. The users acquire skills in urban planning, environmental management, and civic responsibility through STEM. Similar platforms usually offer tools for educators to track the users’ progress and skill level, as well as include points, levels, or rewards to motivate employees. Incorporating gamification into a learning process boosts employee engagement and ensures skill development.

In-Person Simulations at Special Facilities

In-person simulations take place in physical locations specifically designed to replicate the workspace. For example, CAE Flight Training Company is one of the most successful institutions that operates special training centers around the world. In addition to owning an air company and conducting relevant training on full-motion flight simulators in the aviation industry, CEA provides simulation-based learning for medical professionals in hospital-replicated sites. These simulations can be costly and require dedicated space, but they provide the highest level of realism.

Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed-Reality Simulations

These three popular trends use advanced technologies to create highly realistic 3D spaces, allowing learners interaction and physical presence in virtual scenarios. The immersive effect in VR simulations is achieved through special headsets and controllers that enable users to move around and manipulate objects. AR places the layer of digital data into the real world, thus enriching physical space with virtual elements. These simulations instruct technicians on how to replace a damaged equipment detail with a new, virtual one, teach medical workers to perform complex invasive operations, etc., and all this is done without real-life dangerous consequences. 

Key Benefits of Simulation Training

If you still feel skeptical about the implementation of technological innovations in education, take a look at some of the advantages of simulation training that put this concept over traditional training methods:

Skill Development and Competency Enhancement

First and most significant benefit of simulation training is certainly its hands-on approach to learning, aimed at improving employees’ skills and competencies through practice in mock environments. The ability to build relevant experience and transfer it to real work scenarios promotes better performance and higher-quality results on the job.

Safe Learning Environments

Another unique advantage of simulation training is the opportunity to learn and practice without actual risk, the chances of which are extremely high in, for instance, aviation or healthcare. VR simulators put trainees in situations that would be too dangerous in real life without diligent knowledge. 

Enhanced Knowledge Retention and Engagement

Due to its interactive and immersive effect, simulation training boosts engagement and desire to participate among employees, thus promoting better knowledge retention. Passive observers from traditional training methods become active participants in tasks from daily situations and reinforce their learning with its further application in real work.

Real-Time Feedback

Real-time feedback plays a crucial role in immediate skill improvement. Simulation training offers useful features and tools to follow the progress and get timely insights during performance sessions. This not only allows users to correct mistakes but also to cultivate newer approaches and expertise faster. 

Teamwork and Collaboration

Simulation training often involves cross-functional collaboration, where employees from different departments form teams and work together over simulated challenges. This fosters a communication culture in a supportive environment with a high sense of accountability and team-based problem-solving skills, which are essential in a modern workplace.

Adaptability and Scalability

Even in the case of changing business needs, simulation training can be adapted and customized according to the requirements of an organization. Companies can easily update training modules and procedures. In addition, the flexible nature of simulation training makes it suitable for both start-up companies with limited staff and multinational corporations.

Employee Engagement and Motivation

When learning is fun, employees are more likely to jump right in and get involved! By incorporating game mechanics, immersive technology, or even just a little healthy competition, simulation training keeps employees engaged and motivated, leading to higher levels of job satisfaction and performance.

Overcoming Challenges and Limitations

Although the list of benefits of simulation training is quite impressive, it also comes with some challenges that organizations should keep in mind before implementing this amazing concept.

Cost and Accessibility

Simulation training is costly as it may need technologies like VR or specialized building facilities. Besides, companies should ensure that all employees have access to the learning process. To overcome this challenge, organizations can apply to simulation training providing experts and get offers tailored to the business needs based on the budget, staff amount, etc.

Fidelity and Realism

The lack the fidelity or realism can limit the effectiveness of simulation training if the replicated scenarios don’t fully mirror real-life situations. Organizations should be ready to invest in virtual and augmented reality tools to maximize the training impact.

Integration with Traditional Training Methods

Simulation training is most effective when integrated with traditional training methods, such as lectures or on-the-job training. Companies should not rely solely on simulations but use them as part of a broader learning and development (L&D) strategy.

Simulation Training Examples

Do you know the secret behind the success of renowned companies like Boeing, KFC, Walmart, and others? They integrated simulation training into their program and thus enhanced the skills and performance of their staff, which in turn became the key to productivity. Let’s explore how various industries leverage simulation training.

Corporate Training

Corporations use simulation training to create various scenarios that will enable the employees to develop leadership, sales, and customer service skills through role-play tasks and instant feedback on their performance. Simulated boardroom meetings and service agent-virtual customer interaction scenes help practice various challenging behaviors and excel roles.

Aviation Industry

Aviation was one of the first industries to implement simulation training. Future pilots use flight simulators to practice all the necessary skills ranging from routine operations to complex maneuvers like emergency landings, bad weather navigation, and other critical skills without ever leaving the ground and endangering anyone’s lives.

Healthcare Industry

Healthcare is another pioneer in simulation training, providing medical professionals with the opportunity to practice surgeries, patient care, and emergency response in a controlled environment. In virtual patients and simulated emergency scenarios, healthcare workers can develop the relevant skills to handle critical situations and life-saving procedures.

Manufacturing Industry

In the manufacturing industry, machinery operations and safety protocols are the top priorities. Through simulation tools, employees learn to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot various types of equipment without any safety threats or personal injury risks. Construction companies also practice simulation training to teach heavy machinery operators to manipulate the loads or prepare construction workers for evacuation events.

Military

The military uses simulation training to prepare soldiers for combat situations, hostage negotiations, and equipment operations. For example, soldiers participate in virtual battlefields to practice coordinated attacks and defensive strategies. Such simulations are critical for mission success and safety.

5 Steps to Integrate Simulation Training into L&D Strategy

Every industry has unique purposes and solutions but several recommendations will help integrate simulation training successfully into the organization’s learning and development (L&D) strategy.

Step 1: Identify Training Objectives

The first step to the achievement of the company goals is setting clear learning objectives that will help determine what specific skills or competencies should your employees focus on. Based on this, you can tailor the simulation training according to the business needs and thus enhance productivity.

Step 2: Analyze Training Needs 

Regular skills gap analysis and challenge assessment within your organization provide a solid ground for designing the simulation training properly. Measuring training needs includes the analysis of industry trends and broader goals.

Step 3: Choose the Right Simulation Tools

The selection of simulation tools depends on the industry, roles, and skill areas and should fit the company budget and objectives. For example, manufacturing or construction workers will benefit more from the immersive VR simulation, while software specialists improve their skills through computer-based simulations.  

Step 4: Develop Realistic Scenarios and Integrate Them into Training Programs

The more realistic the scenarios, the greater the impact of the training. Be ready to invest in the right tools that will reflect real-world tasks and integrate employee training software that allows you to design, host, manage, and analyze the experience. For instance, dialogue simulation software will be a perfect solution for customer service as it enables employees to practice realistic and unique conversations, thus both mastering communication skills and improving overall performance.

Step 5: Release and Analyze Program Results

After completing the implementation phase, collect feedback and analyze performance data to assess training effectiveness. This information is essential for improving future simulations and training programs.

Conclusion

If we want to be successful, we should definitely go with technology! Despite the reliability of traditional teaching methods, they often fail to provide even half of the amazing advantages offered by modern educational approaches. Today, simulation training is the leader in a new era of employee education that can be successfully integrated into either online collaborative learning or in-person sessions. As new industries evolve and the good old ones face new challenges, the simulation training concept offers immersive, hands-on learning experiences in a safe environment, enabling employees to build critical skills, improve decision-making, and increase productivity.