Hands-on training, also known as experiential learning, emphasizes learning by doing. This approach proves highly effective in teaching software applications, procedures, and equipment, enabling instructors to assess students’ mastery of new skills or processes immediately. Additionally, hands-on training offers numerous benefits, such as creating a safe learning environment, fostering self-directed learners, motivating students, increasing engagement, and delivering a strong return on investment (ROI).

1. Improved Learning: Experiencing what is being learned enhances the learning process. As explained by learning and development consultant Deb Peterson, hands-on training is akin to learning how to ride a bike. Teaching a child to ride a bike involves getting on the bike, not merely reading about it.
2. Safe Learning Environment: Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. A dedicated virtual training environment, separate from production or development environments, ensures students can learn and experiment without jeopardizing business continuity. Sometimes, a training environment with non-production data may be necessary to enhance security and privacy.
3. Self-Directed Learners: Experiential learning requires students to tackle unfamiliar situations and tasks in real-world contexts. To accomplish this, students must navigate their existing knowledge, identify gaps, and acquire new information. This type of learning fosters self-directed, lifelong learners who reflect on prior knowledge, apply it to new situations, and master new skills.
4. Motivated Students: Experiential learning motivates students by demonstrating the relevance of their training experiences in real-life scenarios. Opportunities for practice and immediate feedback further enhance motivation among students.
5. increased Engagement: Hands-on training actively engages students in the learning process, resulting in improved attention, focus, and critical thinking skills. Integrating hands-on training encourages active participation, requiring students to interact with instructors and collaborate with peers rather than passively listening.
6. Strong ROI: Hands-on training surpasses traditional lecture-based approaches and PowerPoint presentations. It not only enhances knowledge but also efficiently transfers skills to students, reducing the need for additional training in the future. According to The Learning Pyramid, active learning methods, such as practicing by doing, lead to higher retention rates than passive methods focused on theory and memorization.
7. Employee Success and Retention: The success of an organization hinges on its employees. Engaging and motivating employees, as well as retaining top performers, positively impacts corporate financial results. Research supports that training methods that keep employees engaged and motivated yield significant benefits.

While various training delivery methods exist, hands-on training remains a highly effective approach. Its ability to enhance learning, engagement, and ROI makes it a valuable choice for organizations seeking to empower their employees with practical skills and knowledge.

What is a virtual lab cloud?

Virtual lab cloud technology allows organizations to build realistic and fully functional labs from a remote location. These labs are typically built from real-world equipment, including sensors, switches, and valves. They may also include specialized equipment, like robots or drones. A virtual lab cloud is hosted on a central server. This means that users can remotely access these labs through their computers, as well as on mobile devices, using a web browser. This also allows organizations to scale their virtual lab cloud capacity to meet demand. With a virtual lab cloud, organizations can create multi-user environments that simulate the real-world. The virtual lab cloud allows educators to create more realistic and engaging learning experiences.

The virtual lab cloud is more than just another eLearning tool

While eLearning continues to grow in popularity, it has become obvious that the industry has not yet reached its full potential. While modern tools have helped to increase efficiency, most eLearning courses offer only a limited level of engagement. They often lack complexity and realism, which is crucial for learners to truly master a subject. Virtual labs are designed to bring additional realism to eLearning. Through the use of computer-controlled equipment, virtual labs can simulate real-world conditions and provide an engaging learning environment. This can help learners to build on their skills, gain confidence, and apply knowledge in a realistic setting. Additionally, virtual labs can be used to deliver a wide range of training experiences including cybersecurity, R&D, and aviation training.

Virtual Labs are helping businesses meet the demands of digital learners

As online learning gains popularity, many businesses are looking to expand their offerings through online courses and digital programs. Virtual labs can help businesses meet the needs of their digital learners. With virtual labs, organizations can create realistic simulations that allow learners to practice new skills in a safe environment. Virtual labs can also help companies to reduce costs by reducing the need to acquire real-world equipment, as well as by reducing the need for instructors to travel to their training locations. With virtual labs, organizations can create engaging and realistic learning experiences, while meeting the needs of their digital learners.

9 ways the virtual lab cloud is driving innovation in education

Increased Realism

Virtual labs offer a level of realism that makes them ideal for training in many different fields. By simulating real-world conditions, virtual labs can help learners to gain a greater level of engagement in their learning. This can help to reduce the risk of learner fatigue and improve the overall learning process.

Enhanced Engagement

Virtual labs can also enhance engagement by enabling learners to practice with realistic equipment. This can help to improve confidence and mastery, as learners can practice their skills in a safe environment. It is important to note that virtual labs should not replace real-world experience. 

Accessibility

Virtual labs can also help to improve accessibility. This is particularly true among learners who may face accessibility challenges in the real world. Through virtual labs, learners can practice with realistic equipment in a safe environment. 

Cost Savings

Virtual labs can also help to reduce costs for businesses. This is particularly true in industries like aviation and healthcare, where expensive equipment is required for training. By using virtual labs, organizations can reduce the need for real-world equipment, as well as the need for instructors to travel to their training locations.

Improving the quality of education

Virtual labs are being used to help students learn fundamental concepts in a more intuitive way. Virtual labs enable students to explore real-life phenomena and conduct virtual experiments without the need for expensive lab equipment. This allows students to gain a greater understanding of the concepts behind the experiments and learn in a more engaging way. 

Enhancing teaching and learning experiences

Besides improving the quality of education, virtual labs can be used to enhance the learning experience for students. This can be achieved by placing the virtual labs within immersive VR environments, which can help students visualize concepts in a 3D setting and conduct virtual experiments. VR can make the learning process more interesting and engaging, enabling students to gain a greater understanding of the concepts behind the experiments. 

Increasing collaboration and communication

Virtual labs can be used to enhance collaboration and communication among students, instructors and other stakeholders. For example, virtual labs can be used as a digital hub to store and share knowledge and resources between students and their mentors. This enables students to access and use these resources at any time and location and encourages them to learn from each other. Virtual labs can also be used to facilitate group discussions. This can be achieved by allowing the participants to share their screens with each other and communicate through the use of text and audio.

Eliminating the need for physical infrastructure

For many years, traditional lab spaces have been used to conduct experiments. However, the high cost of maintaining a physical lab and the need for safe conditions to protect the equipment and materials have limited the expansion of the educational space. Virtual labs eliminate the need for physical infrastructure and can be used to increase collaboration and communication among students and researchers at a global level. This is because virtual technologies can be used to connect people across different geographical locations. Virtual labs can also be used to create a safe learning environment for students without specialized skills or equipment. This can be achieved by providing an environment that lets students utilize their creativity and curiosity to conduct virtual experiments and produce results.

Driven by advanced technology

Virtual labs have emerged with the introduction of advanced technologies such as augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics and are being used to complement the learning experience. For example, AR can be used to visualize the properties of materials, like chemical compounds and elements. AI can be used to generate and find solutions to problems and create simulations. Robotics can also be used to conduct virtual experiments and operate machines or other equipment by connecting them to the cloud.

What to look for when selecting a virtual lab cloud platform

When selecting a virtual lab cloud platform, it is important to consider how the technology will be used. It is also important to consider the device requirements of your users. Selecting the right platform can be challenging, as there are many factors to consider. These include: 

– Device Compatibility – First, it is important to consider the types of devices that are compatible with the platform. While most platforms are compatible with Windows and Mac computers, some may also be compatible with mobile devices. 

– Device Requirements – It is also important to consider the device requirements of the platform. You will want to make sure that your devices meet the minimum requirements for the platform. 

– User Volume – Next, it is important to consider the number of users who will use the platform. Some platforms support only a single user, while others can accommodate thousands. 

– System Requirements – You will also want to consider the system requirements for the platform. This will help you to determine if your computer is capable of supporting the software.

Requirements for a VILT environment

– Dedicated network – VILT is a synchronous solution. To ensure real-time interaction, all participants must be on a dedicated network. 

– Encrypted connection – VILT uses a dedicated network, but the connection between the participants could be unencrypted. To protect sensitive data, it is recommended to use an encrypted connection. 

– Screen sharing – Virtual instructor-led training is a synchronous solution. To see and interact with the learner’s screen, a screen-sharing application is required. 

– Audio/video – To create a true VILT environment, audio and video are required. This allows the instructor to see and hear each learner, and vice versa.

Conclusion

Virtual lab cloud technology allows organizations to build realistic and fully functional labs from a remote location. A virtual lab cloud is hosted on a central server. This means that users can remotely access these labs through their computers, as well as on mobile devices, using a web browser. This also allows organizations to scale their virtual lab cloud capacity to meet demand. With a virtual lab cloud, organizations can create multi-user environments that simulate the real-world. This allows educators to create more realistic and engaging learning experiences.

Virtual instructor-led training is an e-learning solution that combines the best aspects of face-to-face and online training. By leveraging the benefits of virtual labs, businesses can create more engaging and realistic learning experiences, while also reducing costs. Additionally, virtual labs can help to improve accessibility and enable learners to practice with realistic equipment in a safe environment.

With VILT, companies can provide high-quality instruction to employees at all locations. VILT is ideal for technical skills training, soft skills training, and specialized subject matter training. It is also scalable, costs less than face-to-face training, and can be delivered to employees on their preferred device. If you’re looking to boost employee engagement and retention, or improve productivity across the organization, consider implementing VILT. 

Let’s Talk 

It is clear that virtual lab cloud technology and remote, self-paced training is the new frontier of teaching and learning, as the need to keep up with the growing remote learning industry is stronger than ever. The beauty of self-paced training is how flexible and accommodating it is to all types of learners. We have outlined several activities that are present in a self-paced learning environment, but the sky is the limit!

ReadyTech provides companies and employees with a hosted virtual lab cloud technology training solution that offers hands-on, virtual training software to aid employees in practicing job skills. Companies that invest in employee training benefit from reduced attrition rates and hiring costs, better productivity, more knowledgeable employees, and a competitive hiring environment. ReadyTech provides you with all the software you need for your virtual classroom, and we offer a full-service setup process as well as 24/7 live support. Contact us today.

But how does a company successfully help its workforce make the transition to working from home? eLearning training and training e-learning strategies can yield in assisting your business in adopting a work-from-home approach. In turn, you will maintain a consistently high level of productivity in your business operations.

eLearning allows for easier remote access through the utilization of mobile devices

One of the most significant concerns that many companies face when making the transition to remote working is getting access to all the necessary learning materials. After all, desktop and laptop ownership are much less common in today’s world than it was in the past. However, with the utilization of mobile devices, this issue becomes non-existent since almost everyone consider this a necessity.

Ease of access is one of the advantages that come from training remotely via e-learning. After all, most web-based training can be accessed via the use of mobile devices. And since most people today have either a smartphone or a tablet, launching corporate training using the mobile platform is not only efficient but ultimately necessary for remote learning.

eLearning will empower all your employees through adaptive learning

The one-size-fits-all method of training is commonplace in the workplace. However, this isn’t always the most efficient or effective approach. And by providing eLearning for your remote training program, you’ll be able to empower your employees through adaptive training. What this means is your workers won’t be limited to what the current materials are since they can focus on other areas of the program once they’ve finished with a specific section of the training.

Related Content: Current Trends in Today’s eLearning Industry

eLearning can make work more engaging through gamification

Let’s face it: one of the primary reasons why it can be a challenge to retain information relevant to the business or work-related duties is due mostly to uninteresting execution. This is where eLearning can be advantageous. After all, you can gamify your training modules and materials for your employees and foster a more productive learning environment. And as a result, make them far more engaging the interesting than they would have been otherwise.

Related Content: 4 Practices That Improve Employee Engagement & Productivity

It comes as no surprise that many organizations are starting to adopt eLearning training as a means to help their employees and workers make the transition to a home-based type of work. With all of the advantages that it boasts over other strategies, it makes sense to do the same to enhance both the efficiency and effectiveness of the learning process.

Aiming to switch to eLearning to train your employees as soon as possible? Here’s what ReadyTech has to offer!