What are some best practices for using virtual and augmented reality to train maintenance technicians?

2 Define clear learning outcomes

Before you start developing your VR and AR training content, you need to define what you want your technicians to learn and how you will measure their progress. You need to set clear and specific learning outcomes that align with your business goals and performance standards. You also need to establish how you will assess your technicians' skills and knowledge, such as quizzes, tests, or practical demonstrations.

3 Design engaging and interactive scenarios

One of the main benefits of VR and AR training is that they can create engaging and interactive scenarios that mimic real-world situations. You can use VR and AR to expose your technicians to different challenges, risks, and environments that they might encounter on the job. You can also use VR and AR to provide them with immediate and personalized feedback, guidance, and support. You should design your scenarios to be realistic, relevant, and varied, and to encourage your technicians to apply their learning and solve problems.

4 Integrate with other training methods

VR and AR training should not replace other training methods, but complement them. You should integrate your VR and AR training with other forms of learning, such as classroom sessions, online courses, or on-the-job coaching. You should also provide your technicians with opportunities to practice and reinforce their skills in real settings, and to receive feedback from their peers and supervisors. VR and AR training should be part of a blended learning approach that covers both theory and practice.

5 Evaluate and improve your training

Finally, you should evaluate and improve your VR and AR training based on the feedback and results you collect from your technicians. You should monitor and analyze how your technicians perform in the VR and AR scenarios, how they respond to the feedback and guidance, and how they transfer their skills to the real world. You should also ask your technicians for their opinions and suggestions on how to improve the VR and AR training. You should use this data to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your VR and AR training, and to make adjustments accordingly.