Navigating the Realities of AR, VR, and XR in Learning

This is the written version of the Measurably Better Learning Podcast.

If you would like to watch the full discussion on Navigating the Realities of AR, VR, and XR in Learning: You Can Catch That Here!

Introduction to AR, VR, and XR for Organizational Learning

As L&D professionals, we're always on the lookout for new technology that can improve our training effectiveness and drive better outcomes for our learners. Three emerging technologies - augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and extended reality (XR) - are poised to disrupt how organizations approach workforce learning.

At their core, these technologies create immersive digital experiences that blend the physical and virtual worlds. With AR, digital information and images are overlaid onto the real-world environment through a smartphone, tablet, or AR glasses. VR fully immerses the user in a computer-generated 3D environment, creating the sensation of being transported to a different reality. XR combines AR and VR along with other technologies like 3D modeling to produce highly realistic and interactive hybrid experiences.

While the idea of using AR and VR for training is not new, recent advancements and increasing enterprise adoption are making these technologies more accessible and practical than ever before. According to a 2022 report by MarketsandMarkets, the global AR and VR market in training and education is projected to grow from $6.3 billion in 2021 to $29.3 billion by 2026.

This growth is being driven by several key trends. First, the hardware required for AR and VR like headsets and glasses is becoming more affordable and user-friendly. Secondly, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated interest in immersive remote training solutions. Perhaps most importantly, organizations are increasingly recognizing the learning effectiveness and business impact these technologies can deliver through experiential, hands-on training.

As we look into the possibilities of using AR, VR, or XR for corporate learning programs, it's important for L&D teams to understand the unique strengths of each technology and how they can be leveraged effectively. With thoughtful implementation and creative instructional design, these powerful tools can transform workforce skills development in your organization.

AR Applications in Workplace Learning

When it comes to augmented reality, some of the most compelling use cases for workplace learning are those that integrate digital instructional layers directly into the employee's real-world environment and workflow. AR has the power to enhance on-the-job training, provide real-time remote assistance, and bring products and services to life in exciting new ways.

Overlaying AR instructional guidance onto the physical workspace or equipment allows employees to learn and follow procedures with heads-up, hands-free visuals. Instead of referring to a manual or watching a video, AR can quite literally walk them through each step. This accelerates the training process while reducing the potential for costly errors.

Similarly, AR enables subject matter experts to virtually assist employees no matter where they are located. Through AR glasses or mobile cameras, experts can see exactly what the employee sees and provide real-time audio and visual guidance, annotations, and knowledge sharing. This is particularly valuable for equipment repairs, field service, and other specialized tasks.

Beyond workforce training, augmented reality opens up opportunities to revolutionize product and service demonstrations for both employees and customers. AR visualizations can spawn photorealistic 3D models, animated simulations, and immersive experiences that allow people to interact with and explore offerings in vivid detail. For sales teams, this bridges the gap between descriptions and actual experiences.

Whether driving more effective training, enabling remote collaboration, or delivering richer product engagement, AR is already transforming how employees acquire knowledge and skills in the modern workplace.

VR for Experiential Corporate Training

While augmented reality blends digital enhancements into the real world, virtual reality immerses trainees fully into computer-simulated environments. This makes VR incredibly powerful for experiential learning in scenarios that are too dangerous, expensive or logistically challenging to practice in reality.

One of VR's most apparent applications is for high-risk environment training. Want to prep employees on proper emergency response procedures like a factory fire or chemical spill? With VR simulation, they can experience these high-stress situations from a safe, immersive environment and develop crucial muscle memory. Similarly, training on operating heavy machinery or piloting aircraft can be conducted virtually, avoiding potential equipment damage or safety risks.

VR shines for soft skills training as well. Imagine your salespeople practicing calls and presentations by role-playing with AI-driven virtual characters that respond realistically based on conversational cues. Customer service reps could experience scenarios of working with unhappy or irate clients. Managers could walk through difficult conversations like giving feedback or disciplining employees. The flexibility of VR opens up a new dimension of human rehearsal.

But VR training extends well beyond just simulating interpersonal interactions. For learning the ins-and-outs of complex equipment and machinery, virtual reality can immerse trainees in extremely detailed 3D walkthroughs and operation simulations. From manufacturing plants to aviation systems, VR can accelerate workforce comprehension while minimizing downtime compared to conventional training approaches.

As virtual reality hardware and development tools advance, we're just beginning to unlock the transformative potential of this technology for driving true experiential learning in the corporate world. When the real thing is too risky or impractical, VR simulations offer the ideal solution.

Extended Reality and the Blending of AR/VR

While augmented reality and virtual reality each have their own distinct value, the real magic happens when you blend the two together. This is where extended reality (XR) comes into play. XR refers to the spectrum of experiences that combine real and virtual environments, including both AR and VR as well as mixed reality (MR).

One of the most exciting applications of XR for corporate learning is the creation of hybrid learning environments. Imagine a training program where learners move seamlessly between interacting with digital overlays in their physical space (AR) and diving into fully immersive virtual simulations (VR). This blended approach allows for a more dynamic and engaging learning experience that keeps trainees actively involved.

Picture a new employee orientation where they use AR to navigate and learn about their actual office space, then transition into a VR session to practice key job skills in a simulated environment. Or a technical training program that combines hands-on equipment practice with AR guidance and VR troubleshooting scenarios. The possibilities are endless.

XR also opens up new frontiers for collaborative learning, even when teams are geographically dispersed. Virtual classrooms and meeting spaces can bring remote learners together in shared digital environments where they can interact, collaborate, and learn as if they were face-to-face. Imagine a sales team from around the globe meeting in a virtual conference room to roleplay and workshop their pitches together.

Beyond just virtual meeting spaces, XR can facilitate group learning activities and projects in entirely new ways. Teams can collaborate on 3D models, data visualizations, and interactive simulations, all within a shared extended reality environment. This level of immersive collaboration has the potential to foster deeper understanding, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

As XR technologies continue to evolve and converge, we'll see even more innovative ways to blend physical and digital learning experiences. The key for L&D professionals is to think creatively about how these hybrid environments can be leveraged to drive better engagement, knowledge retention, and skill development.

Implementation Challenges and Considerations

As exciting as the potential of AR, VR, and XR technologies is for corporate learning, it's important to acknowledge and plan for the challenges that come with implementing these cutting-edge tools. From technology costs to content design, user adoption to system integration, there are several key considerations L&D leaders must navigate.

First, there's the question of technology costs and infrastructure requirements. While hardware prices for AR and VR have come down in recent years, deploying these technologies at scale still represents a significant investment. Beyond the headsets and devices themselves, organizations need to ensure they have the necessary computing power, network bandwidth, and secure data storage to support immersive learning experiences.

Content development and instructional design for XR also present unique challenges. Creating compelling AR and VR learning experiences requires a different skillset than traditional e-learning or instructor-led training. It's a blend of learning science, user experience design, and immersive storytelling. L&D teams may need to acquire new talent or partner with specialized vendors to build out their XR content capabilities.

User adoption and change management is another critical factor. While younger digital natives may jump at the chance to learn with cutting-edge technologies, older employees may be more hesitant or skeptical. Overcoming preconceptions and providing adequate training and support for AR/VR/XR tools is key to driving widespread adoption and ensuring learning initiatives deliver ROI.

Finally, integrating immersive learning technologies with an organization's existing learning tech stack can be complex. How will XR content be hosted and delivered? How will learner progress and completion data be tracked and synced with an LMS or LXP? Ensuring seamless integration and data flow between systems is crucial for a cohesive learner experience and accurate reporting.

While these challenges may seem daunting, they're not insurmountable. With careful planning, change management, and the right technology partners, forward-thinking organizations can successfully harness the power of XR for learning while mitigating potential roadblocks.

Future Outlook and Emerging Use Cases

As we've seen, AR, VR, and XR technologies are already reshaping the landscape of corporate learning. But what's on the horizon? As these technologies continue to advance and converge with other cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, the possibilities are truly mind-bending.

One of the most exciting frontiers is the integration of AI and data-driven adaptive learning into XR training experiences. Imagine a VR simulation that can track a learner's eye movements, biometric data, and performance metrics in real-time, then dynamically adjust the difficulty, pacing, and content to optimize learning outcomes. Personalized, adaptive learning has long been a holy grail in L&D, and XR may finally help us achieve it.

Gamification is another area where XR is poised to shine. By leveraging game design elements like points, badges, leaderboards, and interactive challenges, XR training can drive much higher levels of learner engagement and motivation. Imagine your sales team competing in a VR pitch competition or your engineers collaborating to solve a gamified AR puzzle. The immersive, interactive nature of XR is perfectly suited to gamified learning.

Looking further out on the horizon, the rise of the enterprise metaverse and fully immersive virtual workspaces could fundamentally transform how we think about learning and working. Just as e-learning revolutionized training in the early days of the internet, VR-powered metaverse platforms could become the new normal for corporate learning and collaboration. Imagine onboarding new hires in a shared virtual campus or attending an international conference without leaving your desk.

As XR technologies become more central to learning strategies, we'll also likely see the emergence of new roles and job titles in L&D. "XR Learning Experience Designer" or "AR/VR Training Content Developer" may become as common as "Instructional Designer" is today. These professionals will blend expertise in learning science, XR user experience, and immersive content creation to craft the next generation of transformative learning experiences.

Regardless of the specific applications, what's clear is that XR technologies will be absolutely essential for any organization looking to reskill and upskill their workforce for the digital future. As learning leaders, it's up to us to explore these transformative tools today so we can help shape the immersive learning experiences of tomorrow.

This is the written version of the Measurably Better Learning Podcast.

If you would like to watch the full discussion on Navigating the Realities of AR, VR, and XR in Learning: You Can Catch That Here!