While the economic downturn becomes graver and companies search for more affordable training systems, many turn to online training and learning management systems to meet training needs.
And parallel to the increase in organizations seeking online training solutions is the expansion of LMS technology. These days LMS courseware creators are designing online training software that seems game-like in nature, using more interactive and engaging tools.
Fun and interactive learning systems are becoming the new thing in online training. Some organizations and universities have made plans to integrate, or are already integrating virtual world software into their training systems.
Based on the popularity of virtual worlds, it may not be a bad idea. EMarketer estimates that 24 percent of the 34.3 million million users under 19 years old participated in a virtual world at least monthly in 2007, a figure that is predicted to jump to 53 percent by 2011. As people become more familiar with virtual world navigation, these online skills, interactions and roles will translate more easily into a professional or educational setting.
For many people, the concept of incorporating a virtual world in a training course seems impractical or unrealistic. But more institutions and organizations worldwide have begun to explore the pedagogical and training possibilities that virtual worlds offer.
For many students, virtual worlds offer a learning system that allows them to perform tasks that in the real world cannot be carried out, for some reason.
As in a learning management system, a virtual world allows educators and trainers to share videos, simulations, and other media with students. Acting as an avatar, students can also interact with each other, or perform tasks to reveal knowledge.
"Serious game" virtual worlds are used in professional and academic education to teach various topics, from frog dissection for kids to filling a cavity for dental hygienists.
When integrated correctly, software like LMSs and "serious game" virtual worlds can provide students with the means to engage in the material to a point at which traditional e-learning courses never could. With a feature-rich LMS, students have access to audio and visual information in the form of simulations, screen recordings, podcasts, and more.
Unfortunately, while virtual worlds offer vast potential as a learning system and interactive training space for professionals and students, they also have a long way to go before that ideal is an affordable mainstream reality. While "serious games" are still in the testing years, learning management system software providers are stepping up their game to offer a greater fun factor, in order to compete in an increasingly engaging online education world.
And parallel to the increase in organizations seeking online training solutions is the expansion of LMS technology. These days LMS courseware creators are designing online training software that seems game-like in nature, using more interactive and engaging tools.
Fun and interactive learning systems are becoming the new thing in online training. Some organizations and universities have made plans to integrate, or are already integrating virtual world software into their training systems.
Based on the popularity of virtual worlds, it may not be a bad idea. EMarketer estimates that 24 percent of the 34.3 million million users under 19 years old participated in a virtual world at least monthly in 2007, a figure that is predicted to jump to 53 percent by 2011. As people become more familiar with virtual world navigation, these online skills, interactions and roles will translate more easily into a professional or educational setting.
For many people, the concept of incorporating a virtual world in a training course seems impractical or unrealistic. But more institutions and organizations worldwide have begun to explore the pedagogical and training possibilities that virtual worlds offer.
For many students, virtual worlds offer a learning system that allows them to perform tasks that in the real world cannot be carried out, for some reason.
As in a learning management system, a virtual world allows educators and trainers to share videos, simulations, and other media with students. Acting as an avatar, students can also interact with each other, or perform tasks to reveal knowledge.
"Serious game" virtual worlds are used in professional and academic education to teach various topics, from frog dissection for kids to filling a cavity for dental hygienists.
When integrated correctly, software like LMSs and "serious game" virtual worlds can provide students with the means to engage in the material to a point at which traditional e-learning courses never could. With a feature-rich LMS, students have access to audio and visual information in the form of simulations, screen recordings, podcasts, and more.
Unfortunately, while virtual worlds offer vast potential as a learning system and interactive training space for professionals and students, they also have a long way to go before that ideal is an affordable mainstream reality. While "serious games" are still in the testing years, learning management system software providers are stepping up their game to offer a greater fun factor, in order to compete in an increasingly engaging online education world.
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