Virtual Reality Simulations Strengthen OJT

Katie Bales

Abstract

I have spent a lot of time discussing how important On-the-Job Training can be to companies and their employee productivity. OJT is important, but in its weakest form, it may not be all that useful to companies. There are limitations with some on-the-job training programs. Experience firsthand is not always the best way to teach an individual. For example, should a surgeon be performing any kind of procedure, even with a supervisor, on a human, before proper training? What kind of training should be before hands-on training?

Simulations

OJT can be implemented in different ways, but one popular way it’s used is through simulations. Simulations are “an imitation or enactment…” or “act or process of pretending” (Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2013). These simulations are typically created through computers. The computer program allows for an individual to gain experience through “learning by doing” (Schank & Saunders, 2001). Many companies are not going to resort to lectures for training an individual a very hands-on job. Though in some cases, in regards to “’people’ skills, companies revert to school mode” (Schank & Saunders, 2001). In Schank & Saunders’ article, it’s stated that no matter how well a lecture for training is performed, “two principles of learning remain: (1) Nothing anyone says will do any more than inspire you. (2) Even if you could learn a job better by hearing, if you didn’t practice that technique, you wouldn’t remember it for long.”   Even though lectures can serve valuable, the best way to train an employee for a technical job is through simulations of tasks the employee will soon encounter. 

Preparation

Realistically speaking, “more than half of the small and medium industry implements [simplistic] On-The-Job Training, video library, technical document and so in…” (Watanuki & Kojima, 2007). These training programs can be costly, time consuming, and “do not make it easy for one to succeed the high-leveled skill of a skill technician” (Watanuki & Kojima, 2007). Not every job can easily be learned through experience on-the-job. In other words, just practicing a situation with a supervisor does not mean an individual is ready to perform the job themselves. Other OJT may be required before an employee is ready to perform their job tasks. In virtual reality training, “the education content is displayed in the immersive virtual environment, whereby a trainee may experience himself in the virtual site operations” (Watanuki & Kojima, 2007). Watanuki and Kojima believe that this type of OJT training can be the most useful before on-the-job training occurs at the real job site, allowing the “trainee to gain tacit knowledge” before operating in the real environment. Back to the question earlier mentioned, VR is probably one of the best forms of OJT that can be used for surgeons. Soon-to-be surgeons can learn by doing with realistic simulations, but without real trial and error on a human being.

Enhancing OJT & Correcting Flaws

Furthermore, training can be essential for other high-leveled skill jobs, such as pilots. OJT is used for pilots, and accounts for a lot of their experience gained, but it does “not allow for effective feedback or proper exposure to different types of defects” (Sadasivian, Rele, Greenstein, Duchowski, & Gramopadhye, 2005). If feedback is provided, it may be “infrequent, unmethodical, and/or delayed. Moreover in certain instances, feedback is economically prohibitive or impractical because of the nature of the task” (Vora, Nair, Gramopadhye, Duchowski, Melloy, & Kanki, 2002). Virtual Reality enhances OJT to correct these drawbacks; rather, it is a strengthened form of On-The-Job Training.  Pilots enduring VR training will experience its effectiveness as it “enables the user to perform under a number of different and controlled scenarios and provides exposure to a wide variety of defects” (Sadasivian et al., 2005). Virtual Reality OJT can create a realistic presentation to the trainee that teaches them how to perform in situations that will occur on the job. Imagine the amount of money a company saves by putting a trainee through VR rather than allowing their trainees to use and possibly damage equipment. Trial and error can be very expensive. Again, VR enhances OJT and takes it to the next level as it gives trainees access to realistic simulations. 

Conclusion/Study
There have been many studies to conclude if VR training is an effective form of OJT. In a study summary completed by the authors of “Using Virtual Reality Technology…” the purpose was to “[solicit] the subjective opinion of humans on the applicability of the VR simulator in supporting training in the aircraft maintenance environment” (Vora et al., 2002). The results showed researchers “the subjects who experienced significantly greater level of involvement in the simulator felt that the experiences were as natural as the real world ones” (Vora et al., 2002). VR allows for employees to practice procedures that are very life-like, “natural as the real world ones”, without actually performing them. VR implemented into OJT is useful and effective for companies trying to teach their employees the most productive way to complete a task.

References

Sadasivian S., Rele, R., Greenstein, J. S., Duchowski, A. T., Gramopadhye A. K. (2005).  Simulating on-the-job training using a collaborative virtual environment with head slaved visual deictic reference. Proceedings of HCI International Annual Conference, 22-27.

http://andrewd.ces.clemson.edu/research/vislab/docs/HCII-911.pdf

Schank, R., Saunders, H. (2001). Virtual learning: a revolutionary approach to building a highly skilled workforce. Performance Improvement, 40(5), 39-41. doi: 10.1002/pfi.4140400511

simulation. (n.d.). © Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.. Retrieved April 16, 2013, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/simulation

Vora, J., Nair, S., Gramopadhye, A. K., Duchowski, A. T., Melloy, B. J., Kanki, B. (2002). Using virtual reality technology for aircraft visual inspection training: presence and comparison studies. Applied Ergonomics, 33(6), 559-570. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0003-6870(02)00039-X

Watanuki, K., Kojima, K. (2007). Knowledge acquisition and job training for advanced technical skills using immersive virtual environment. Journal of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing, 1, 48-67.  https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jamdsm/1/1/1_1_48/_pdf