Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve research shows that the average learner forgets the most material, 56%, in the first hour after learning. Ebbinghaus discovered several strategies for flattening this curve including regularly spaced revision, association, and mnemonic devices. But the strategy that applies to the delivery of material and engagement is, “It’s easier to remember things that have meaning.” Learners with no interest or a lack of understanding as to why they are learning something will forget it more easily.
Stanford University and Technical University Denmark did a study with 160 students split into two groups. One would be learning with a virtual laboratory simulation and the other with traditional teaching methods. Both groups had the same amount of time to learn and took the same test after.
Researchers understood the importance of engagement so they brought in-game designers to give the virtual experience meaning and excitement. Participants used their experiments to solve a gamified CSI murder case. The result: undivided attention for over 2 hours of learning and resounding positive feedback. Compared to the control group, the simulation participants showed a 76% increase in knowledge retention.
Immersive learning like this can take on several forms. VR (Virtual Reality) and XR (Extended Reality) are being used to put students in simulated environments and experiences where they can access places, objects, and scenarios beyond the limits of physical space. EdTech Magazine explains that these environments allow participants to learn by doing. They encounter new concepts through experimentation and exploration. XR allows your brain to process 3D information– which it is wired to do. Energy Capital Magazine explains that in 3D digital experiences your brain processes more information and makes better synapse connections (more memories). The information available in XR (sound, light, touch, movement, images, writing) creates the possibility of long-term memory retention.
PricewaterhouseCoopers published a study explaining that employees trained with VR learned four times faster and had a cheaper average cost per participant when compared to traditional training methods. As shown in the Stanford study, to reach peak engagement and maximum benefits businesses should use experiences designed to be meaningful and exciting.
Strategies to increase engagement for memorable training experiences include:
Simulate multiple senses: In XR this is accomplished with music, sound effects, verbal narration, and relevant and reactive imagery.
Establish an emotional connection: Transform purely educational content into human content. It can look like the inclusion of stories and testimonies or any design choice that brings personality and relatability into an experience.
Utilize Novelty: Include surprise and delight moments that showcase XR’s ability to defy physical limitations. (The Training Industry)
Use Narrative as a design element: An experience should tell a story and have a beginning, middle, and end. Intentionally decide how all of your design elements fit together and how they accomplish your user’s goals. (The Design Gym)
The choice to communicate informational messages excitingly and emotionally is a strategy for lasting impact and return on investment. Businesses that use XR can reduce cost per participant and increase knowledge retention all while demonstrating a value for employee enjoyment and engagement.
