What an eLearning simulation can do for your corporate training—and the business—is incomparable to what you might have been getting from traditional training methods.
More engaging learning experiences, improved learner performance, and easier application of lessons learned. Besides, as employees practice new skills and apply new knowledge on the job, they engage even more with the training program.
That’s everything you need to boost your eLearning ROI, change behaviors across the company, and increase employee retention.
So, let’s start with exploring what simulation-based eLearning is, when to use it in corporate training, and give you a few examples from the real world.
What Is an eLearning Simulation?
An eLearning simulation is an interactive virtual environment that replicates real-life situations.
That’s why simulation in eLearning allows learners to practice what they’ve learned in a risk-free setting where they don’t fear making mistakes that could lead to costly consequences in the real world.
When Do eLearning Simulations Make Sense?
While simulations have proven to be highly effective in training and learning settings, they’re not ideal for every situation. Instead, reserve simulation environments, exercises, and games for when the training is hands-on and skill-based. When a learner is tasked with following a new technique or changing the way things used to be done, simulations make sense: They give learners a chance to practice in a controlled environment before entering a real-world setting.
Simulations don’t really make sense when eLearning is knowledge-based only. Take compliance training, for example: Learners don’t need to “act out” or test out compliance before going to work. Instead, compliance training is one of those knowledge-based or “need to know” tenets of onboarding, so information-based delivery methods are usually more appropriate.
Still, there are a number of areas where simulations are highly effective and instrumental in achieving the highest degree of eLearning success.
- Sales training
- Safety procedure training
- Military applications
- High-risk environments (in which learners can test out new techniques before applying them on the job in a high-risk situation)
- Any time a change in behavior is required for the learner to be successful
Real-World eLearning Simulation Examples
eLearning simulations offer a powerful way to provide hands-on practice across diverse corporate scenarios. Here are a few common types of eLearning simulation examples:
Software Simulation Examples
These simulations help employees master new software or complex digital tools without risking real data or systems. Think of a software simulation eLearning example as a digital sandbox.
- CRM Walkthroughs: New sales reps can practice navigating a customer relationship management (CRM) system, inputting client data, scheduling follow-ups, and generating reports, all within a simulated environment.
- ERP Task Navigation: Employees can learn to perform specific tasks within an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, such as processing invoices, managing inventory, or updating employee records, ensuring they understand the workflow before working live.
Behavioral Simulations
Behavioral simulations focus on developing soft skills and improving interpersonal interactions. These are crucial for roles that involve significant human interaction.
- Coaching Conversations: Managers can practice sensitive coaching conversations with simulated employees, learning to provide constructive feedback, handle objections, and motivate their team members in a safe space.
- Performance Reviews: HR professionals or team leaders can simulate conducting performance reviews, practicing how to deliver both positive and critical feedback, set goals, and address performance gaps effectively.
Gamified Simulation Elements
Integrating gamification into simulations can significantly boost engagement and motivation. These elements often provide immediate feedback and a sense of progress.
Timed Decision-Making: For roles requiring quick thinking, simulations might introduce timed decision-making scenarios where learners must choose an action within a limited timeframe, replicating real-world pressure.
Progress Meters: As learners complete steps or achieve objectives within a simulation, a visible progress meter encourages them to continue and shows them how far they’ve come.
Simulations, Gamification, and Scenarios: What’s the Difference?
While often used interchangeably or in conjunction, “simulations,” “gamification,” and “scenarios” serve distinct purposes in eLearning. Understanding their differences helps in making an eLearning simulation truly effective.
- Simulations: At their core, simulations replicate a real-world environment or process to allow learners to practice actions and experience consequences. The goal is to build practical skills and decision-making abilities in a safe, controlled setting.
- When to use: Ideal for hands-on skill development, practicing complex procedures, training for high-risk situations, or preparing for new software implementations.
- Gamification: This involves applying game-design elements and game principles in non-game contexts to enhance engagement and motivation. It doesn’t necessarily replicate a real-world process but adds elements like points, badges, leaderboards, and progress tracking to learning activities.
- When to use: To boost learner motivation, encourage repeated practice, provide immediate feedback, or make otherwise dry content more engaging. Gamification can be an element within a simulation.
- Scenarios: These are story-based learning activities that present a problem or situation and require the learner to make choices, often with branching paths that lead to different outcomes. While scenarios can be part of a simulation, they often focus more on critical thinking and understanding consequences of decisions rather than physical practice.
- When to use: For developing critical thinking, ethical reasoning, problem-solving skills, and understanding the impact of decisions in a narrative context. They’re excellent for exploring “what if” situations.
In essence, a simulation is the engine that replicates reality, gamification is the fuel that drives engagement, and scenarios are the roadmaps that guide decision-making within the learning journey. Simulation and gamified eLearning often go hand-in-hand to create powerful learning experiences.
| What it is | What it does | When to use it |
| Simulations | Replicates real-world situations for practice. | For hands-on skills, complex tasks, and practicing in safe environments. |
| Gamification | Uses game elements (points, badges) to make learning engaging. | To motivate learners, encourage practice, and make learning fun. |
| Scenarios | Story-based situations where you make choices. | For critical thinking, understanding consequences, and exploring “what if” situations. |
Think of it this way: A simulation is like practicing in a flight simulator before flying a real plane. Gamification is like adding points and levels to that simulator to make it more fun. Scenarios are like being given a situation in the simulator and having to decide the best course of action.
How eLearning Simulations Improve Employee Skills
One of the key advantages of eLearning simulations is their ability to improve employee skills through experiential learning. By allowing learners to practice and apply new skills in a realistic environment, they can build confidence and competence faster than traditional training methods. Simulations also provide opportunities for employees to learn from their mistakes in a safe setting, reinforcing important concepts and improving knowledge retention.
Key Factors for Designing Effective Simulations
Designing effective simulations requires careful consideration of several factors, including learning objectives, audience, and technology. It’s important to identify the key skills or knowledge areas you want to target and design the simulation to reflect real-world scenarios that align with these objectives. The audience should also be considered, with simulations tailored to their needs and skill levels. Finally, the technology used to deliver the simulation should be chosen based on factors such as accessibility, compatibility, and user experience.
When designing eLearning simulations for corporate training, it’s important to consider a number of factors to ensure they are effective in achieving the desired learning outcomes.
Identifying learning objectives
Before designing any eLearning simulation, it’s essential to identify the specific learning objectives that you want to achieve. This will help you tailor the simulation to meet the needs of your audience and ensure that it provides a valuable learning experience. You should be clear about what knowledge, skills, and behaviors you want your learners to develop, and incorporate these objectives into the simulation design.
Tailoring simulations to audience needs
Different learners have different needs, preferences, and learning styles, so it’s important to tailor your eLearning simulations accordingly. You should consider the characteristics of your audience, including their age, experience, education level, and cultural background, to design simulations that are appropriate for their needs.
Choosing the right technology and platform
There is a wide range of technologies and platforms available for designing eLearning simulations, and it’s important to choose the right ones for your needs. You should consider factors such as the complexity of your simulation design, the size of your audience, and the level of interactivity required. You should also ensure that the technology and platform you choose are compatible with your existing learning management system and other tools.
Incorporating feedback and continuous improvement
Once you’ve designed and implemented your eLearning simulation, it’s important to gather feedback from learners and continuously improve the simulation based on this feedback. You can use surveys, quizzes, and other evaluation tools to gather feedback on the effectiveness of your simulation and identify areas for improvement. You can then use this feedback to refine the simulation design and create an even more effective learning experience. By continuously improving your simulations, you can ensure that they remain relevant, engaging, and effective over time.
Challenges and Considerations When Implementing eLearning Simulations
While eLearning simulations offer many benefits, there are also challenges and considerations to keep in mind when implementing them in corporate training programs. Here are some of the most important challenges and considerations:
Overcoming resistance to change
One of the biggest challenges when implementing eLearning simulations is overcoming resistance to change. Employees may be used to traditional training methods and may be hesitant to embrace new technologies and learning formats. To overcome this resistance, it’s important to communicate the benefits of eLearning simulations clearly and provide ample training and support for learners.
Ensuring compliance and regulatory requirements
Depending on the nature of your organization and industry, there may be specific compliance and regulatory requirements that you need to meet when implementing eLearning simulations. For example, if you work in the healthcare industry, you may need to ensure that your simulations are compliant with HIPAA regulations. It’s important to understand these requirements and ensure that your simulations meet them.
Addressing cultural and language barriers
You may need to address cultural and language barriers when implementing eLearning simulations. You should consider the cultural backgrounds and language abilities of your learners and design simulations that are appropriate for their needs. You may need to provide translations or subtitles for learners who are not proficient in the language of the simulation.
By considering these challenges and considerations and implementing strategies to address them, you can ensure that your eLearning simulations are effective in enhancing employee learning and development.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of eLearning Simulations
Measuring the effectiveness of eLearning simulations is crucial for assessing the return on investment and identifying areas for improvement. This can be done through various methods, such as measuring learning outcomes and return on investment (ROI), gathering feedback and incorporating improvements, and tracking employee performance and progress.
After implementing eLearning simulations in your corporate training program, it’s important to evaluate their effectiveness to ensure that they are achieving the desired outcomes. Here are some important aspects to consider when evaluating the effectiveness of eLearning simulations:
Measuring learning outcomes and ROI
It’s important to measure the learning outcomes of your eLearning simulations to ensure that they are achieving the desired knowledge and skill development. You can measure learning outcomes through assessments and tests, and also by gathering feedback from learners. Additionally, measuring the ROI of your eLearning simulations can help justify the cost of the technology and platform used.
Gathering feedback and incorporating improvements
Gathering feedback from learners and incorporating improvements based on that feedback is crucial to the success of eLearning simulations. You can gather feedback through surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Based on this feedback, you can identify areas for improvement and make changes to your simulations to enhance their effectiveness.
Tracking employee performance and progress
Tracking employee performance and progress is important to ensure that they are applying what they have learned through the eLearning simulations in their day-to-day work. You can track employee performance through metrics such as productivity, customer satisfaction, and quality of work. Additionally, tracking employee progress can help identify areas where additional training or support may be necessary.
The Future of eLearning Simulations in Corporate Training
As technology continues to advance, the potential applications of eLearning simulations in corporate training are expanding. From virtual reality to gamification, there are exciting new ways to incorporate simulations into your training programs. By embracing these innovations, you can create more engaging and effective learning experiences that enhance employee skills and drive business success.
eLearning simulations are a powerful tool for enhancing employee skills and performance in corporate training programs. By providing a safe and engaging environment for learners to practice and apply new skills, simulations can improve knowledge retention and build confidence.
Not sure where to start with eLearning simulation design? Let’s build a custom corporate training solution, together.
