Leveraging 3D Environments for Soft Skills Training
We will explore the concept of ‘soft skills’ training in the context of personal growth and professional development, showing how 3D environments offer a unique platform for this transformational journey. Soft skills corporate training, refers to topics that involve some sort of behavioral change and often involves introspection and experimentation with new, unfamiliar behaviors. Having participants operate through an avatar—which can function as if they’re wearing a costume—makes it easier for them to step into new roles, make mistakes, and learn without the fear of embarrassment. It’s a powerful way to nurture new skills for leadership, communication, team building, and even for addressing crucial topics like sexual harassment prevention.
Speakers
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Bruce Gross / Cooper Swizzle (Poster Booth #13)Bruce became drawn to 3D Virtual Immersive Environments for training after being introduced to them at a professional association meeting for trainers. Bruce realized they created opportunities for both synchronous and asynchronous trainings for learners, and offered a very cost-effective solution for companies utilizing them. He realized that 3D environments enabled better engagement for learners, and began implementing use of 3D Environments as replacements for PowerPoint slides in webinars (where he had attendees watch via the webinar screen as he explored the topics in the 3D world). And he was able to convince the company leadership to try a pilot program using 3D worlds for training as a substitute for the expensive face-to-face, week-long training marathons that had been a staple of the company leadership development.
After completing the highly successful pilot 3D leadership training series, he was able to continue and expand the 3D course offerings and subsequently ran a 5-year 3D-based training program before retiring from the company. Holding certifications in DDI®️, Forte®️, and 3D Virtual Worlds from the University of Washington (2012), Bruce brings a broad spectrum of experience in training and enjoys using and sharing knowledge gained from his 15+plus years of training experience.
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Carla Kincard-Yoshikawa (Poster Booth #13)Carla Kincaid-Yoshikawa has worked as an Organization Development and Training Consultant for many years. Working in a wide range of industries in the private, public and non-profit sectors, she has designed, developed, and facilitated training programs on a wide array of topics including leadership development, strategic planning, change management, software navigation, new hire orientation, sexual harassment, and stress management. A deep curiosity about how people learn, change and grow has created a core resource for her ongoing work in Learning and Development.
She became interested in the use of 3D platforms after her son introduced her to 3D games as she recuperated from an injury. She saw them as powerful tools with significant capabilities that would enhance online/remote learning and began exploring how to use them as part of a comprehensive blended learning solution. Carla continues to use many technologies in her work, relying on skills developed creating and facilitating face-to-face training, as well as self-paced e-learnings and traditional remote learning (e.g., Zoom, aka webinars) to design effective learning
