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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zzCarla 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
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Bruce Gross / Cooper Swizzle (Poster Booth #9)Bruce Gross (Cooper Swizzle), based in the San Francisco Bay Area, transitioned from the beauty industry to HR, where he applied his creative skills to develop instructional materials and later worked as a recruiter and HR generalist. As a corporate trainer, Bruce introduced 3D virtual environments to replace traditional webinars, making sessions more engaging and interactive. His innovative Proof of Concept transformed in-person, week-long trainings into a six-week virtual course, boosting retention and cutting costs. This incremental model allowed real-world application of skills and expanded access to leadership development. For over 14 years, Bruce has championed immersive learning to enhance professional growth.
