Computer and online resources are changing the way people interact with one another on both social and business levels. Making connections and networking with coworkers and friends have become basic practices of Internet collaboration rather than face-to-face interactions. Using custom training software as a motivator and educational tool has piggybacked this success into common modern implementation and provided new ways of gaining essential knowledge and experience.
Using these tools, even teachers can become better educators by increasing their current skill sets or finding out how to construct a course for the first time. Speaking in front of a group can be difficult, especially with public oration growing less common, so finding a simulated environment in which to practice these techniques can give teachers and those trying to enter the field more experience and confidence.
Constructing classrooms
Having a contingency plan to deal with difficult or stressful situations is an appealing aspect of simulation development. Specialized skills and intricate systems put users to the test, and those without prior knowledge or hands-on practice may struggle to perform. This is true even for educators who may administer these training simulations themselves -they may not be certain how to conduct a class outside the parameters of a computer module.
For these people, custom training software can be created that simulates this experience, as Lions Roar News reported. A program developed by the University of Central Florida (UCF) has presented a pioneering take on traditional computerized and simulated programs and created a suite that immerses student-teachers in an interactive classroom environment with realistic pupil responses. This challenges educators to think on their feet, recall information on the spot and adapt their speaking and teaching styles to meet different groups of students.
"It enhances the preparation for our undergrad student, and it makes people who are in the field better teachers," said Nicki Skelton of UCF's teaching and learning department. "The coolest thing about this is that you can make all the mistakes you want, and nobody is ever harmed. You can flip out, come back ten minutes later and they don't remember what happened."
Building new programs
In other parts of Florida, students are being trained to build these custom training simulation suites. Miami Northwestern Senior High School is promoting programs for its students that will help them build similar training structures to what UCF is currently implementing.
The hope here, according to the South Florida Times, is that students will learn both how to build custom software, move ahead with career plans and better understand these tools. Having a custom training solution that employees don't understand can make adoption and return on investment hard to realize, so encouraging earlier use for students can expedite the learning process.
Companies looking to take these learning opportunities should contact CSE Software Inc. to get more information on how to structure and deploy simulation developments so that their workforces can get hands-on training before entering stressful environments. In some cases, this training can mean the difference between success and failure, a critical hinge pin for organizations that move at a fast pace and rely on every individual doing a thorough and accurate job.
Contact Stacey Burris at sburris@csesoftware.com or 1.309.670.7595 and ask for a simulation development demo today!
