Truckers On The Offensive #018 - How Immersive Learning Is Changing Education in Fleets

Immersive learning can be defined as learning that, “...conceptualizes education as a set of active phenomenological experiences that are based on presence” (Mystakids & Lympouridis, 2023). It allows adult learners to experience an actual environment as closely as possible without physically being in that environment. 

Think of the last time you used Google Maps; you may have dropped the little pin in front of a location and used the Street View feature to look around. This is an example of immersive learning designed from a 2-D perspective. The real estate industry uses similar technology. If you were to use Trulia, for example, to find a house you wanted to explore, you don’t have to visit the house in person to get a first impression. Immersive technology allows you to explore all angles of a room or space so you know what it will look and feel like before you arrive. From a neuroscience perspective, these 2-D environments engage us with attention-capturing and interest-inducing stimuli (Bowman, 2018).  

We know the benefits of achieving information transfer by engaging in educational experiences that closely mimic real-world environments where performance is crucial (Anderson, 2018; Dede, 2009; Driscoll, 2005). These research findings are not new to education and our understanding of how we process information and learn. Many industries can benefit from this type of learning application. 

For example, the transportation industry is one such area where immersive learning can make an impact. Most driver trainers use forms of immersive learning. They are familiar with virtual reality, where VR headsets allow trainees to become one with the environment where they will need to perform. Most driver trainers use simulators that emulate what it would be like to drive a truck. They use immersive learning to practice skills like backing, skidding, and driving on ice and snow. Having a driver demonstrate backing in a simulator has real value: it can prevent a bad hire if that driver does not know how to back a truck in the first place. 

These immersive experiences are great for training, but have you thought about what could be done from an education standpoint once the driver is hired? Immersion can bring education to life for learners at every stage of their careers. Say goodbye to passive generic videos and introduce relevant educational experiences. 

For example, consider the power of immersive learning experiences in demonstrating the dangers of parking lots where the fleet has experienced numerous accidents. Instead of sending out a passive video on parking lot safety, technology makes it easy to deliver a short eNugget® or micro lesson. For example, the technology can be used to demonstrate the actual parking situation with the bollards they need to avoid in a tight grocery store parking lot in Charleston, South Carolina. If you have drivers who frequently have accidents in this parking lot, showing them the parking lot beforehand would be more effective as part of their educational experience. This way, they can recognize the bollards in advance and then refer back to the lesson if needed.  

These experiences make the actual topic of parking lot safety meaningful to the drivers and get their attention so they know what to expect. Fleets like Ascend are using immersion to show drivers what their terminals will be like before they even get there. The applications are extensive: cargo securement, inspections, dangerous bridges, and the list goes on. 

The best part? These environments are easy to create! At the 2023 Trimble Industry Partner Showdown, we demonstrated how you can create these experiences in less than 5 minutes using Luma Brighter Learning’s tools. Winning this competition was fantastic because, ultimately, the real winners are the learners who gain access to these authentic learning experiences.