Online learning is growing in popularity and has accelerated through lockdown because users are able to learn via any connected device at any place or time.
As training becomes increasingly focused on digital delivery, content must be delivered in engaging interactive ways.
Online training materials cover a very wide field – from Health & Safety to GDPR, from mechanics to social care and much more.
Our focus is on training in ‘Soft Skills’.
These may be described as a combination of people skills, social skills, communication skills, character or personality traits, and attitudes, career attributes,
social intelligence and emotional intelligence quotients and so on. These skills enable people to navigate their environment, work well with others,
perform well, and achieve their goals with complementing specialist skills.
Video content is an increasingly popular vehicle to deliver distributed online training –
there are tens of thousands of YouTube teacher videos; but this looks set to change as the content is not interactive.
In the age of casual gaming , Avatar characters and gaming tropes can provide an interactive ‘gamified’ approach to learning utilising text, speech and video.
Gameware’s Soft Skills Scripting System (4S) is an easy to use, powerful, cloud-based authoring tool that
enables authors and trainers to create learning experiences focused on developing and practicing interpersonal skills.
4S enables the learner to engage in directed conversations with a life-like virtual person (an ‘avatar’)
The learner can practice dealing with situations that critically require person-to-person interaction in a massive variety of subject matters such as:
HR appraisal/performance/disciplinary issues
team performance management
sales negotiation and customer service
social/medical services
interview techniques (including police work)
Potential uses for interactive training/teaching avatars are widespread and can include:
Business/Management/HR - recruitment, appraisal, disciplinary; bullying, harassment, negotiation, cross-cultural etiquette, team performance
Sales/After Sales - face-to-face, call centre training, dealing with complaints
Hospitality - front-line staff - receptionists, waiters
Law enforcement - police suspect/victim/witness interviews and procedures
Social services - needs assessment, benefits assessment, safeguarding: radicalism, sexual exploitation, abuse, child protection
Healthcare - medical assessment/care needs assessment
Clinical psychology - therapy diagnosis
3rd sector services (Samaritans, CAB),counselling, bereavement, suicide
Education - pupil assessment, disciplinary & social issues