Training Industry Magazine - Fall 2023 - 63

SCIENCE OF
LEARNING
SRINI PILLAY,
M.D.
THE IGNORED FACTORS IN IMMERSIVE LEARNING
Immersive learning offers an opportunity
to learn skills more easily and in
environments that could resemble real
life, but it offers more than that, including
increased satisfaction, engagement
and self-efficacy. In fact, immersive
environments may decrease anxiety and
boost confidence. However, immersive
learning also requires that a learner's
mindset is conducive to receiving and
remembering new information. Let's
review some of the aspects of learners'
mindsets that can get in the way of
effective immersive learning.
MINDSET FACTORS THAT DISRUPT
IMMERSIVE LEARNING
Stress and overwhelm: Even mild
stress can decrease conscious selfcontrol.
As a result, neural circuits shut
down and mental paralysis can set in.
Rather than learning new ways of doing
things, people are more likely to stick
to their old habits, sometimes without
realizing this. While a certain amount
of stress can improve attention and
learning, stress can also decrease both,
thereby compromising the benefits of
immersive learning.
Worry: While general overwhelm and
stress can disrupt learning, so can specific
aspects of anxiety. Worry and rumination,
the constant thinking about disturbing
situations in personal relationships, prior
mistakes, negative experiences and
conversations or social interactions, are
quite common. One study showed that
21% of people cannot stop doing this.
This can make it difficult to recall training.
Inability to focus: Globally, about
5% of
the
workforce has attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
though in the US, this may be higher.
Not being able to focus, even in an
immersive environment, can take a
toll on a person's learning as new
information is likely to be missed.
Feeling paralyzed by work: Sometimes
people feel paralyzed by their work,
and new learning is not welcome.
At other times, people have analysis
paralysis and avoid doing anything.
Hopelessness: When people are in a
state of despair, it's difficult to focus
on learning. Also, when people lack
a growth mindset, even an immersive
environment may not be able to improve
their ability to learn.
LEARNING DOES
NOT HAPPEN
AUTOMATICALLY
JUST BECAUSE IT IS
IMMERSIVE.
SOLUTIONS
Do not assume that immersive
environments improve learning for
everyone. People who are overwhelmed,
worried, unfocused, tense, paralyzed or
hopeless may find it difficult to learn, even
in an immersive environment.
Encourage a growth mindset and
possibility thinking, so that people are
open to the possibility of learning and
benefiting from new things. Workload
matters in an immersive environment,
as heavy workloads can cause stress,
thereby impacting learning. Encourage
positive relationships among learners,
as people are more likely to learn if they
are in a positive relational environment.
At Reulay, we have partnered with
immersive learning companies like the
leading enterprise virtual reality (VR)
platform provider that has worked with
Fortune 1000 companies including Bank
of America, Verizon, MGM and Walmart
to improve learning by offering sciencebacked,
VR-based solutions designed
to address the factors above. Simply
spending 5-10 minutes in an environment
that addresses this can have a significant
positive impact. Our research at the Mayo
Clinic demonstrated that 10 minutes in a
relaxing VR environment can improve
anxiety, emotional distress and focus.
However, for different people, the
stressors will be different, and some
people may worry, while others may
lack focus. These solutions should be
personalized to address the anxiety
challenges of a specific learner.
CONCLUSION
Learning does not happen automatically
just because it
is immersive. Anxiety,
worry, inattention, tension, paralysis and
lack of a growth mindset must all be
addressed for learning to be optimal.
Dr. Srini Pillay is the CEO of
NeuroBusiness Group. He is a Harvardtrained
psychiatrist and neuroscientist,
on the Consortium for Learning
Innovation at McKinsey & Company,
and author of " Tinker Dabble Doodle
Try. "
Srini
is
also
co-founder,
medical officer and chief learning
officer of Reulay. Email Srini.
chief
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