Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2023 - 41

With our constant focus on the future
of work, L&D professionals are the
perfect facilitators of the metaverse
conversation. The following steps will
help you gauge your organization's
needs and readiness:
Conduct informal research: Ask your
people how they see themselves
working, gathering and learning in a
metaverse environment.
Ask your stakeholders about their
views on the metaverse and whether,
when and how your organization
might
leverage
this
rapidly
technology to:
⊲ Solve business challenges.
⊲ Meet clients where they are (or want
to be).
⊲ Make your processes more human
and inclusive.
⊲ Attract the next generation of
employees and clients.
Review your learning needs.
⊲ Which - if any - learning experiences
should be virtualized, and to what
extent? (Bailenson's four criteria make
for a great guidepost).
⊲ Could learners benefit from the
embodiment and sense of presence
the metaverse offers?
Connect the dots: Moving a learning
program to the metaverse requires a
long-term investment. Maximize the
return on investment of your metaverse
learning strategy by building asset
sharing into your plans.
Why L&D? The
Carpe Diem Call
L&D folks are the ultimate
middlepeople: We speak the language
of leaders, stakeholders, subject
matter experts (SMEs) and learners -
and we help them hear each other's
concerns. This ability to translate
TRAINING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE - SPRING 2023 I WWW.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM/MAGAZINE
evolving
whys, " what's in it for me " (WIIFMs)
and where we're going makes us ideal
hosts for the metaverse conversation.
We have the power - and
responsibility - to keep challenging
our colleagues and leaders to create a
metaverse presence.
To reap the benefits of the recursive
effect - and the dividends of early
adoption - organizations need to
move into the metaverse quickly.
That requires letting go of our
long development runways for
development and production - and
layers of signoffs.
Michelle Klein, vice president of global
business marketing at Meta, describes
the " perfection fatigue " Gen Z users
feel when presented with overworked,
overly slick online content. To engage
the
next
generation
of
learners,
workers and creators, Klein encourages
organizations to create a presence that
is " more homey, less perfect, more real
and more organic. "
It might feel uncomfortable putting a
minimum viable product out there in the
(virtual) world, but our audience wants
to see our rougher drafts. They want to
see - and connect with - the humans
behind the organizations. If you're not
sure yet how that might look and feel,
seek out metaverse experiences and
explore what's possible. You'll find a
wealth of adjacent inspiration from other
individuals, organizations and fellow
L&D professionals.
Tiffany Vojnovski is a learning evangelist
and design thinking experience creator
at SweetRush, where she shares her
passion for learning solutions that
support human growth and potential.
Email Tiffany.
Though they're still under construction,
the following properties will make
the metaverse a great home for
L&D programs.
Interoperability: Unlike current
gaming and social platforms, which
trap our content and achievements
within their " walled gardens, " the
metaverse will allow us to bring our
avatars, high scores and personal
island paradises from one platform
to another. Learners will be able to
transfer and apply their skills, work
histories, credentials, certifications
and accomplishments from one
organization to the next - without
gating within learning management
systems (LMSs) or learner experience
platforms (LXPs).
Synchronicity: Metaverse
interactions happen in real
time, and objects, people and
places respond and change
as we interact
with
them. We
learn by doing and receive
immediate feedback.
Continuity: In the metaverse,
we can change our style - even our
avatars - but we remain the same
person from one day to the next.
Our relationships, achievements
and identities grow and change
with us for the ultimate adaptive
learning experience.
Persistence: The metaverse
is there even when we're logged off.
Our organizations' digital twins remain
open for business and practice to
visitors all over the world, even when
we're fast asleep. Persistence also
allows us to map virtual experiences
to real-world spaces. Learners might
discover learning experiences and
challenges mapped to your physical
campus or their own towns.
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Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2023

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