Using Virtual Technology to Assess Practical Skills

Online, December 3, 2013 (Newswire.com) - The article opens up the debate that by using online Virtual Worlds, traditional science practicals could be replaced with virtual reality simulations in which pupils conduct experiments "on screen". Although this may on the face of it sound a little too much like Star Trek, the reality is that we can do this today. It does not negate the need to learn in the classroom and actually do the practical under the supervision of a teacher. Nothing can replace the smell of a chemistry practical, or the excitement when all your hair stands on end when experimenting with static electricity. However, it does open up the opportunity to provide an alternative method to regularly assess students skills in an engaging and easy to access way. One of the key benefits of online assessments is that they ensure a more standardised test is delivered, removing any variability from the assessor.

Businesses have also begun to adopt these tools and recent examples include the management of DNA samples in a virtual lab, to train and test individuals on core processes and policies, and run command and control simulations for emergency services. Working with our partner hostavirtualevent.com (HVE), Enterprise Study is identifying how these virtual assessments results can be managed through the market leading Learning Management System. Enterprise Study has a number of configurable Modules designed to help learner's access content; Classroom Learning, eLearning, Video Learning and Virtual Classroom Learning. In addition, we are soon to provide a Game based Learning Module that will allow the scheduling of scenarios and monitoring of the results from Games and Simulations launched in a HVE World.

Jim Piggot, CEO of HostAVirtualEvent comments: "the potential presented to organisations using the Virtual World technology is massive and now that the price point has made it affordable for small as well as large organisations, we are seeing a very diverse range of requirements being scoped. The opportunity to innovate using the assessment in a virtual environment is very exciting and we are delighted to be working with such a forward thinking and user centric company like Enterprise Study. The team from HVE will be at Learning Technologies in January 2014. At this exhibition we will share our experience with organisations looking to embrace new tools to evidence compliance in a cost effective way."

Steve Hurcombe, Technical Director at Enterprise Study also notes: "this presents a fantastic opportunity for our customers and from a developer's perspective, providing an easy to use application that embraces these new technologies in a safe and secure way is very exciting. We are delighted to be working with the HVE team."