Evaluation of procedural learning transfer from a virtual environment to a real situation: a case study on tank maintenance training

Abstract

Virtual reality opens new opportunities for operator training in complex tasks. It lowers costs and has fewer constraints than traditional training. The ultimate goal of virtual training is to transfer knowledge gained in a virtual environment to an actual real-world setting. This study tested whether a maintenance procedure could be learnt equally well by virtual-environment and conventional training. Forty-two adults were divided into three equally sized groups: virtual training (GVT® [generic virtual training]), conventional training (using a real tank suspension and preparation station) and control (no training). Participants then performed the procedure individually in the real environment. Both training types (conventional and virtual) produced similar levels of performance when the procedure was carried out in real conditions. Performance level for the two trained groups was better in terms of success and time taken to complete the task, time spent consulting job instructions and number of times the instructor provided guidance.

Examining the effects of altered avatars on perception-action in virtual reality.

“…Other studies have found evidence to suggest that training in VR does transfer to real world environments (Bertram et al, 2015;Ganier, Hoareau, & Tisseau, 2014;Hyltander et al, 2002;Larrue et al, 2014;Regian, 1997;Rose et al, 2000).…”

“…Interestingly, some training programs do not represent the user with an avatar, while others use very low fidelity avatars (Koritnik, Koenig, Bajd, Riener, & Munih, 2010), avatars that are not scaled to the dimensions of the user (Bertram et al, 2015;Bufton et al, 2014), or disembodied avatar limbs (Ganier et al, 2014;Grabowski and Jankowski, 2015). Thus, it is unknown if the size of the avatar used to represent the user has an impact on the transfer of calibration of action capabilities to the real world.…”

Digital twin and virtual reality: a co-simulation environment for design and assessment of industrial workstations

“…These scenarios allow assessing the feasibility and evaluating the operator's body posture during the scenario. The interesting point that Ganier, Hoareau, and Tisseau (2014) show is that virtual reality training on a maintenance procedure is transferred as well as a training on the real object. Ordaz, Romero, Gorecky, and Siller (2015) also show that gaming experience has no impact on the learning transfer.…”

ConVRgence (VRIC) Virtual Reality International Conference Proceedings

“…Lourdeaux (2001) also mentions this feature: users can safely train, make mistakes and learn from these; designers can re-create specific, extreme environments and situations to test learners' behaviour under duress. Ganier et al (2014) have demonstrated that VR training on maintenance procedures allowed learners to transfer skills as well as onsite training, but with reduced training costs. VRLEs are also deemed to affect the relations between learners and their actions (see Barot, 2014, on learners' freedom of choice), learners and instructors, and in learning groups.…”