Virtual Training Partners Submission Page for Federal Virtual Worlds Challenge

Virtual Training Partners FWVC Showcase Submission:

Problem: A significant number of organizations are reducing or eliminating employee training because of travel expenses. Without effective training, employees will lack necessary skill sets to maintain productivity, safety, and competitiveness in the marketplace.

Solution: Virtual Training Partners (www.virtualtrainingpartners.com) has developed a unique and highly acclaimed approach to conduct training through 3D Virtual Environments. Our approach combines the immersion of front of the room training with the cost savings of traditional distance learning. Our solution is superior to the traditional learning solutions because of the high level of interactivity present in our programs. Rather than passively watching a slide show presentation, our programs engage participants by walking them through immersive environments such as: the Sistine Chapel, Mount Everest, Santa's Village, and a Pig Farm. Each environment provides a single learning point that is tested at the end of the training segment.

Accolades: Participants have told us that they have retained the lessons we teach because of the high level of visual stimulation. One participant said: "All I need to do it close my eyes and I remember seeing the North Pole and I recall the learning point. Then I picture myself walking from the North Pole to the Sistine Chapel and I remember the learning point from that segment as well."

Virtual Training Partners' goal, therefore, is to provide education with this kind of retention, to employees who might not have otherwise received training due to budget cuts. If we can accomplish this goal, employees will be better equipped to overcome the challenges they are facing in an everchanging work environment.

Program Presentation Times:

In order to explore our work, it will be necessary to receive a guided tour. Simply landing on the Island and exploring on your own will not be effective, as there are many elements of the program that are not visable from the landing point, and first hand interaction is vital to the understanding of our work.

We will be presenting our program at the following times. All times Eastern
Week of January February 1st:
Monday Feb 1: 11AM
Tuesday Feb 2: 3PM
Wednesday Feb 3: 7PM
Thursday Feb 4: 9PM

Week of February 8th:
Monday Feb 8th: 9PM
Tuesday Feb 9: 7PM
Wednesday Feb 10: 3PM
Thursday Feb 11: 11AM


Week of February 15th:
Monday Feb 15th: 3PM
Tuesday Feb 16: 9PM
Wednesday Feb 17: 11AM
Thursday Feb 18: 7PM

Each program will be between One Hour Long.

Directions on how to get to submission
We currently use Second Life as our 3D Platform. If you already have downloaded and have an account in Second Life, simply click on web address below.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Training%20Partners/145/136/22

If you do not currently have a Second Life Account, please go to http://www.secondlife.com/ and click on the "JOIN NOW" button. You will be taken through the installation process. Please remember your Sign In and Password, as you will need this to return to Second Life. After you have created your Avatar, you will be taken to HELP ISLAND. At this point you have completed the Registration Process. At this point, please contact Christie Moag at Christie@virtualtrainingpartners.com. She will respond within 24 hours and help you complete the process and teleport to Virtual Training Partners' Island.