Connect Training Education Welcome Pack

Immersion

Studio

INNOVATIVE IMMERSIVE INSPIRING

VIRTUAL REALITY FOR

IMMERSIVE LEARNING Corporate

Education

Health Care

Hospitality

Social Care

What is Immersion Studio?

Introducing the UK’s first virtual reality learning tool, a training aid using computer-generated virtual reality blended with human intelligence.

Innovative

Immersive

Inspiring

Who are Connect Training?

Connect Training is a virtual-reality training company based in Nantwich, founded by former teachers.

The Connect Group was originally started over 25 years ago to ensure that educational resources were accessible for all. Connect Training was the next step in offering innovative training within the education sector to promote inclusion and improve teacher performance.

Immersion Studio, Connect Training’s cutting-edge platform, allows participants to interact in real time with avatars, practising difficult conversations in a safe

environment. This enables them to build confidence and acquire skills which can be transferred to their everyday job roles for improved performance.

Following its initial launch as an aid to teacher training, Immersion Studio has gone on to win multiple awards and is now used in various sectors, enhancing hospitality, corporate and social care and health care training.

At Connect Training we believe that innovation is key and strive to utilise the latest developments in technology to deliver incredible training results.

Optimal Sources of Learning 10% formal learning

70% experiential learning 20% social learning

Immersion Studio is the cutting-edge virtual reality platform where professionals can practise and master the complex interpersonal skills they need in their working lives.

We have environments representing many industry sectors including education, customer service, HR and medical.

“Brilliant for helpful reflection within teaching. It really made me think about how I would respond to situations and do things differently if I was confronted with this situation in a classroom!”

Gemma, Trainee Teacher

Why choose Immersion Studio?

Interactive

Innovative

Immersion Studio is fully interactive, allowing learners to work through strategies and practise skills in a safe, immersive environment.

Immersion Studio is an innovative technology specifically designed to simulate complex, interpersonal scenarios whenever and wherever you are.

Accessible No specialist equipment is required, making it flexible to use in any learning and development setting.

Future-Thinking Reductions in travel time help to reduce carbon footprint.

Live Immersion Studio works in real time, giving immediate feedback and allowing the learner to reflect on and review their experiences.

Cost Effective Not only is Immersion Studio highly effective, this training solution can reduce both cost and logistical hurdles associated with the traditional in-person training methods.

Learner-Centred Figures from an Open University study suggest that eLearning cuts energy consumption by 90% and slashes CO2 by more than 85%

72%

of people felt that they retained more information from immersive role-playing than other teaching methods.

(University Study)

Short sessions, using the concept of micro-learning, ensure that learners are empowered to have more control in defining a more flexible learning path.

Increased Engagement Immersion Studio is ideal for learners short on time and especially appeals to millennial learners who expect immediate results with high impact.

Creative Our wide variety of scenarios cover a range of relevant topics, from mental health awareness and diversity and inclusion to coaching and mentoring. We can also create bespoke scenarios to meet your company’s learning and development objectives.

Great tool to allow “ participants to role play in a

realistic scenario. We were all pleasantly surprised with the ability to understand our industry terminology and approach.

”

Alison Knight, Director of Talent & Leadership Development, Continental Europe Hilton

We believe that digital innovation is “ key to the future of our profession.

We are excited to offer this groundbreaking addition to our already outstanding teacher training and education programmes.

Professor Dr Kate Reynolds, Executive Dean of the Institute for Education

”

Build Options

Primary Class

Secondary Class

Teachers Room

Pupil

Parent Office

Teacher Office

Immersion Studio Scenarios to support success • Bath Spa used our scenarios for their trainee teachers.

Specifically looking at SEND and classroom management.

• Department for Education used Immersion Studio scenarios which focused on recruitment and interview skills.

• University of South Wales worked with us to enable their trainee teachers practice parent teacher consultations and classroom management • VW - used our scenarios to practice candidate screening and interview techniques for their recruitment training course.

• Bourne Leisure - used Immersion Studio scenarios which focused around HR management on their management development programmes.

• Coventry University - used scenarios to practice a range of difficult mental health conversations.

• Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service - used Immersion Studio to practice attendance management scenarios as well as coaching conversations on their ‘Step Up’ Programme.

Immersion Studio offers a variety of builds that can be easily switched, allowing participants to interact with a wide range of scenarios within minutes.

We have a wide range of scenarios available including: Behaviour management Child disclosure Parent teacher meetings SEND

Scenario Example 1 Behaviour Management: One

TRAINING

PARTICIPANT BRIEF

@iwanttotrainUK

www.ConnectToTraining.co.uk

Participant Brief This is the first lesson with your new class. You must establish some ground rules and classroom standards. This is a good introductory scenario for those with little classroom experience, looking to build their confidence.

Learning Objectives • Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils.

• Establish a safe and stimulating environment for pupils, rooted in mutual respect.

• Set goals that stretch and challenge pupils of all backgrounds, abilities and dispositions. Demonstrate consistently the positive attitudes, values and behaviour expected of pupils.

• Manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment.

Have clear rules and routines for behaviour in classrooms, and take responsibility for promoting good and courteous behaviour both in classrooms and around the school in accordance with the school’s behaviour policy.

• Have high expectations of behaviour and establish a framework for discipline with a range of strategies, using praise, sanctions and rewards consistently and fairly to manage classes effectively, using approaches which are appropriate to pupils’ needs in order to involve and motivate them.

• Maintain good relationships with pupils, exercise appropriate authority, and act decisively when necessary. Demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct.

• Treat pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position.

Scenario Example 2 Parents Meeting: Three

TRAINING

PARTICIPANT BRIEF

@iwanttotrainUK

www.ConnectToTraining.co.uk

Participant Brief You are meeting with a parent to discuss their daughter Ava and her performance in your subject area. Ava has not been turning in homework and is under-performing. She is at risk of being moved down a set. You must break the new to them.

Learning Objectives • Work with the parent; see how you can both improve Ava’s education.

• Ensure the parent leaves fully understanding the consequences of Ava’s actions.

• Keep the conversation positive and productive.

• Answer, as best as you can, any questions the parent may have.

• Real-time practise of a potentially challenging parents’ meeting conversation.

• Practise of sharing academic progress based on observations from the classroom, written work, assessments and assignments.

• Develop skills to listen to parents or guardians so you can be informed about a pupil’s strengths, needs, behaviours, and learning styles.

• Develop the skills to discuss any enrichment or intervention strategies to support the pupil.

• Practise discussing any issues that may be interfering with a pupil’s learning and development.

• Develop skills in providing suggestions for activities and strategies to support learning at home.

Success Story Bath Spa University is harnessing virtual reality to deliver outstanding teacher training programmes Bath Spa is a teaching-led university and is committed to promoting excellence, which is one of the many reasons why the School of Education is one of the highest rated providers of education in the UK.

The Challenge Over the last few years, university application rates have consistently dropped. Furthermore, student satisfaction rates have dipped, with fewer than 40% of students believing their university course is providing value for money. The teaching profession is also facing retention challenges, and many new teachers lack confidence in classroom management. Bath Spa University realised that an innovative approach to teacher training was required.

The Requirements An innovative training solution was needed to support all teacher training programmes across the School of Education. The solution needed to address the main challenges of recruiting and retaining new students on their initial teacher training programmes.

It also needed to support additional learning for teachers in improving and excelling in classroom management.

Connect Training Solution As the UK’s first virtual reality training tool, the platform provides the perfect environment to support teacher training. It allows teachers to practise and perfect their techniques, and build their confidence in a safe environment outside of the classroom.

Participants are able to master the complex interpersonal skills they need in their working lives, whether interacting with pupils and parents or, as their career progresses, leading teaching staff.

The classroom build includes avatar pupils who have unique personalities, and the number of avatars and builds enables a great variety of training scenarios. All the interactions are live, with simulators operating the avatars in real time. This allows participants to see the immediate effects of their actions and test different approaches in handling situations in a realistic classroom environment without impacting on a real class.

As Immersion Studio is an online platform that requires no investment in software, the tool can be easily accessed both across the campus and offsite, which is crucial in supporting Bath Spa School of Education’s training and outreach programmes and partnerships with DfE and Chartered College.

Teacher Preparation and Professional Development The Immersion Studio classroom environment simulates real pupils with a range of abilities and personalities, responding in real time to the live interaction and performance of the teacher with the class.

This unique and innovative technology has been specifically designed to enable teachers to practise strategies for including children with SEND in lessons. It allows practitioners to improve their communication skills, establish classroom routines and manage classroom behaviour, in addition to assessing teacher effectiveness.

Elevating School Leadership Immersion Studio can produce customised training simulations for heads and school leaders to allow them to practise essential school leadership skills.

This can include providing feedback to a struggling teacher, engaging parents in challenging conversations and holding successful staff meetings.

92%

of participants felt that Immersion Studio would be beneficial to their organisation.

(UK University Pilot)

“[Immersion Studio] is very useful for gaining an authentic classroom experience, especially for someone who has never stood in front of a class before.”

Sarah, Newly Qualified Teacher

TRAINING Connect Training, Alvaston Lodge, Alvaston Business Park, Middlewich Road, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 6PF. Call us on: +44 (0) 1270 449 165 Email us at: hello@ConnectToTraining.co.uk Visit us at: https://www.connecttotraining.co.uk/ Copyright © 2021 Connect.