Best Practices for effective Creator trainings

 

1. Start with behavior, not information

Creator is designed for learning through experience, observation, and decision-making. By starting from behavior, you make full use of the power of 360° environments. Instead of focusing on what needs to be explained, you guide learners through a realistic situation in which they actively explore, notice what matters, and learn by doing.

This approach helps learners stay engaged and makes it easier to transfer what they learn to real-world practice.

Practical guidelines:

• Define one concrete target behavior per training.

• Ask yourself: What should someone do differently on the job after this training?

• Focus questions and interactions on choices and observations within the situation, not only on knowledge-based questions.

Examples:

• In a patient safety training, you don’t start with protocols. Instead, you let the learner enter a room and ask:
  “What do you notice? Which risks do you see?”

• In a fire safety training, you first let the learner explore a 360° image of a workplace and identify risks, before explaining rules or procedures.

 

2. Build a clear and logical flow

The linear structure of Creator requires a logical flow that guides the learner through the situation.

Example flow:

• Introduction: context and the learner’s role

• Situation: observing and exploring

• Interactions: making choices or identifying errors

• Reflection: meaning and consequences

• Wrap-up: link to real-world practice and behavior

Tip: Test whether a learner can follow the flow without additional explanation.

 

3. Keep the training short and focused

In a linear, interactive environment like Creator, too much information can be overwhelming. Longer trainings often lead to reduced attention and lower impact.

Practical guidelines:

• 5–10 minutes per training (maximum 15 minutes).

• Focus on one topic or learning objective per training.

• Split complex topics into multiple short modules.

Example:
Instead of one long fire safety training, create separate modules:

• Module 1: Recognizing escape routes

• Module 2: Correct use of fire extinguishers

 

4. Put the 360° environment at the center

The environment is a learning tool, not just a background. The ability to observe, look around, and make choices is what makes learning more effective.

Practical guidelines:

• Let learners explore the environment independently.

• Use hotspots and interactions to actively engage with the environment.

Examples:

• A learner enters a specific room and must inspect it to identify potential errors. Only after that, feedback is provided.

• Use a detail image to zoom in on a label or screen that is crucial for the task.

 

5. Choose meaningful interactions

Interaction is the heart of Creator. Learners only learn effectively through actions and decisions. Be careful not to focus on knowledge alone.

Strong forms of interaction:

• Scenario-based choices with consequences

• Identifying and correctly recognizing errors

• Short reflection questions linked to the situation

Examples:

• Show a room with multiple errors and ask:
  “Which elements pose a risk?”

• Let a learner choose between two actions and show the consequences through feedback in the environment.

 

6. Use feedback as a learning tool

Because Creator is linear and learners cannot go back, feedback is essential.

Practical guidelines:

• Always provide an explanation after an interaction.

• Connect feedback to real-world practice and the behavior you want to reinforce.