In a world where digital transformation is the new norm, Think Digital has been at the forefront, driving innovation in public sector training. For over six years, their Digital Executive Leadership Program that they run in partnership with the Institute on Governance has brought together executives from various levels of government in Canada, focusing on how technology is reshaping government and the workplace. Ryan, CEO and Founder of Think Digital, shared insights into their journey and the pivotal role Arthur is playing in this transformation.
Adapting to the Pandemic: A Turning Point
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was a watershed moment for Think Digital. Until then, their executive training programs were entirely in-person, utilizing traditional classroom methods. The sudden shift to online learning posed a significant challenge: maintaining interactivity and deep collaboration in a virtual environment. Ryan and his team were particularly concerned about preserving the rich, interactive experience that their executive education program offered.
“We initially pivoted to traditional online learning,” Ryan explained, “but we quickly realized that platforms like Zoom or Teams couldn't replicate the depth of interaction we were used to in physical classrooms. Our worry was how to maintain that interactive experience online because, especially in executive education, the value lies in the ability to collaborate and connect deeply.”
By summer 2020, Think Digital was actively exploring VR to bridge this gap. “We were looking at VR as a potential solution even early on in the pandemic,” Ryan noted. “We wanted to see if it could bring that classroom interactivity into a virtual space.”
Embracing Virtual Reality
Introducing VR to public sector executives came with its own set of challenges. The general perception has been that public sector institutions were not the most agile or innovative. Ryan acknowledgingly stated, “There was a mixed reception. Some were enthusiastic, others skeptical, and some had never considered VR before. But our program is all about public sector innovation, and we believed in giving them hands-on experience with future technologies.”
Ryan emphasized the importance of real-world application in learning. “Our goal was twofold: to provide a connected and intense experience for our learners and to expose them to VR as a technology. I believe metaverse technologies like VR and AR will soon be integrated into workplaces more fully. Helping leaders understand these trends hands-on is invaluable.”
Think Digital's belief in the potential of VR was reinforced by the positive feedback from their recent pilot using Arthur with a government client. According to a post-pilot survey, approximately two-thirds of participants found that using Arthur was more effective and impactful than traditional learning activities. 96% of participants found the VR-enhanced training more fun and engaging than traditional methods, with many highlighting the enhanced connection and interaction with other participants who were joining from across the country.
Why Arthur?
Think Digital’s decision to adopt Arthur as a platform for their VR training sessions was influenced by several factors. The maturity of VR technology, both in hardware and software, had significantly improved in recent years. Hardware like the Meta Quest headsets have made VR more affordable and portable, while software advancements ensured a stable and user-friendly experience.
“Arthur stood out for us,” Ryan said. “We’ve tried several VR platforms, and Arthur has proven to be best in terms of functionality, stability, and user experience. It's essential for us because most of our participants are new to VR, and Arthur's intuitive design helps them get comfortable quickly.”
Ryan highlighted specific features that made Arthur a preferred choice. “We needed a virtual classroom space that mimicked our physical classrooms but offered the additional benefits of VR like interactivity and environmental manipulation. Arthur shines here. Its development path has been remarkable, and it has matured as a product in recent years. The ability for users to navigate and manipulate objects intuitively is crucial, especially when 90% of our participants have never used VR before.”
Implementation and User Experience
Implementing Arthur wasn’t just about deploying new technology; it required a structured onboarding process. Elaborating on the onboarding process, Ryan mentioned, “We start a week before the first session, ensuring participants have their headsets set up and are comfortable using them. We run group orientations and one-on-one sessions to address individual concerns. This focused onboarding pays huge dividends, ensuring a smooth experience from the start.” This structured approach was validated by the pilot survey, where 97% of participants found the onboarding process helpful, enabling them to engage fully in the subsequent training sessions.
When it comes to the VR-enabled training sessions, Ryan emphasized the need to start slowly and build confidence with these new tools. He shared, “our first sessions in VR are always orientation-focused. Arthur’s orientation space is excellent, allowing users to get hands-on experience with the tools as they get started with VR and Arthur. It takes a few sessions for people to find their VR ‘sea legs,’ but once they do, the experience is transformative.”
Transformative Feedback
The participant feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from the VR training sessions that Think Digital has been running for the past four years. Many executives came around their initial skepticism to appreciate the potential of VR in enhancing collaboration and learning.
“We’ve had participants describe the experience as eye-opening,” Ryan shared. “They move from skepticism to being open to how VR could transform their workplaces. It’s not just about learning new tech; it’s about experiencing future possibilities.” Recounting a specific experience, Ryan shared, “One participant, initially very skeptical, walked away convinced of VR’s potential for workplace collaboration. This shift in perspective is exactly what we aim for—providing meaningful, interesting learning experiences and helping them understand emerging technologies.”
The Boon of a Non-VR Version
While VR offers an immersive and interactive experience, it's crucial to accommodate all users, including those who may face difficulties with VR headsets. Think Digital recognized the importance of inclusivity and the need for a high-performing, non-VR version of any platform that they are using to ensure no participant is left behind.
“One of the reasons we chose Arthur was its browser-based version. It is crucial.” Ryan emphasized. “It ensures everyone, even those who can’t use VR headsets, can join and participate in our programs. This inclusivity is vital for our training programs.”
Ryan continued, “The web version of Arthur provides all the functionality of the VR experience, making it accessible to participants who are unable to join via VR due to lack of access to headset, technical issues or any other reason. This flexibility has been a game-changer, allowing us to deliver a seamless experience to all our learners and ensuring they all can engage fully with the content and participate in the collaborative experience.”
Looking Ahead
Think Digital uses Arthur primarily for design thinking workshops, general learning and collaboration sessions. These workshops allow participants to engage in design thinking in ways that are simply not possible in a physical classroom.
“Design thinking in VR is powerful. Participants can create prototypes and manipulate objects at a scale and in a manner that is far more engaging and dynamic than traditional methods. The ability to quickly and cheaply create environments and prototypes is invaluable,” Ryan explained.
The impact of these workshops was evident in the survey of the pilot program, where a majority of participants found the sessions in Arthur more effective and impactful compared to traditional design thinking methods, reiterating the appeal of VR in making learning activities not just more fun and engaging, but also impactful.
Conclusion
Think Digital’s experience with Arthur highlights the potential of VR in transforming public sector training. Bringing it all together, Ryan concluded with a note of appreciation: “Arthur serves as our virtual classroom, enabling us to do everything we would do in a physical classroom and much more. Thanks to Arthur’s team for their incredible support. The customer service and client support have been exceptional, making a significant difference in our ability to deliver successful training sessions. We look forward to continuing this journey of innovation together.”
The pilot survey too offers a strong statement of positivity through an overall satisfaction rating of 8.5 out of 10 for the VR-based learning experience, with 63% of the participants saying it is very likely that they will use VR again for learning activities.
Overall, this case exemplifies how embracing cutting-edge VR technology can innovate and bridge gaps in traditional learning experiences while making it more fun, engaging, and effective. To know more about how VR and Arthur are being leveraged across various sectors and use cases, take a look at our success stories page and stay tuned on our LinkedIn page.
