There are many ways to develop and deliver high-impact hands-on learning experiences, but what’s the best approach for your unique organization, audience and goals? If you’re new to simulations and virtual labs (also commonly called “sims” and “labs”), check out our previous article, which introduces the definitions, key differences, advantages and potential disadvantages of these two hands-on training tools.
If you’re already familiar with simulations and virtual labs, you know both tools can help you modernize your organization’s training and enablement programs by providing increased learner engagement and skill retention, safe practice environments and scalability. But how do you know when to choose one over the other? Let’s compare and evaluate simulations and virtual labs by exploring key questions to ask, tangible use cases and real customer examples.
In this article:
- Identify goals – Who is your audience and what do they need to achieve in the learning environment?
- Maintenance realities – How complex is your software and how frequently does it update?
- Resource considerations – What resources are needed to build and maintain simulations vs. virtual labs?
- Assessment objectives – Do you need to measure knowledge or performance?
- Can you use both simulations and virtual labs? (Spoiler alert: Yes!) It depends on your use case, business objectives and how you want to fit hands-on learning into your broader training ecosystem.
1. What are your goals?
What does your end-user audience need to be successful? Do they need to be able to explore the full functionality of your software? Consider your users and what outcomes you hope to achieve to provide the right level of guidance, depth and complexity.
Simulations
Ideal for learning one linear path.
Simulations are excellent for introducing new concepts and basic functionalities, especially for users who need to understand how a system works without delving into technical details.
For instance, when introducing a new software tool, simulations can provide a guided and controlled environment that helps users familiarize themselves with the basic operations and interfaces.
This method helps users grasp the foundational concepts without being overwhelmed by the complexities of a real environment.
Choose simulations for:
- Users who need high-level knowledge.
- Highly guided linear learning paths and step-by-step instructions.
- Providing limited access to software functionality and processes with one right method/answer.
Virtual labs
Allow learners to choose their own adventure.
Virtual labs are ideal for training that requires in-depth, hands-on practice with your software. They allow learners to explore and experiment in a realistic environment, developing critical problem-solving skills.
For instance, IT professionals learning to configure network settings, developers debugging code or cybersecurity experts responding to simulated threats can all benefit from the immersive experience that virtual labs provide.
This approach ensures that learners are well-prepared to handle real-world challenges.
Choose virtual labs for:
- Users who need in-depth understanding.
- Freedom to fail, problem solve and achieve an outcome in multiple ways.
- Opportunity to practice and demonstrate skills.
What does success look like with simulations?
See how a Fortune 500 company is using simulations to rapidly enable technical sales teams on emerging AI technology.
2. How frequently does your content or software update?
Evaluate how frequently software or process updates will impact training. Make sure you have the resources in place to handle updates and consider the cost to keep your training and enablement materials current.
Simulations
Replicate your processes and software environment.
Since simulations use a replica of the software environment (similar to screenshots), whenever the software UI (user interface) changes, a simulation needs to be manually updated to match the latest visuals and functionality to provide an accurate experience for the learner.
For minor interface changes in the underlying software or system, updating a simulation can be relatively straightforward. Developers can adjust the pre-programmed elements, such as branching narratives or feedback messages.
However, significant updates or feature changes might require rebuilding the simulation to accurately reflect new or altered functionality.
Choose simulations for:
- Static content or software that rarely changes.
- Legacy systems with simple, well-defined processes.
Virtual labs
Live, in-software environments mirror production and numerous versions.
If the software being taught has frequent release cycles, virtual labs may be more suitable because they can mirror your production environment or an environment of your choosing.
Virtual labs offer a flexible training solution that can more readily adapt to changes, ensuring learners are always working with the latest version. This is crucial for industries where technology evolves rapidly, such as software development, cloud computing and cybersecurity.
Virtual labs allow training programs to stay current without the time and resources associated with updating simulations while also supporting users who remain on previous versions.
Choose virtual labs for:
- Software environments that frequently update.
- SaaS products, software development, AI, cloud computing and cybersecurity.
Why Tanium chose virtual labs.
Tanium’s simulations were becoming quickly outdated alongside frequent software updates. See how they switched to virtual labs to streamline maintenance and ensure their training and enablement always uses the most up-to-date environment.
3. What are the resources needed to build and maintain simulations vs. virtual labs?
Understanding your audience, business objectives and maintenance plan are all critical to estimating resource demands and supporting operational investments.
Here are some key resource considerations for each environment.
Simulations
Consider for static software and processes.
Since simulations are a replica of an environment, once they are built, there are no ongoing costs to run the environment. As a result, they do not require licensing, hosting fees or cloud costs.
Simulations can be a cost-effective option for static software training that doesn’t require frequent updates. But in the case of frequent updates, the cost to update and maintain simulations can become more expensive than virtual labs with hosting.
Resource considerations for simulations:
- No software licensing fees.
- Require more resources to maintain if frequent updates are needed.
Virtual labs
Flexible option for frequent updates.
Since virtual labs use a live, in-software environment, once configured they can mirror any updates made in production to streamline the time and costs associated with software updates. Virtual labs may require access to software licenses and cloud subscriptions.
Skillable offers multiple cloud cost controls and automations, including functionality that automatically tears down labs after completion or inactivity and options like Cloud Slice that give limited, cost-effective access to cloud subscriptions.
Resource considerations for virtual labs:
- Costs associated with hosting, software subscriptions, licensing and cloud consumption.
- Streamlined and cost-effective to maintain alongside frequent software updates.
Adding revenue streams with virtual labs.
See how Calix built the business case and scaled hands-on virtual labs to increase sales, create new revenue streams and boost engagement across their entire learning ecosystem.
4. Do you need to measure knowledge or performance?
In conjunction with your learning objectives, evaluate what your organization hopes to measure before and after training: proof of knowledge or proof of skill?
Simulations
Knowledge-based scoring and feedback.
If a high-level understanding of the material meets your training objectives, simulations offer automated scoring through knowledge-based checks like multiple-choice style quizzes.
Linear learning paths with prescriptive, click-through instructions help guide users to correct answers. For processes that have one correct path, simulations offer simple scoring and feedback to verify users understand that path.
Use simulations to:
- Measure high-level knowledge by clicking through linear learning paths.
- Incorporate knowledge checks via multiple-choice style quizzes.
- Save time with automated scoring capabilities.
Virtual labs
Performance-based scoring data.
Hands-on virtual labs can objectively measure performance and validate skills at scale via scored labs. For training programs that require assessments that validate skills, virtual labs provide automated performance-based scoring capabilities that interrogate the environment for outcomes and provide real-time feedback to help users learn from failed attempts and improve.
Beyond being an effective learning mechanism, research supports that tech professionals want feedback. Survey data shows 55% of IT professionals are looking for feedback on whether they understand the material and can properly apply it to their jobs.
Use virtual labs to:
- Measure proof of skill with performance-based challenges and assessments.
- Incorporate knowledge checks via multiple-choice style quizzes.
- Deliver mid- to high-stakes performance exams that counter cheating.
- Save time with automated scoring capabilities.
Virtual labs can scale from low- to high-stakes.
Virtual labs allow organizations to create high-stakes environments for live, in-application practice and certification exams that go beyond multiple-choice questions and require users to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in realistic scenarios. Requiring users to demonstrate skill also counters cheating because test takers can’t pass Performance Testing (PBT) with a downloaded answer key, exam dump or AI. This type of testing is critical for high-stakes roles that tackle complex software implementations, cybersecurity and cloud configurations.
Labs can also include knowledge assessments. These assessments are strictly knowledge checks with multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank and true-false type questions. They don’t assess the user’s actions in the lab like performance-based testing. Knowledge checks can be used on their own or in conjunction with performance-based skill validation in labs.
Successfully scaling performance-based technical education with virtual labs.
Find out how Quest Software reskilled and certified more than 1,000 partners, validated job readiness and increased sales velocity in less than 12 months.
5. Can an organization use both simulations and virtual labs?
Yes, it comes down to your use cases and needs. Simulations might be ideal for audiences who need a high-level understanding of a topic, while virtual labs might best serve your more technical topics and audiences.
Additionally, a hybrid approach can work well when accessibility due to special permissions or paywalls gets in the way of a fully live, in-software virtual lab experience – for example in a pre-sales demo. Instead of disrupting the experience (such as adding a credit card or going back to the sales rep), a simulation enables the user to access that specific feature without adding friction to the learning experience.
Whether you choose virtual labs, simulations or a hybrid approach, Skillable can help you create ideal hands-on environments designed to modernize your training and enablement program and drive business results.
Maximizing learning impact and access with a hybrid approach.
When a productivity software suite unveiled its AI assistant, many users wanted the opportunity for hands-on experience with this new feature. The company wanted to build end-user experiences with the AI assistant feature, but it was not possible to control access via permission levels, like administrator rights.
As a result, they worked with Skillable to build a hybrid approach. Whenever possible, the training leveraged virtual labs to give learners more freedom to explore and experiment with the AI assistant. Then when administrative changes were required, the learner moved to a simulation.
The simulation helped bridge the gap by representing the experience the users were supposed to have while maintaining a secure environment.
Looking for more guidance?
Check out our free guide to modernizing training and enablement with hands-on learning.
