Simulated Death – the ultimate learning experience

We are always discussing ways in which we can enhance the ability of simulations to produce behaviour change. Simulations are all about performance; undertaking actions, behaviours and thinking in a situation that closely approximates the reality to promote udnerstanding and transfer.  A big focus has been on ‘suspension of disbelief’ – the degree to which learners can engage with the authenticity of the experience and produce realistic behaviour. We introduce many devices to promote this experience – high fidelity 3D, sound, animation and avatars to increase the psychological feeling of presence, safe failure elements to engage in consequences and reflection, emotionally charged situations and events, personal relevance, intuitive interfaces, intuiging narrative and plot, immersive tasks and activities that continually stretch users just beyond their comfort zone, etc.

So I am always on the look out for new ideas. So how about this from Korea. Simulated death!

Just about all of us at some time or other will have said “life is too short” or you won’t worry about such and such issue when your on your deathbed. The rationale being that this wonderful experience that is life will soon be over and so why do we continually worry about things, like most work issues, which in the grand scheme of things are unimportant. In near death experiences it is often said that our life flashes before us, and people who experience these often do change much in their lives and change direction afterwards. So, death or the threat of death apears to be a powerful learning stimuli for inducing behaviour and attitude change. Stay with me.

So reading Leo Lewis’ column in The Times of London he recounts the latest ‘self discovery’ fad overtaking the great and good in Korean society – fake death. It seems as though an innovate entrepeneur has set up a  simulated death service where a punter writes letters of farewell, settles up their worldly accounts with relatives, friends and business associates. Then attends their own funeral service, suited and booted with all of their family and friends. A eulogy is read reflecting upon their life, music, flowers, crying, the whole thing. Then at the end of the service, you get into your coffin, which has been specially made. It is closed up, nailed down, and there you are; alone, in the blackness and claustrophobia of your final resting place. Being nailed into a small box is probably enough to send most people over the edge, but you arrive here after an elaborate process of simulated mourning, I am trying not to be cynical anit touchy feely English, but maybe it could produce profound change.

On a smaller scale, I once attended a training session where an over enthusiastic trainer presented us with the ‘take the blue pill or the red pill’ – the Neo choice from the film The Matrix. It was great in the film, but did not quite work for us cynical Bankers. It may work better in these days of Financial crises.

I can imagine this taking off in classroom training. We all will have a list of contenders we’d like to put through the simulated death course.

Heres Neo, take the Blue Pill Neo……….. Doh!

The red pill, or blue pill from Chris Messina on Vimeo.