This research work is part of the VEA (Virtual Environment for Animal experimentation) project. The aim of this project was to develop an alternative method based on virtual reality for learning the correct gestures in animal experimentation while respecting the rules of ethics (the Rule of 3Rs). Our goal was to facilitate this learning via digital means, and to provide trainers with an educational toolkit that allowed them to recreate virtual reality scenarios and to assess each learner's progress. In this paper, we are particularly interested in the design and operationalisation of learning situations in virtual environments, and propose solutions in the form of virtual action models that allow the user to learn the correct gestures.