Ruffner, J. W., & Fulbrook, J. E. (2002, December). "Reusing sharable content objects: Lessons learned from night vision training." Proceedings of the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference, (p. 435-445), Orlando, FL: December 2-6, 2002.
Contact
Information:
DCS POC: John Ruffner jruffner@dcscorp.com
Phone
number:
(571) 227-6111 FAX number: (571) 227-6004
Address:
DCS Corporation, 1330 Braddock Place, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Abstract:
Operating and maintaining cockpit avionics systems requires a high level of knowledge and operational skill. Skill acquisition and sustainment, as well as the likelihood of system acceptance, can be enhanced by a training strategy that combines (1) free-play simulation with operational controls and displays, (2) structured tutorials in the operational environment, and (3) on-line reference to relevant documentation and manuals. Interactive computer-based trainers (CBTs) allow self-paced, multimedia, interactive training on complex cockpit avionics systems, and integrate a high-fidelity simulation of the avionics system environment with Aviation Industry CBT Committee (AICC)-compliant instructional design and methodologies. CBT can help mitigate the shortcomings of complementary technologies such as the requirement for qualified avionics instructors, large class sizes, infrequent learning opportunities, and a lack of available cockpit simulators and operational systems for hands-on training. The benefits of CBT to military program offices and aircraft manufacturers include cost-effectively boosting acceptance and proficiency, effectively communicating complex system capabilities, and bridging gaps between deployment and the availability of full simulation systems. Benefits to operational organizations include rapidly training for newly deployed components or systems, rapidly training a large number of students, and establishing initial training or refresher programs as devices evolve. In this paper, we discuss our experience developing CBTs for cockpit avionics systems used in a variety of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. These include the control display navigation unit (CDNU), the ARC-210 radio, the embedded global positioning system/inertial navigation system (EGI), and the CYZ-10 data transfer device (DTD). We provide examples from CBTs that we have completed and delivered. We also discuss the requirements for extending existing avionics computer-based training to web-based training (WBT). Finally, we discuss the implications of our work for providing CBT/WBT solutions for commercial and general aviation cockpit avionics systems training needs.