Online training

At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary team of research staff is developing an innovative computer-based training method that could offer a viable alternative to classroom instruction while enhancing overall learning.

In the past year, the research team, led by Chief Scientist Frank Greitzer, delivered to the U.S. Army an online, interactive course designed to help soldiers learn to assemble, use and troubleshoot a wireless communication system on the battlefield. Greitzer said the Army's Program Executive Office/Enterprise Information Systems was pleased with the product, but the war in Iraq and other issues intervened, placing the online course in a holding pattern.

But recently, the Army completed a review of the PNNL-developed course and contacted Greitzer, explaining there is growing interest in developing training methods that are more efficient and effective. That's good news for the research team at PNNL, which has been asked to proceed with development, including adapting the training system to comply with some new Army requirements.

Although computer-based training might seem the wave of the future, Greitzer said it has not made as much progress as one might expect. "It can be very dry and passive for students, and to be effective, multimedia elements should be tied closely to learning objectives," he noted. "What our team did was utilize multimedia technology to create integrated, visually dynamic and interactive instruction that is structured very methodically to address specific learning objectives, from simpler concepts up to the complex."

This training technique offers quizzes, interactive elements that provide important morsels of information, an emphasis on troubleshooting and a final, scenario-based exercise. "In the exercise, the soldiers go into the field virtually, develop a deployment plan, set up the wireless equipment and troubleshoot problems, such as frayed cables or improper equipment settings. We address all the major learning objectives of the course," Greitzer explained.

The development project is drawing upon PNNL expertise in multiple areas, including national security, information technology, cognitive science, instructional design, multimedia/graphics design and network communications. PNNL is using a tool that was built in-house, Pachelbel™, to develop and deliver this innovative distributed learning course.