Instructional Design and Training Development Enterprise (TRADE)

ABSTRACT: Although government investment in simulation-based training has resulted in reduced training costs, the full potential of simulation-based trainingefficient and effective training across the continuum of trainee populationshas not been achieved. In part, this shortfall can be attributed to underinvestment in adaptive and extensible instructional design functionality within simulation-based training based on sound training science. To achieve the full potential of existing and future investment in simulation-based trainers, a generally applicable instructional-design framework must be developed. To develop an affordable, open, and cross-domain instructional-design framework that enhances existing simulation-based training systems, Charles River Analytics proposes to design and evaluate an Instructional Design and Training Development Enterprise (TRADE). TRADE enables a team of training development stakeholders (e.g., Subject Matter Experts, Trainers, and Software Engineers) to asynchronously and iteratively build an adaptive training layer that instills an existing simulation system with scientifically sound training strategies. To accomplish this, TRADE consists of web-based tools that elicit knowledge from SMEs and use this knowledge to expedite progressive refinement and implementation by Trainers and Software Engineers through intelligent workflow management. BENEFIT: TRADE will provide immediate and tangible benefit to training developers by supporting effective and cost-efficient training across a wide range of domains and simulation environments, including the Standard Space Trainer (SST). In addition, TRADE will provide considerable benefit for other simulation-based training, including flight, maintenance and combined arms training. We also plan to enhance our user-friendly agent development environment, AgentWorks, with training capabilities that will increase its appeal in both the simulation-based training and entertainment (e.g., video games) markets.