Game-based Architecture for Mentor-Enhanced Training Environments (GAMETE)

The widespread use of serious games for military training has been accompanied by a growing concern that too little attention is paid to the underlying instructional design or pedagogical theory. Even in objective-driven game design, serious games with cognitive learning objectives can lack effective, customized feedback. Tutoring systems, such as AutoTutor, create opportunities for learners to elaborate on answers they have given in response to a tutor's questions, prompts for information, suggestions for actions, etc. One way to incorporate performance feedback in serious games is to embed a tutoring system with similar functionality into the virtual environment. CHI Systems, a small business innovator in simulation and training, completed a Phase I SBIR called Game-based Architecture for Mentor-Enhanced Training Environments (GAMETE), demonstrating an architecture and modular interactive framework for pairing games with tutoring technologies, using as exemplars AutoTutor and vMedic in a Soldier-centered domain. Our Phase I effort established a foundation for creating a comprehensive interface tool for enabling training developers to integrate tutoring capabilities into games. In Phase II we will work with our partners to mature this technology, demonstrating GAMETE enabling three distinctive pairings of tutors and games, supporting broader applicability, and preparing a detailed Phase III transition plan.