Maintenance Training based on an Adaptive Game-Based Environment using a Pedagogic Interpretation Engine (MAGPIE)

ABSTRACT: Although Partial Task Trainers PTTs have been shown to have a cost savings of 60 percent over training on actual systems, they routinely cost the government in manpower, maintenance, and upgrades. Furthermore, PTTs are often designed for general use, failing to address the individual needs of maintenance personnel. Game-based training can provide a powerful, personalized approach to addressing individual training needs, while motivating participation. However, without accessible development and adaptation tools, updates to game engines can remain costly. The USAF needs more cost-effective and efficient game-based training tools to support maintenance training. To harness the full power of game-based training for maintenance proficiency, we will design and demonstrate Maintenance Training based on an Adaptive Game-Based Environment using a Pedagogic Interpretation Engine (MAGPIE). MAGPIE dynamically adapts both the scenario and the mechanics of the game to maximize training transfer based on the trainee"s performance, instructional design theory, and motivation theory. MAGPIE will contain four primary components: (1) a skill and motivation assessment model development tool, with a collection of template models for maintenance training; (2) a real-time scenario authoring tool; (3) a game development environment with template game constructs for maintenance; and (4) an agent-based game adaptation engine. BENEFIT: We will initially target transitioning MAGPIE technology to F/A-18 Immersive Virtual Environment Maintenance Trainer which was built using GLStudio products. We will also explore transition with Government agencies that train their personnel using computer-controlled immersive scenarios (e.g., air traffic controllers, emergency responders, medical simulators) by pursuing licensing arrangements with producers of similar or existing training systems for these domains. Finally, we will also target opportunities in the multi-billion dollar computer game industry, and augment our own commercial product, AgentWorks.