A Concept Employment Trainer (CET) for Sonar Operations

Computer-based training has primarily focused on the acquisition and application of procedural knowledge, emphasizing development of skilled performance of tasks. In many important Naval roles, however, the ability to apply more general concept to specific novel problems is even more important than procedural skills. Sonar operators, who must reason about acoustic oceanography and sensor/signal processors, are primary examples. While the Navy has begun to develop concept-oriented trainers (such as IMAT) for classroom training, there is still a great need for methods and tools to train students in the employment of conceptual knowledge in realistic mission settings. The proposed research addresses this need by initiating research and development of a Concept Employment Trainer or CET, directed at the training application of underwater acoustical concepts to reasoning about subsurface sonar signals. The proposed CET uses graphical visualizations embedded in scenario-based problems to link classroom concepts with naturalistic problems, and also provides tools for instructors to generate scenario conditions that will require application of specific pieces or combinations of concepts. CET also provides trainee evaluation and procedural help. The Phase I research is accomplished in four tasks, and results in a demonstration prototype of the CET.