Research Catalog

Title

The retention of digital skills following distributed and traditional training / Gregory A. Goodwin [and four others].

Author

Goodwin, Gregory A.

Publication

Arlington, Virginia : U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, [2011]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Goodwin, Gregory A.
• U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences.

Description

x, 32, A-4, B-4, C-10, D-8, E-2 pages : chart, color maps; 28 cm.

Summary

As digital systems proliferate in the Army, there is a need for commanders to understand how to best maintain these critical warfighter skills. In the present report, skill retention for the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) digital system was investigated following traditional face-to-face training and distributed learning (dL) training. This second type of training was examined because little is known about training digital skills using this method. Operator skills were measured immediately and eight weeks following the training. There were no differences in overall performance between the dL and traditional students at baseline suggesting this system can be trained effectively in a dL environment. Both groups also showed similar rates of forgetting after the eight-week retention interval. Overall performance declined significantly from 71% of steps correct at baseline to 62% correct eight weeks later. Characteristics of the digital system and of the participants contributed to forgetting. These findings indicate that FBCB2, and presumably other digital systems can be effectively trained in a dL environment. Additionally system and individual characteristics that contribute to skill decay were identified and can be used to both improve system training and system design.

Series Statement

Research report ; 1942

Uniform Title

Research report (U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences) ; 1942.

Subject

• Soldiers > Training of > Evaluation. > United States
• Computer users > Training of > United States
• Memory > Testing
• Soldiers > Training of > Evaluation
• United States

Note

• Cover title.
• "April 2011."
• "Army project number 622785A790."--P. iii.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 29-30).

Access (note)

• Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Funding (note)

• Contract or grant no. : W74V8H-04-D-0045, DO#0019.

OCLC

• ocn743793423
• 743793423
• SCSB-1615552

Owning Institutions

Princeton University Library