Vanguard Magazine

www.vanguardcanada.com OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020 41 Sponsored Content Patrol Ships, and the rollout and expecta- tions of the NTST program can be daunt- ing and difficult to navigate and predict. The key is to leverage the lessons learned of the AOPS training program while an- ticipating future individual training and platform training requirements and ensur- ing they align with the NTST's intent. Bluedrop's strategy is to continually evolve its tools, design & production and delivery methods of training to provide the best alignment with the NTST going forward. Bluedrop has launched multiple develop- ment programs which will bring together more capabilities for our Learninglogics TM LCMS and LMS toolset dedicated to the defence industry; these include improved distance learning capabilities, more engag- ing content better mobile delivery with data analytics capabilities to provide real- time feedback. We believe that through ini- tiatives such as these, Bluedrop will provide relevant training anywhere and anytime, to the greatest extent possible. Learninglogics TM suite is already xAPI compliant and is essential to leverage tech- nological solutions, including simulators to properly measure trainee performance. The LCMS provides configuration management and asset management functionality that permits re-use of training material that can be reconfigured to optimize training assets across all elements. This powerful feature is designed to accept changes that will occur during the lifetime of a program. Our LMS provides the necessary tools to fit a training organization, like the RCN, that is focused on management and processes with proper performance measurements in place. This modern infrastructure enables flexible de- livery of training of modern training meth- odologies. Bluedrop launched the Integration of Mission Performance Analytics in Course- ware, Training and Simulation (IM- PACTS). This new R&D project, in col- laboration with academia, will integrate the simulation equipment within the training continuum by using an xAPI interface of a Learning Management System (LMS) to collect performance data, allowing analysis of mission performance. The resultant data capture of IMPACTS will facilitate the de- termination of performance trending and allow objective management of trainee and crew outcomes for adaptive training design. We feel the most important develop- ment of the project is around how we make courseware more engaging for the new generation of learners. The learning landscape looks completely different today than it did five years ago and is evolving at even greater pace. The way learners are re- ceiving and learn is a product of these new technologies. Individuals of all industries and schools are now taking their classroom on the road, such as airline lounges where they are taking advantage of spare time; in coffee shops where they watch a new video tutorial before they get into a meeting; at home where they review courses before a final exam. Such sights represent an ever- growing new generation of learners that consume content in a way that is typical to their smartphone usage patterns. They expect content to be short, personalized, engaging and more targeted to their learn- ing goals. These trends indicate the need for evo- lution of both content and technology in the learning space. There is a requirement for learning solution providers to work with organizations like the RCN to visu- alize the future of learning and formulate solutions that blend modern learning with traditional and evaluate the personalized experience to bring it in par with contem- porary mobile applications and just-in-time learning methods. With this rapidly evolv- ing landscape, we believe big changes are inevitable and we must act now to meet future expectations. There are several technology-enabled learning trends that are having a significant impact on all learning ecosystems. Mobile learning is one example, this is an easy and convenient way to access learning content using any handheld device. Microlearning consists of one small, discreet learning ob- jective per course or learning segment and can be delivered as content, videos, small games, quizzes, infographics, or a mix of all. The advantage of video is that it com- bines visual and auditory learning into a single online tool. This can make video one of the most engaging eLearning tools avail- able, however, this passive media is not en- gaging and is difficult to track performance and efficacy. Gamification is the application of game- design elements and game principles in non-game contexts to engage learners. Ex- amples of gamification are scoring points for correct answers on quizzes, creating virtual badges, prizes, competitions, and similar activities in order to keep employees engaged and motivated. An advantage of gamification is that it is a different way to engage learners. It makes learning fun by using the characteristics of a game to get the content across. It must be understood however, that in the defence training domain, the introduc- tion of new technologies and methodolo- gies are not as straight forward as it may seem. Training must be very structured and must follow a very strict development methodology. In addition, for each new platform, Qualification Standards must be defined, and a rigorous Training Needs and Training Media Analysis must be conduct- ed in a very early phase of a long (15-20 years) program. Technology obviously has a much shorter evolution cycle. In the coming years, it will be challeng- ing to navigate between the training re- quirements dictated by new platforms such as the Canadian Surface Combatant and the Naval Training System Transformation (NTST) intent. Bluedrop will focus its de- velopments to meet both expectations so that both the training development toolset and the courseware development method- ologies are adaptable and can easily evolve with new training methodology and tech- nology changes. PersPective

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