SLIDE 1
IT2EC 2020 IT2EC Extended Abstract Presentation/Panel
IT2EC 2020 – Simulator-based military training and education
T.S.Härkönen1, L.Oksama2, H.Eskelinen3
1Researcher, Army Academy, Lappeenranta, Finland, timo.harkonen@mil.fi 2 Doctor of Psychology, Company Name, Helsinki, Finland 3 Adjunct Professor, LUT University, Lappeenranta, Finland
Abstract — This paper describes the real simulator-based military training and education development situation. A popular belief is that simulators improve learning in a straightforward manner. However, here we argue that the situation is much more complicated as several factors influence whether simulator-based training is successful or not. We present the results of two field experiments in which control groups received traditional infantry training without simulators, and the experimental groups received simulator-based training. The length of infantry simulator-based training was varied. The survival rate was measured on a LIVE-simulated combat track.
1 Introduction
The aim of our study is to enhance simulator-based combat training by improving the pedagogical methods of
- learning. Specifically the develop learning interactivity
and communality as well as more active learning methods to improve the meaningfulness of learning, and thus the learning of combat skills and the effectiveness of military training [1]. In this study we introduce the results of two experiments each of which had differing results. In Experiment 1, the results of the simulator group did not differ from the control group. That is, infantry simulators did not improve combat performance. In experiment 2, the simulator group performed better than the control group but only after the very active involvement of the instructors in the process. Throughout the experiments LIVE-simulators in combat training and measurements were used.
2 Methods
The research used quantitative measures (MANOVA, repeated measures [2]). The dependent quantitative variable in our research was survival rate on a combat
- track. Expert military observers also rated combat
performance of the participants during an infantry attack. However, in this study we concentrate only on the survival rate on a combat track. Experiment 1 consisted of a simulator group (N=88) and a control group (N=92). In Experiment 2 a simulator group (N=99) and a control group (N=81) were used. In both experiments, nation military service conscripts were used. The length of simulator-based training was changed. In Experiment 1 combatants received two two-week simulator-based combat training sessions. In Experiment 2 combatants received two four-week simulator-based combat training sessions. The control groups did not receive any simulator-based combat training. The measurements were made three times (week 9, 17 and 21) during the 6-month national service period on a combat track. The first measurement was carried out just after the completion of the conscripts’ basic military training period (week 9). This was used as a baseline level of the participants just after training. After that, combat performance was measured in week 17 and the third, final measurement took place in week 21.
3 Results
3.1 Experiment 1 We can see (fig.1) that the simulator group and the control group do not differ significantly (p>.05) from each other. It shows that the infantry simulators did not significantly improve combat performance. It can also be seen that for both groups, combat performance deteriorated over time. This was an unexpected result. The baseline level survival rate on the combat track was about 70 percent and it went down through the conscripts’ training time. Time was the most significant factor affecting combat performance throughout the experiment (p<.001). The results of this experiment provided the impetus to research these phenomena further. Y axis is survival rate on a combat track, on the x axis is time when the measurement took place.
- Fig. 1. Survival rate on a combat track in Experiment 1.