ITS Technologies in Virtual Environments: Can We Harness the Synergy?

Abstract

This panel will discuss the development and effective delivery of instructional content in virtual environments (VE), based on their practical experience in this arena. Individually, panelists represent research in simulation-based training, ITS authoring tools, intelligent agents, virtual environments, pedagogical principles, and training effectiveness. For the past few years, these panelists have teamed to develop collaborative software components to achieve effective, maintainable, and affordable VE-based learning environments. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has used this maturing technology to field two VE-based training systems. The Virtual Environment Safe-for-Maintenance Tutor (VEST) is used by the 363^rd Training Squadron at Sheppard AFB for F15-E weapons systems familiarization and procedural training. Additionally, the Advanced Virtual Adaptive Tutor for Air traffic control Readiness (AVATAR) is providing low-cost part-task training at the 81^st Training Wing of the 334^th Training Squadron at Keesler AFB. Currently, under the Virtual Environments for Training (VET) initiative funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), this collaborative effort has focused on applications to team training, a challenge to ITS technologies in and of itself. Embodied intelligent agents can be assigned to act as a team member or tutor a specific student. Both students and agents can manipulate objects in the virtual world.