Development and Demonstration of a Laboratory Tool for Research in the Design of Games for Training of Troubleshooting Skills
Abstract
In 1979 the University of Illinois developed a computer-based simulation designed to assist aviation maintenance trainees in acquiring troubleshooting skills. This simulation was named FAULT (Framework for Aiding in the Understanding of Logical Troubleshooting) and was originally designed for the DEC system 10 computer. The United States Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences subsequently contracted with the Aviation Research Laboratory (ARL) of the University of Illinois to develop a FAULT simulation compatible with the PLATO system. The PLATO system is used extensively by the Army for both training and research purposes. As a training tool, PLATO FAULT simulates troubleshooting decisions in a game format. The object of the game is to find the single failed part as quickly as possible while incurring the minimum expense. The instructions and on-line help provided to the trainee have been redesigned to provide more information in natural language. Throughout the simulation the trainee has available a number of options that allow him to (1) gather information about the problem, (2) act on the information, and (3) receive information about the action. To present a realistic simulation of actual troubleshooting, FAULT assigns dollar charges to certain options and the list of options has been clearly presented to differentiate between options that are free and those that incur costs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA127128
Entities
People
- Karen S. Gaddis
- William B. Johnson
- William C. Entwistle
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign