Optimizing the Speed, Durability, and Transferability of Training

Abstract

Our research program aims to develop principles that optimize simultaneously all three characteristics of training -- speed, durability, and transferability of learned knowledge and skills. Such simultaneous optimization would not necessarily optimize any one characteristic alone but would require instead a balanced consideration of all three characteristics. The balance of the characteristics of training is not fixed across tasks or even within a given task but rather can depend on a variety of external factors, such as fatigue and information load, that can change over time. Two studies in our program are summarized to illustrate our work. The first part of this research involves a data entry task, focusing on initiation and execution of response components under fatigue produced by prolonged work. This research demonstrates that prolonged work affects the component cognitive and motoric processes of data entry differentially and at different points in time. The second part of this research involves a duration estimation task which is in some cases coupled with a secondary articulatory suppression task. It focuses on ways to promote transfer of training. This research demonstrates that learning how to estimate durations is highly specific to the conditions of training and critically depends on whether or not a secondary task is required.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA434564

Entities

People

  • Alice F. Healy
  • Carolyn J. Buck-gengler
  • Erica L. Wohldmann
  • James A. Kole
  • James T. Parker
  • Lyle E. Bourne Jr.

Organizations

  • University of Colorado Boulder

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Coding
  • Cognition
  • Colorado
  • Contracts
  • Foreign Languages
  • Language
  • Learning
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Research
  • Psychology
  • Resilience
  • Retraining
  • Simulators
  • Social Sciences
  • Training
  • United States

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Theoretical Analysis.