Components of Effective Training
Abstract
When acquiring difficult skills it is useful to distinguish between ideal activities performed early in skill acquisition and those performed later. In this paper we distinguish the two as training and practice. Early on, activities ought to be designed to shape the manner in which the behavior is performed in order to insure that it occurs in an expert form. Later, activities are designed to make the behavior more automatic and to increase retention. The two types of activity are markedly different in structure, pace, amount and type of coaching required, composition of the training audience, focus of conscious attention, appropriate performance measures and feedback, and a variety of other characteristics. The distinction between training activities is important because a too rapid progression to the later type of activity - or skipping the first type of activity entirely - can be very inefficient with regard to acquisition rate and also tends to limit the level of expertise ultimately attained. The distinction applies not only to overt skilled sensorimotor behavior but also to cognitive behavior such as battle command decision making. Developers of today's high-technology simulation and training delivery systems, particular those characterized as virtual, typically strive to create high-fidelity practice environments which are not always suitable for the early and very important training activities. The paper describes the differences between effective training and practice. It discusses examples of successful applications designed for training complex skill related to battle command, and presents data comparing performance of Army leaders who acquired their skill through training and those who acquired it through experience, in this case, through deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan. Developers of advanced training delivery systems are urged to consider the two forms of skill development activity and provide features to support both.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA473297
Entities
People
- James W. Lussier
- Scott B. Shadrick
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences