Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) 2004
2004 Paper No. 1735 Page 1 of 11
Integrating Technologies for Shipboard Helicopter Signaling Skill Training
John W. Ruffner, Ph.D., Kathleen D. Titley, Jim Fulbrook, Ph.D.
DCS Corporation, Alexandria, Virginia
jruffner@dcscorp.com
, ktitley@dcscorp.com, jfulbrook@dcscorp.com
Thomas M. Franz, Psy.D.
NAVAIR – Orlando Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida
thomas.franz@navy.mil
ABSTRACT
A wide range of training technologies, such as instructor-led, hands-on, computer-/web-based training (CBT/WBT),
and virtual reality simulation are integral parts of a trainer’s toolbox. Since each technology has strengths and
limitations, integrating technologies to achieve skill training effectiveness is necessary. Signaling helicopter
landings, takeoffs, and flight operations on U.S. Navy ships with small decks is a critical mission skill initially
trained in the schoolhouse and later reinforced during shipboard training. Currently, U.S. Navy schoolhouse
Landing Signal Enlisted (LSE) courses train signaling skills using a combination of instructor presentations and
practice sessions with an actual helicopter, during which each trainee receives only approximately two minutes of
supervised practice. Students are not qualified as LSEs after the course; they must pass a shipboard certification,
which may not occur for many months after schoolhouse training. As a result, the Navy identified a requirement to
develop and implement additional training and simulation opportunities for signaling skills. This paper describes the
development of a CBT/WBT solution for the LSE as an Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Prototype course.
The goals of the project are: 1) to prepare deployed LSE personnel for their Personnel Qualification Standard (PQS)
certification once aboard ship and 2) to document the challenges of developing an ADL SCORM conformant course.
This paper discusses the results of the training development and integration efforts, and presents examples
illustrating novel uses of multimedia and interactive training. In addition, we discuss challenges faced and lessons
learned about integrating training technologies and developing SCORM-conformant courseware.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dr. John W. Ruffner is a Human Factors Engineering Psychologist and a Certified Human Factors Professional
with DCS Corporation, where he is a Senior Scientist and Technical Advisor for Human Factors and Training. He
received a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and an M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Iowa State
University. He has over 29 years experience in human factors research and development and test and evaluation
(RDT&E) in training development, night vision systems, and human system integration for a wide variety of
aviation and ground systems. He has published over 90 technical reports, conference papers, and journal articles.
Kathy Titley is an Interactive Courseware Developer / Graphic Artist for DCS Corporation with over nineteen years
of graphic design experience in the areas of advertising design, print and electronic publication design and
production, and computer interface design, and three years experience developing computer- and web-based trainers
for the military. Ms. Titley earned her B.S. in Theater/English minor, from Skidmore College in 1984, and her M.S.
in Information Systems and Project Management from Golden Gate University in 1992.
Dr. Jim E. Fulbrook is a Human Factors Engineer with DCS Corporation. He received a Ph.D. in Neurobiology
and an M.S. degree with specializations in vision research and learning theory from the University of Delaware. He
has over 21 years experience in research psychology and human factors, and is a former Army helicopter pilot and
flight instructor. He has published over 20 papers and reports in the areas of night vision, physiology, learning
theory, and workload. He is currently leading the development of night vision computer-based training.
Dr. Thomas M. Franz is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist working as a civilian for the last 14 years at the
United States Navy's NAVAIR Orlando Training Systems Division. Prior to that he served a pre-Doctoral
Internship at IBM’s Management Development Center in Armonk, NY, and a post-Doctoral Fellowship with the
Navy. Dr. Franz teaches evenings and on-line for Columbia College of Missouri. His degrees all are from Central
Michigan University.
