PEDAGOGICALLY STRUCTURED GAME-BASED TRAINING: DEVELOPMENT OF THE ELECT BILAT SIMULATION

Abstract

ELECT BiLAT is a prototype game-based simulation for Soldiers to practice conducting bilateral engagements in a cultural context. The prototype provides students with the experience of preparing for a meeting including familiarization with the cultural context, gathering intelligence, conducting a meeting and negotiating when possible, and following up on meeting agreements as appropriate. The ELECT BiLAT architecture is based on a commercial game engine that is integrated with research technologies to enable the use of virtual human characters, scenario customization, as well as coaching, feedback and tutoring. Because the prototype application is intended to be a learning environment, pedagogy has been central throughout development. The project followed a fivephase process: (1) analyze the training domain; (2) develop a story board prototype; (3) implement a computer version of the training prototype; (4) refine training objectives and link their conditions and standards to game activities; and (5) develop training support content for students, instructors, and training developers. The goal is an authorable game-based environment that uses the pedagogy of guided discovery for training Soldiers in the conduct of bilateral engagements within a specific cultural context. 1.