Does Training in a Synthetic Environment Work? Emergency Intersection Clearing: Skill Acquisition and Skill Transfer

Date
2011-04-01
Authors
Kratzig, Gregory P.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Regina Graduate Students' Association
Abstract

Each year, throughout North America, hundreds of people die in collisions that are a direct result of an emergency responder driving to a call. Finding ways to decrease this has become increasingly important, and one of these ways may be using simulator technology. While simulators have been used with great success in the areas of pilot and medical training, research using driving simulators in a law enforcement environment is sparse. This paper will provide evidence that will begin to fill the research gaps, by providing empirical evidence that systematically investigates how using driving simulators will not only enhance emergency response instruction, but will provide training opportunities that we could not previously teach. We have optimized time spent on training through the use of specific driving scenarios which are designed to provide clear evidence needed to achieve intersection clearing proficiency in a simulator. Although evidence of the transferability of skills from a simulated driving environment to a real world setting has been missing, this paper will report on the results of two years of research conducted with over 1500 police cadets trained at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Training Academy (RCMP) in Regina Saskatchewan. Using only 7 simulator scenarios, cadets are achieving maximum performance proficiency in a driving simulator. This proficiency has transferred into optimal performance in a real world training situation. This instructional method has reduced classroom sessions, and has permitted cadets to begin training in a police-training vehicle at level that previously first occurred in the field.

Description
Keywords
Synthetic environment, Simulator training, Skill acquisition, Skill transfer
Citation