Simlog's Instructional Design

Simulation Modules
At the heart of our instructional design framework is the decomposition of the operator's work into Simulation Modules which introduce the key parts of the real work, one at a time. Each module presents a new goal that is challenging but attainable, thus reducing frustration while maintaining interest. Since each module builds upon what's learned in the previous modules, people come up to speed more quickly.

At the start, the simulator-based work is easy to do, so the "trials" (simulation exercises) are completed quickly. As a result, there is lots of feedback from the simulation software. Later, the simulator-based work is much harder, the trials take much longer to complete, and so the feedback is much less "immediate". In this way, our instructional design changes both the duration of the exercises and the frequency of the feedback provided, just like a good coach.

Performance Indicators
For each simulation module, there are Performance Indicators that carefully measure both the productivity (e.g. execution time) and the quality of your simulated work (e.g. stump height, load sway, bucket fill). In this way, the values of the performance indicators provide a comprehensive picture of what it means to "do the job right".

Practically, these results are displayed until "clicked away", to start the next simulation exercise. So at the start, people can take all the time they need to review the results. Later, as performance improves, just a quick glance is sufficient and so the results can be clicked away much sooner. In this way, the feedback provided can change as the simulator-based training advances.

Learning by Doing
At Simlog, we believe that "learning by doing" means

• letting you make mistakes
• presenting the consequences of those mistakes
• providing feedback to understand what happened

Practically, making a "small" mistake such as hitting the sideboard of a (simulated) articulated truck with the bucket of the (simulated) hydraulic excavator, is just counted. But making a "big" mistake such as losing control of the (simulated) off-highway truck on a downgrade, will immdediately stop (abort) the simulation and a "fatal error" message will appear. In addition, the fact that the simulation was stopped (aborted) is also noted in the simulation results.

Flexible Simulation Framework
When each trial (exercise) ends, the values of the performance indicators for that module are presented for your review. At any time, you can pause the simulation, restart your trial, or quit to end the simulator-based "session", all with just a click of the mouse. Practically, there are hundreds of trials for each module, enough for many hours of continuous simulator-based training right "out of the box"!

And the simulator-based work is self-paced: each user progresses at his/her own speed through the various modules. Trainees begin at the first module and then move on to the second when they are ready. But operators looking to refresh or upgrade their skills can "jump" right to the more advanced modules instead!

Finally, since the very same trials are presented to each user and since each user's simulated work is evaluated in exactly the same way, it becomes possible to compare the performance of different users in a truly objective way.

Questions? Just contact Simlog!