Fiscal Year	2014
Division	Research & Sponsored Programs
Department	Naval Research Program
Investigator(s)	Aten, Kathryn J.
Sponsor	NPS Naval Research Program (Navy)
Summary	The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of virtual worlds for the delivery of Navy education and training by collecting and analyzing data on the results of a pilot training to be conducted by the Submarine Learning Center. The study will assess the role of cognitive factors on performance and satisfaction outcomes of training conducted in a virtual world. Understanding how to best utilize virtual worlds for education and training is important to the Submarine Learning Center and the Navy in general because virtual worlds offer the potential to cost effectively education and training to geographically distributed populations. However, training in virtual worlds presents challenges stemming from difficulties inherent in communication technologies and distance learning. A better understanding of the role of cognitive factors in outcomes of training and education in virtual worlds will help the Navy to assess the potential of virtual worlds for delivering training and to identify needed modifications or approaches to best take advantage of this technology. Specifically this study will explore: - What role do cognitive factors play in performance and satisfaction outcomes of education and training conducted in virtual worlds? - What adaptations to behavior and communication are suggested to support education and training in virtual worlds?
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Publications	Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data	Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal