Virtual Officer Leadership Trainer (VOLT)
The Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT) seeks to supplement current and future United States (US) Army Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) training by creating an immersive system that leverages the ICT’s research in Virtual Human technologies and development expertise creating simulated environments for training. The Virtual Officer Leadership Trainer (VOLT) will incorporate evidence-based educational technology techniques, including guided practice and challenging realistic scenarios, to focus on the critical communication component of relationship building between the Platoon Leader and the Platoon Sergeant (SGT). VOLT will provide Second Lieutenants (2LTs) the opportunity to practice interpersonal leadership skills with a Virtual Human Platoon SGT using scenarios that are representative of authentic personnel issues.
The VOLT project provides the ICT and its academic and US Army collaborators with a unique opportunity to test the effectiveness of Virtual Human technology and Mixed Reality training systems when teaching soft skills, such as interpersonal leadership communication. Because the VOLT experience will features human-to-Virtual Human interaction, Virtual Human technology is the core research and development focus. The Virtual Human Platoon SGT in VOLT will mimic real human emotions and tension to reflect relevant, contemporary interpersonal issues identified by US Army Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and doctrinal review. A Virtual Human will verbally interact with a 2LT, exhibiting gestures and other non-verbal behaviors. The 2LT will be tasked with resolving the issue in a timely and effective manner while instructors and other 2LTs observe the performance.
VOLT is intended to supplement both group and individual training within a classroom context. The system is designed to maximize learning through classroom engagement tools and instructor-guided discussion. VOLT will offer consistent, guided rehearsal, allowing instructors to target the development of specific skills. In addition to providing consistency, the scenarios in the Mixed Reality environment have the potential to be re-authored, thereby keeping the training experiences fresh and relevant. Information gathered during training sessions can be recalled and analyzed to provide 2LTs and their instructors with an increased understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, and subsequently indicate areas for future review.
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