- Corporate E-Learning
- How Virtual Self-Study Content Can Add Value for Businesses –
Key Findings at E.ON - ‘Speed Learning’ for Financial Market Professionals
- Managing an “Alphabet Soup” of Donors – How Oxfam Established Strategic Business Change
- Conversations about the future of training
- Training Mobile Services Staff in the Virtual Classroom – The Telefónica o2 Germany Experience
- The Power of Wow - IBM Leadership Training Goes ‘3D’
- How to Make Change Happen – Challenges in Implementing E-Learning in Organisations
- One Size Doesn’t Fit All
- A new Universe for E-Driven Learning Architectures
- PechaKucha at OEB
- ELIG Workshop: Innovation and Change Powered by Learning Solutions
- Training Figures That Speak for Themselves
- Workplace Learning at OEB
- E-Learning Supports European Customs in Fight Against Drug Traffickers
- Learning Languages at Work: The Best Case Scenario
- ‘Wyse up’ to Thin Computing - ICT Workplace Solutions not Thin on the Ground
- E-Learning in Retail
- The Expansion of Moodle
- How to Turn Students Into Producers
- Best Practice: Hands-on Legal Practice via E-Learning
- Competing in a Global Economy Through Open Education
- Microtraining for Dutch Truck Drivers
- Industry Round Tables on Corporate E-Learning
- A Need for Clarification, Validation and Inspiration
- Listen to the Company’s Story
- eCollaboration – Efficient Teamwork Made by IBM
- Four Questions on Corporate Learning: John Hudson, Eedo Knowledgeware
- A New Learning Service Concept for Thales Netherlands
- WikiWelten – Learning in Sync with Corporate Life
- Tackling the SME Sector
- Global Benchmarking Survey for Leadership Development at OEB
- Berlin – City of Knowledge
- Speed It Up: E-Learning in the Semantic Age
- Learning at the Workplace
- The Next Wave – Viewpoint by Jonathon Levy
- Back to main
E-Learning Supports European Customs in Fight Against Drug Traffickers
Serious Problems Require Serious Gaming
The fight against illegal drugs is a high priority for governments and citizens of the EU. The frontline of this campaign involves officers of the EU Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD), who use intelligence, analysis, investigative and legal skills in their efforts to prevent the traffic in illegal drugs from violating EU borders.
Key training requirements include increasing the national customs administrations’ awareness of drug precursors (chemical substances used in the manufacture of drugs) and teaching customs officers how to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of controls in each specific customs context - land, air and sea.
Drugs traffickers are extremely sophisticated, continually adapting their methods and utilise new technologies to achieve their goals. The skills demands on customs officers are high. To meet this challenge, TAXUD demanded a radical change in the delivery of EU training, and the decision was reached to deploy Serious Games to help develop the required skills. Serious Games are seen as producing intense engagement and learner motivation because they involve deep learning scenarios and problem solving in the context of realistic environments for real skills practice. In terms of evaluation, they also deliver precise performance measurement and feedback for learners.
Digital 3D Simulations Provide the Solution
Caspian Learning developed six unique training simulations for customs officers. In each, the learner controls an avatar within a highly realistic computer generated 3D environment. Each simulation provides the learner with a different scenario in which they must examine shipments entering the EU. The officer-gamers see the consequences of every decision they make – which is crucial because ultimately, each scenario could result in illegal drugs being released into EU cities.
Using their avatars, the learners are able to interact with the scenario – talking to colleagues, asking questions, examining shipments, accessing databases, searching cargo, and making decisions. Based upon the user’s actions and judgement, the scenario unfolds in non-linear ways, challenging the users’ skills in a wide variety of situations.
The scenarios engage the learners in deep learning that demand a mix of information gathering, problem solving and practical skills. The learners are able to make mistakes in a safe environment that enables them to review their work and to reflect upon their judgements.
Detailed scoring, diagnostics and feedback are built into the fabric of the game. The performance model measures decision making, knowledge, analysis, and expertise that are based upon the real actions, decisions and judgements made or not made by the user.
This was the first large scale project of its kind for the European Commission. The project was developed using Thinking Worlds, a rapid authoring tool for Serious Games and Immersive Simulations. Using Thinking Worlds, EU subject-matter experts worked directly with instructional designers, who - due to the sophistication of the software involved - required no programming skills to build and deliver the scenarios.
EU-wide Compatibility
The scenarios were translated into local languages for EU member states and packaged as SCORM objects for integration within any learning management system, which resulted in easy data reporting. Deep learning through Serious Games scenarios that are easily delivered through the web browser to learners appears to be part of the future of professional education and training in the EU.
Christopher Brannigan from Caspian Learning Ltd., UK, will present the case study on December 4th, 11:45 - 13:00, in session VAR49: EU 3D: STRG ALT DELETE.
For a video demo of the scenarios, please check out:
www.thinkingworlds.com/blog/?p=466
November 9, 2009
