Collaborative Training for Ground Control Operators

Ground centers operators present special training and knowledge transfer requirements due to their operating environment. Typical characteristics are distributed skills with different specializations that shall interact efficiently to reach the goal. Learning environment should continuously collect any new information and any lesson learnt should be quickly reflected into operations. The current approach is mainly based on classroom training and simulations. Classroom training is efficient to build up a basic knowledge required for all positions. Simulations provide essential skills in practical or emergency situations. What is missing or is expensive to implement is lessons specialization for individual skills and simulation lessons learnt dissemination. Practical experience during training and simulations demonstrate that most operators are willing to share knowledge. The limited overlapping of their specializations and skills is helping the process because cooperation is more important than competition. Most training and knowledge transfer information is spread over many channels as e-mail, e-room reports, memos, presentations and so on. Cooperation is then limited in scope. What should change the situation is a set-up of a common infrastructure where information is distributed and managed using a social approach, pushing forward the implementation of collaboration groups. Facebook-like profiles and groups are information hubs where operators discuss. Wikis are used to assemble and maintain knowledge. Tweets allow short information broadcasting. All the information is classified and continuously verified by all the operators; training responsibles are acting as facilitators and administrators of knowledge.