Whole-part training strategies for learning the response dynamics of microprocessor driven simulators☆

Abstract The experiments reported were set up to examine the effectiveness of whole-part-whole training regimes of the response dynamics for learning a microprocessor driven simulator task within different procedural strategies. Experiment 1 showed that prior part training of the response dynamics facilitated overall task performance throughout a 10 hr training schedule. No effect was found for increasing the difficulty of the response dynamics beyond normal task requirements. Experiment 2 indicated that the part-task performance advantage was due to the utilization of ‘natural’ response components in the part tasks as operationalized by the degrees of freedom available for control. The findings of experiment 3 revealed that mere part practice of the response dynamics independent of the provision of an overall procedural strategy leads only to a brief initial performance advantage. Furthermore, task performance was strongly influenced by procedural strategy and instructional information. The findings indicate that part practice of the response dynamics in complex simulator tasks can facilitate rate of learning and level of performance, although this training effect interacts with the overall task procedural strategy employed by the trainee.