The use of simulators in rules of the road training

Abstract

The use of simulation technology, in conjunction with instructor led rules of the road (RoR) lectures, is in the infancy stages of curriculum development in maritime institutions. As a result, there are few studies that analyze whether using simulators will increase a students ability to apply maritime rules that prevent collisions at sea in a simulation based scenario. This study hypothesized that students who used a Full Mission Bridge simulator and received lectures would achieve higher scores on a RoR test than those who did not receive simulator training but did receive lectures. Utilizing 27 active duty participants that used a simulator and 341 examinees who did not use a simulator at Surface Warfare Officer School Newport, our results showed statistically significant data that students who used the simulator performed better on a RoR test than those who did not. This study recommends that incorporating simulation technology into curricula that have traditionally been only instructed in a classroom environment is beneficial, especially in learning RoR. Based on the results of this study, there is a need for incorporating simulation technology in traditionally instructed courses, where applicable, and future studies using simulation technology should be extended to the fleet.