AETC organizations awarded 2009 Learning Innovation Award Published Jan. 28, 2010 By Master Sgt. Paul Kilgallon Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Air Force Education and Training command officials presented three organizations with the 2009 Learning Innovation Award during the 2010 AETC Symposium at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio Jan. 14. The innovation awards were presented by Maj. Gen. Anthony Przybyslawski, AETC vice commander, to AETC teams who developed new initiatives and successes for both education and training. The Innovation Award in Training was presented to the 81st Training Wing, Keesler AFB, Miss., for their work with the MyBase Education and Training prototype. The MyBase system is a 3D immersive environment where two actual technical training courses were taught in 2009. This technology, when proven, has the potential of saving thousands in future Air Force temporary suty assignment to school dollars. The runner-up in the Innovation Award in Training category was Headquarters AETC Financial Managements, for their advancements in social networking and replacing existing legacy courseware with gaming technology. The Innovation Award in Education was presented to Headquarters Air University's Education, Logistics, and Communications divisions for their creation of a gaming kit that simulates a natural decision-making environment, where interdependent leadership practices are experienced and assessed through the introduction of multiple problems or challenges. The runner-up for the Innovation Award in Education was from the same divisions. They were nominated for their design and establishment of an immersive virtual reality situated community called "Global Learning Forum," that supports prototyping for learning, instruction and discovery innovations. The Innovation Award nomination packages were reviewed by a panel of judges with communications, plans, operations, programs and information technology backgrounds. The award winners in each category were selected for their impact in the education and training fields. "When the judges selected the winners of the award, they looked at the teams who had the most impact on the education and training arena," said Travis Osborne, AETC Plans and Requirements Training Technology Requirements branch chief. "The overall winners were the ones who came up with the best innovation or practice that furthered students learning." "This new practice or innovation may eventually modify an existing course, but more importantly shows potential for improved student learning," he added. The Innovation Award in Education and Training was developed in 2008 by AETC leadership to recognize organizations and teams who make the most significant impact on the training mission. This year's selection process proved to be very difficult because of the caliber of the improvements being made by AETC personnel everywhere. "This year's submissions for the Innovation Award were extremely competitive," said Mr. James Patterson, AETC Technical Training Requirements Division chief. "We received numerous submissions from all over AETC, and reaching a decision this year was arduous because the award packages were very strong." "But, the innovative ideas and the practices of those selected for the award stood out amongst all the other submissions," he added.