An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Data call helps plan future learning environments

  • Published
  • By Kelly Parsons
  • Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Air Education and Training Command is committed to developing tomorrow's Airmen today through new methodologies.

AETC's Technical Training Requirements Division requested data from each career field Sept. 1 to collect information about current training practices and help to create requirements for future classroom capability standards. 

AETC's Future Learning Division stepped into the virtual realm when it launched MyBase in December 2008. MyBase is an online, virtual base where students can explore and interact as personalized characters called "avatars". Avatars can exchange information, ask instructors questions or review reference materials in a virtual library.
 
The Advanced Technology's data call will assess current learning environments and evaluate newer methodologies such as online courses and MyBase to create efficient and effective future learning environments. 

"We are supposed to deliver unrivaled education and training," said Col John Thompson, AETC Future Learning Division director. "If we don't adapt to changing technologies and figure out how to best use them, we won't continue to deliver unrivaled education and training." 

Colonel Thompson said the goal is consolidation:  finding out what courses are best taught in traditional classrooms, and which ones could be better taught online or through a virtual environment.
 
"Imagine I'm teaching a class in basic computer science," Colonel Thompson said. "Is that better in a virtual classroom where students can be put inside the computer, where you are sitting there experiencing the lesson? The same information gets across, but more efficiently in a more effective way." 

Although the Air Force continues to study several avenues of technology, Steven Moon, Advanced Technology program director, believes virtual classrooms and augmented reality could be where training is heading. 

Current planning centers on developing future classrooms that can use and advance with dynamic technologies, Moon said. 

New technologies offer a host of benefits to the student and to the Air Force. 

"Virtual environments are immersive and collaborative," said Colonel Thompson. "Students feel like a part of a team that's getting the mission done." 

There are short, mid and long-term goals associated to future learning environments, Colonel Thompson said. Short term goals include evaluating technology demonstrations, such as MyBase. Next, the command must decide which classes would benefit from establishing a virtual classroom. Colonel Thompson said a long term goal will be information availability. 

"We have challenges in knowledge availability. If I took a course five years ago and want to reference it, I can't do that," Colonel Thompson said. "There's a little data nugget, and I'd love to go find it and I can't do that. Let's let somebody find courses they want." 

Airmen could eventually refer to past training courses or seek new courses through open courseware. 

The command is in the initial stages of evaluating current learning methods. AETC is forging ahead to using technology to the advantage of trainees by providing efficient and effective learning environments. 

Embracing technology and using innovative methods to train and educate Airmen is the future of learning in AETC.