Tomorrow's On-Board Learning System (TOOLS)

Efficient maritime training is important to build a competent workforce of seafarers, able to operate safe, following rules and regulations. The most widely used methods of onboard training is the so called Computer Based Training (CBT), which simply is a set of electronic lectures and multiple choice tests afterwards. While widely used this method has been criticized for being individualistic, difficult to apply in a practical setting, boring and demotivating for learning. Alternative methods have not been developed, partly because of the dominance of the CBT method, but also because bandwidth and connectivity issues for ships have restricted both use of more interactive and internet based tools. The Tomorrow's onboard learning system (TOOLS) was a project to research and develop an innovative game-based learning platform for on-board training, along with a course on energy efficiency. The chosen topic was of keen interest to the ship owners that took part of the project, aiming to achieve fuel savings whilst reducing the impact on the environment. The paper describes the TOOLS platform, the course developed and the evaluation results from two vessels, one from each participating shipping company.