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Development of Resource-based Learning Organisers to Enhance Training on Simulators Kalyan Chatterjea++ & Takeshi Nakazawa** ++Lecturer, Singapore Maritime Academy 500 Dover Road, Singapore - 139651 Email Address: kalyan@sp.edu.sg **Professor, Nippon Foundation Chair of Maritime Technology, World Maritime University, Citadellsvägen 29, P.O. Box 500, S-201 24 Malmö, Sweden Email Address: tn@wmu.se Abstract Simulation components are increasingly becoming more dominant in the maritime training curricula for developing competent shipboard professionals and hence the MET institutions are continuously striving to improve the effectiveness of simulation-based teaching and learning. At the Singapore Maritime Academy, we are undertaking a case study, where computer-mediated Resource-based Advanced Learning Organizers (RALOs) are being created to support simulation-based learning. Resource-based Advanced Learning Organizers are based on the theories developed by Ausubel (1960) and put into practice by using CmapTools, which is an open-source software conceptualized by Novak and Cañas (2006). RALOs provide a visual description of a simulation tasks and are arranged in many layers representing hierarchies of knowledge and comprise many Learning Objects (LO: Hodgkin, 2004), which are self-contained resources e.g. documents, graphics, videos, quizzes for self assessment and also other RALOs at lower levels. These combinations of RALOs and LOs will constitute a knowledge-base, which forms the support structure for simulation-based learning. The case study covers the scope of simulation-based training of management level engineers with Certificate of Competency (COC) on motor ships to be eventually proficient on steam-propelled LNG carriers. It is envisaged that the RALOs developed will offer a support environment for learning the various complex tasks of operating steam propulsion plant on LNG boil-off gas, using a simulator. These advanced organisers provide user-friendly visual interfaces, facility for information and knowledge browsing, knowledge management and meaning-making of the complete array of simulation tasks. The project development is initiated at the Singapore Maritime Academy, where a constructivist approach is undertaken by the course participants, who contribute towards the development of these artefacts. The organisation of the RALOs and LOs would be refined with each cohort of learners as they are encouraged to deconstruct and reconstruct the knowledgebase to learn constructively while improving the knowledge structure. Hence, a dynamic learning and knowledge capture environment is created, which incrementally improves the RALOs and LOs. The developed environment is further tested at the World Maritime University at Malmö, Sweden, where the knowledge based artefacts are tested by MET lecturers from a number of countries whose feed back and suggestions are sought. The paper traces this pilot development process of RALOs and LOs and also relates the feedback received from the MET lecturers at the World Maritime Organisation. References Ausubel, D.P. (1960). The use of advance organizers in the learning and retention of meaningful verbal material. Journal of Educational Psychology, 51, 267-272. Novak, J. D. & A. J. Cañas. (2006). The Theory Underlying Concept maps and How to Construct Them. Technical Report IHMC CmapTools 2006-01, Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, 2006. Retrieved on 27th March 2006 from: http://cmap.ihmc.us/Publications/ResearchPapers/TheoryUnderlyingConceptMaps.pdf