TRAX Teaching Assistant
Used in conjunction with our training simulators, the TRAX Teaching Assistant (TA) is a self-paced instructional tool that provides effective power plant training through a “virtual” instructor. By providing real-time advice, the TA simulates how the instructor would coach operators during training.
Introduction
The Teaching Assistant can be used either as a precursor to instructor-led training or as the primary training vehicle for plant operations that are segmented into logical subtasks. Implementing conventional instructor-led lessons with the TA’s instructorless lessons is an effective way to reduce the burden on the instructor without compromising training quality. Because TA training is consistent, operators enter instructor-guided training with a common set of knowledge and skills, thus freeing instructors to teach the more complex principles of integrated unit operation.
The TA can also be used to improve general knowledge of power plant theory and operating principles, helping users develop cognitive skills that are essential for understanding complex operating procedures. Plant documents such as system descriptions, training manuals, plant drawings, and technical manuals are an ideal resource for general knowledge information, and are easily integrated into a TA lesson.
You may either purchase customized TA lessons developed by TRAX, or purchase the TA software suite and build your own lesson. The choice is yours.
Teaching Assistant Lessons
The plant-specific Teaching Assistant lessons are built with a special software suite developed by TRAX, and are installed as an interactive program on the simulator’s operator consoles. After the customer selects the component or system for each TA, TRAX will work with the site training department to develop the sequence and content of each learning activity in the lesson. Content includes the procedural steps necessary to operate the system or component, and the advice associated with each step, and can also include excerpts from system descriptions, digital photos, and relevant videos.
Teaching Assistant Student Interface
To begin a lesson, the students log on to the Teaching Assistant from an operator console and select a lesson. The TA Bar, displayed at the bottom of the screen, shows the current step of the operating procedure and provides tools to enhance the learning experience. Operation of the simulated plant is performed in the normal fashion through the DCS graphics.
Each lesson begins with an Introduction describing the lesson’s training activities, followed by a list of the Learning Objectives. Next, the students are prompted to complete the first procedural step. If the students know how to perform the step, they complete the actions and move to the next step. If the students are unsure, they can display a series of hints until it is clear how the step must be performed. A hint can be a simple text description or video/photos that actually show how the step is performed. Once each step is completed, a prompt for the next step is automatically displayed. This process continues until all steps in the lesson have been completed.
At any time, the students can display the Procedure Checklist, which displays the entire operating procedure for a given lesson. This is a convenient way for the students to keep track of their progress as they work through a lesson.
When all steps have been completed, a multiple-choice test is used to measure comprehension of the information presented in the lesson. Following the test, the lesson concludes with a brief summary and a report of the students’ performance.
Teaching Assistant Software
The TRAX Teaching Assistant software package includes the easy-to-use TBuilder toolset. This object-oriented software tool enables the user to build an unlimited number of new lessons, as well as maintain the lessons delivered with the Teaching Assistant. Also included is a third party Screen & Video options tool, allowing the user to script TA lessons with any degree of dynamic support material.