By Lt. Cmdr. Gary Kirchner, Naval Personnel Development Command Public Affairs
GREAT LAKES, IL -- Imagine an “A” school without instructors and lectures. A new computer-based training program called Electricity, Electronic, Communications and Radar (EEC&R), a core competency training, is now being tested at Great Lakes.
Right now, 90 Sailors are involved in a pilot that uses interactive courseware, facilitators – not instructors - and student-issued Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).
This new approach is designed to provide Sailors the technical fundamentals and problem solving skills needed to their jobs.
The Center for Surface Combat Systems is leading a pilot program involving eight ratings: Fire Controlman, Electronics Technician, Electrician’s Mate, Interior Communications Technician, Gas Turbine System Technician (Electrical), Sonar Technician (Surface), Aviation Electrician’s Mate, and Aviation Electronics Technician. Eventually, all ratings with significant EEC&R related competencies will use this training.
“This training is the first step toward building a whole new array of educational tools that will connect basic concepts with real life situations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Danny Bouchard, officer-in-charge at CSCS Detachment in Great Lakes. “We are now creating a learning environment that is learner-centered, not teacher-centered.”
EEC&R is online training taught in a resident environment. A leading petty officer is assigned to lead a class of students, and resource specialists who know the topics and software will help Sailors as needed. The students’ PDAs are pre-loaded with lesson summaries, review questions and reference materials. Laptops are also available as an additional study resource.
This training will be included in an Integrated Learning Environment, which the Naval Personnel Development Command is building to support a Sailor’s 5 Vector Model learning requirements. In the near future, self-paced interactive courseware will be just a click away.
“The EEC&R pilot is a significant milestone in our effort to bring the right training, at the right time and in the right place to our Sailors,” said Rear Adm. Kevin Moran, commander of Naval Personnel Development Command/Task Force EXCEL. “In the coming months, we will be testing other training for the aviation, administration, engineering and submarine rates.”
To find out more about the EEC&R pilot, visit Navy Knowledge Online at www.nko.navy.mil.
