Computer games for learning crisis management skills
Crisis management in air and sea transport requires overcoming numerous challenges. This calls for mobilising diverse and sometimes conflicting human resources and coordinating them cohesively under extreme time pressure. Simultaneously, crisis managers are faced with ambiguities or lack of information, as well as human issues such as emotional and cognitive difficulties induced by unexpected events. Effective crisis management requires preparedness, and simulation-based learning experiences provide a forum to master needed skills. A European consortium initiated the EU-funded L4S (Learning 4 security) project to develop an innovative platform fostering collaborative competence in transportation crisis managers. L4S has even gone beyond its mandate by providing tools to train managers, organisations, employees and the broader public. The Advanced Collaboration in Crisis Management (ACCM) Framework consists of five simulation games. Together, they address competency in high-performance collaboration during crisis, individual leadership, decision-making in diverse teams facing a crisis and barriers to effective crisis management. Users participate in realistic role playing incidents in which they learn by doing. LS4 prototypes have been tested by nearly 500 pilot users, resulting in valuable input for optimisation. Additional pilot and commercial activities were then conducted, engaging hundreds more players, complemented by a detailed market analysis. A multilevel exploitation plan has been defined for execution at project completion. In addition, the project produced a comprehensive online knowledge community integrating a knowledge base, as well as an active virtual learning community on advanced collaboration dynamics and technologies of learning for security. Lastly, L4S developed a relevant deployment package – i.e. effective instruments and tools for the generation of simulation-based learning experiences. This includes pedagogical guidelines, practical deployment guidelines and scenarios, different types of simulation games, an online workshop tool, a monitoring and assessment tool, and access to the L4S knowledge community. Deployment modes such as smartphones and other handheld devices can also be integrated. The project has clearly demonstrated the platform’s high potential for important impact in crisis management in the air and sea transportation sectors. In the future, the platform could be customised to other critical infrastructures such as energy, financial services and the food industry.
Keywords
Computer games, crisis management, L4S, security, simulation games