Date of Award
2002
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
David L. Boggs
Committee Member
Stephen G. McLeod
Committee Member
Richard C. Conrath
Keywords
22d Air Refueling Wing, 344th Air Refueling Squadron, Air Force, aircrew, computer-assisted instruction, computer-assisted learning, curriculum development, education, evaluation, evaluation instruments, formative committees, implementation, in-service training, instructional software, learning topics, literature reviews, maintenance, monthly training, operations, personnel turnover, program development, program evaluation, self-directed learning, software, squadrons, Standardization and Evaluation, summative committees, training, training gaps, training programs, United States Air Force, workforce development
Abstract
Over the past several years, the Air Force has realized a decline in the experience levels of its workforce. This decline, in conjunction with the influx of replacement personnel, has resulted in training gaps within the ranks of the United States Air Force.
The problem is that the 344th Air Refueling Squadron, as a training oriented organization, has realized gaps in its aircrew experience levels based on the continual personnel turnover of its aircrew workforce. The purpose of this project was to develop, implement and evaluate an inservice training program and a computer-assisted instruction software program for aircrew members of the 344th Air Refueling Squadron.
There were three research questions for this project. The two research questions for the development phase were (a) "What are the appropriate design elements (structure, format, and methodology) of an in-service training program and a computer-assisted instruction software program for aircrew members of the 344th Air Refueling Squadron?" and (b) "What are the appropriate contents to be included in an in-service training program and computer-assisted instruction software program for aircrew members of the 344th Air Refueling Squadron?" The research question for the evaluation phase was "Do the in-service training program and the computer-assisted instruction software program for aircrew members of the 344th Air Refueling Squadron meet the education and training needs of the organization?"
The development phase and the evaluation phase consisted of eight and six procedures respectively. The development problem-solving methodology consisted of the following procedures: an initial literature review, a formative committee to develop the criteria, selection of program contents, an additional literature review, test products draft development, product drafts and formative committee review, summative committee validation, and final program revisions and implementation. The evaluation-problem solving methodology consisted of the following procedures: an evaluation literature review; development of evaluation criteria and evaluation instrument; summative committee validation; data collection; data compilation, analysis, and interpretation; and finally, a decision as to the program outcome.
The results of this study were that both the in-service training program and the computer assisted instruction software program were developed by the formative committee, validated by the summative committee, and received full implementation approval by the summative committee and the 344th Air Refueling Squadron commander. These programs also both received an overwhelmingly positive rating from the respondents during the evaluation process of this study.
The first conclusion of this study was that both methodologies provided a well-organized, structured process for the development and evaluation of both the in-service training program and the computer-assisted instruction software program. Additionally, it was found that there were a significant number of learning topics available for aircrew members of the 344th Air Refueling Squadron. It was also concluded that both programs met the criteria developed by the
formative committee and validated by the summative committee. The final conclusion of this study was that the in-service training program would be an ideal tool for use during the monthly training day meetings and that the computer-assisted instruction software program would provide aircrew members with an excellent device for use via self-directed computer-assisted learning.
Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that both the in-service training program and the computer-assisted instruction software program be made available to all squadrons within the 22d Air Refueling Wing. It was also recommended that further research for additional training topics be conducted by each squadron's Training Flight office, and that the 22d Operations Group Standardization and Evaluation office be responsible for the maintenance and currency of both the in-service training program and the computer-assisted instruction software program.