The human element

Article 7
Simulation for learning
Rail & Recherche n°43 - April/May/June 2007

SNCF research has been developing training simulators for several years. Fiacre (driver operation of points); SimuRAT (freight wagon inspection) and Profession ASCT (conductor training) are all projects that have drawn on the human sciences to analyse the job before designing the simulators. NICTs like virtual reality play a major role in making simulators effective teaching tools. Occupational and adult education techniques also go into their design. The latest developments with Profession ASCT offer an illustration.

Since 2004, SNCF’s 10,000 conductors (ASCT) have received their initial and follow-up training with Profession ASCT, a simulator developed by the Human and Social Sciences Research Unit that depicts 15 complex work situations. The architecture of the system, whose development began in 2001, is based on the principles of learning by doing, immersion, interactivity, autonomy and error management. Training with Profession ASCT is done in groups, with individual experiences shared in replays of the scenarios during debriefings.

Two new elements are being added to Profession ASCT. One is a fire-onboard simulation which uses virtual reality to teach personnel the technical, organisational and interpersonal skills they will need in this situation. Human sciences, rail transport know-how and video-game technologies have all contributed to the development of this new tool. “Trainees like being able to tackle the danger in virtual reality and talk about the risks, their responsibilities and their actions”, says Christian Blatter. The learning experience is based on free choice and the right to make mistakes. Know-how is elicited through the work in groups. The second new element deals with the problem of shifting passengers from one train to another in the event of an incident. The situation was analysed in a 2006 study done by the CNAM, and the learning simulation approach developed by Pierre Pastré, a professor at CNAM, is being used to design this module.