Accelerating Instructor Mastery Navy SBIR FY2015.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2015.2 Topic No.: N152-108 Topic Title: Accelerating Instructor Mastery Proposal No.: N152-108-0005 Firm: Cognitive Performance Group of Florida 3662 Avalon Park Blvd E Suite 205 Orlando, Florida 32828 Contact: Karol Ross Phone: (407) 282-4433 Abstract: Military instructors do not have the time or support necessary to achieve mastery or even ensure continued professional development during their tenure as instructors. Teaching skill must develop to adequate levels in the early months of the typical three-year tenure and continue to grow and progress after initial formal training. Each formal school in the Marine Corps has a unique method of initial preparation of new instructors, but none have sufficient time and resources to formally provide instructors with sustainment or enrichment training to continue and accelerate development during their tenure. Advanced instructional techniques that support the students in deep understanding, flexible application of knowledge, and critical thinking skills are necessary to meet operational demands for adaptive application of knowledge across dynamically changing operational environments. CPG proposes to produce the Accelerated Instructor Development (AIM) System to support current Marine Instructor Training & Readiness standards (2015). A problem-based learning approach will inform the design of context-based training and practice, informed by the detailed developmental roadmap found in the CPG Instructor Mastery Model from which the current Marine standards were drawn. The system will provide individual lessons accessible by tablet and the internet. Benefits: The Phase I AIM System will demonstrate the utility, accessibility, and acceptability of the training concept. The product will augment current formalized instructor development activities with follow-on lessons and practice that can be accessed at the user�s convenience to support specific developmental assignments given to instructors, self-initiated enrichment, and to structure a repository of resources and insights. The initial system will target self-development and refinement of facilitation and questioning techniques, and managing and fostering an active learning environment to provide richer instructor skills in a compressed timeframe in support of teaching higher-order cognitive skills. Return