Bridging the gap between formal training and on-board work practice - integrating world class ICT learning systems

Experience in the maritime industry and research indicates that there is a gap between so-called preferred and actual work practice among the officers on board (i.e. Lamvik et.al. 2010). While officers seem to be familiar with the correct or preferred wor k routines given in steering documentation, training manuals, engine manuals and company policy, they sometimes use an alternative work practice in their daily work on board. There is a need to bridge this gap. The solution is to add to a structure that a llow experimentation, support reflection, socialization, community learning and is more motivational. So far, this has not been possible due specific ICT limitations such as limited band width and previous computer based systems not based on experienti al and social learning. Also, systems for personalized learning have not existed. Through combining SINTEF's expertise on work practice and experience based learning systems through the TARGET project, High Skillz' expertize on software development and ga mification and for social learning, Seagull's expertize on computer based training for seafarers, and SMS Global's expertize on on-board communication both between vessels and between on-board and on-shore, it is now possible to solve this problem in a re al world setting provided by Grieg Star. The innovation in the TOOLS project is thus to combine a set of existing expertise's and solution's into a new combined system that could not be created by any single of the partners. The solution can be commercial ized and employed throughout the whole maritime industry, but is too expensive to be achieved through an individual effort of the partners.