INTERACTIVE AND ON·LINE TRAINING

Multimedia has quickly proven to be a cost-effective training tool in various industries. This type of training is able to bridge language and cultural differences that regular printed or classroom instruction cannot easily handle. Off-the-shelf software now enables developers to combine visual aids with hands-on training for a variety of computer products on various platforms. After successfully completing an online training tool for the Modular Integrated Video System (MIVS), Aquila further developed its multimedia technologies and is currently working to produce an interactive training tool for the GEMINI Surveillance System. This new project will serve as both a training instrument and a reference source for the user, in that both the system documentation and the training program will be included on a single CD ROM. The goal of this program was to provide IAEA inspectors with the necessary skills to conduct a GEMINI inspection and address any troubleshooting issues. Similarly, the program will be useful for technicians in the maintenance of these systems. Currently, Aquila is working to provide these training programs in Russian and English. This project has demonstrated that well-designed interactive multimedia training reduces the amount of time needed to learn, while markedly increasing retention. This provides I) reduced costs from instructor fees, travel, and the time the inspector/trainee loses from work and 2) improved inspector competence with the equipment, which leads to more efficient inspections. A variety of safeguards equipment can benefit from interactive and on-line training.