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NNVO

A safe voyage with Poseidon

This is not a story about how learning technology scales for thousands of people. It is a very particular story about how technology significantly contributes to a selected few VTS-Operators.

A VTS-What? Check out the video for a little sneakpeak into their world. A VTS-Operator is a vessel traffic service operator. VTS-Operators ensure that everyone reaches their destination safely, from container ship to pleasure yacht. The National Nautical Traffic Service Training (NNVO) is the main training centre for these operators. It is their mission to educate, train and guide all VTS-Operators in the Netherlands.

VTS-Operator training is impossible without using expensive simulators and simulators don't offer the flexibility to practice anytime and anywhere. That is why NNVO reached out to TinQwise with the question: can you create a learning solution that offers VTS-trainees a simulator experience without actually using an expensive simulator, and with the possiblity to practise anytime and anwhere?

It looks and acts like a simulator

Together, we created Poseidon. A learning solution that looks and acts like a simulator. A place where the student can already get familiar with real life scenarios, before entering an expensive simulator. To give Poseidon true value, we made sure that everything UX wise, looks and works just like the simulator. Poseidon actually replaces the first six runs on a simulator. This means it saves three days of expensive simulator training. To encourage learning in Poseidon, we use nautical elements like anchors and badges.
It looks and acts like a simulator

Pieter Kuijt

CEO NNVO

"Poseidon is a double treat for us. The students learning experience is enhanced and we save precious time in the simulator and that of our coaches."
Pieter Kuijt

Train specific skills

As a vessel traffic service operator, you must always be alert. You need knowledge, insight and specific skills. For example, you must be thoroughly familiar with your sailing area, be able to operate the equipment skilfully and communicate clearly with the people on the water. All under pressure: you only have a few seconds to make adjustments. Because of the consequences of making mistakes, proper training for this job is crucial. Poseidon teaches VTS-trainees the specific skills they need for their job.
Train specific skills

Andreas Keller

Head of VTS-training at NNVO

"The most beautiful thing I experienced was the user test. The room became dead silent and you could hear a pin drop. I saw nothing but concentrated faces and red ears sticking out of the screen. That's when I knew: we nailed it! We really created something special and unique with Poseidon."
Andreas Keller

Poseidon in action

The power of scaffolding

In Poseidon, the student follows a determined path. Step by step they learn how to handle complex situations, and build up confidence through completing tasks, earning badges and anchors and unlocking new chapters. This way we ensure that the level of complexity only increases if the student is ready for it.

Every single excercise builts upon: remembering, understanding, applying, analysing, and evaluating. We don't tell this strategy to the students. It is implicitly incorporated into the learning solution. In the eyes of the student they go through multiple exercises, to earn their badge or reward. But when you look back you can see a clear buildup in difficulty.  
The power of scaffolding

A blended learning solution

The training programme for VTS-trainees is intense, they use Poseidon from day 1 and train for 4,5 months. It starts with initial training, where Poseidon is introduced. Poseidon prepares the VTS-trainee on three main elements: Topography, Operation of the simulator and Communication. 

When you have reached the desired skill level in Poseidon, You start training with the simulator under guidance of a coach. After that sector training follows. This is a mix of Poseidon, the simulator and on the job training. As you can see Poseidon is designed to function in a blended way. 
A blended learning solution

Self efficacy

A VTS operator needs to communicate perfectly and following protocol. When you want to use voice input in training, there is no way to personally review all the recorded voice messages that are linked to thousands of different simulated scenarios. Even not with AI. We found an elegant, but simple solution to the problem. We use a didactic called self efficacy.

The VTS-trainee reacts to a situation and records their own reaction following protocol. Up next, they listen to the prerecorded audio message of the coach, and compare it to their recorded voice message. This way, the VTS-trainee already knows how to communicate following protocol when they enter the simulator training. 
Self efficacy

The impact of Poseidon

Expand and add

Poseidon is constantly developing. Scenarios can easily be adjusted and new scenarios can be added on the spot. This ensures that Poseidon can be used over and over again by NNVO. It also ensures that if changes occur in real life, it is very easy to come up with a new training scenario for it. The biggest benefit of this is that we can test scenarios, and come up with scenarios that didactically get the best results. It also makes it easy for other international organisations like NNVO, to use Poseidon for their languages and operating areas.  
Expand and add

LTAwards 2022

At the prestigious Learning Technologies Awards 2022, Poseidon took home two gold wins in the 'Best use of simulatons or virtual environments for learning' and 'Excellence in the design of learning content - public and nonprofit sector' categories.
LTAwards 2022

Learning Technologies Awards 2022

  • Best use of simulations or virtual environments for learning

    The judges felt this ‘virtual simulation of a simulator’ really nailed it. The entry scored strongly across all eight criteria for the category, and they loved the innovative, evidence-based didactic methodologies used to engage, to scaffold learning and to help new operators practice safely to put theory into practice. The enjoyment and passion for the training was evident from both trainers and trainees, and the positive outcomes were testament to the platform’s success. Congratulations to a worthy winner!

  • Excellence in the design of learning content

    An innovative project that was outstanding across all of the criteria for this category. The Poseidon learning tool has demonstrated exceptional value both monetarily and in terms of the quality of the learning experience, playing a vital part in preparing VTS operators to safely direct nautical traffic. The project has achieved exactly what it set out to do and set a global standard for training in this area.

Have your own LXP?

Do you also want to design a learning experience platform to answer to a specific challenge? Then contact us! 

These TinQers have worked on this learning tool