Brain Retrieval: Military Instructional Design

Upon reflection of the discussion posts for Learning, Theories, and Instruction, I discovered a consistent theme.  Most students stated that they were having some difficulty retrieving information from long-term memory.  The cognitive ability to recall as described in the course materials is the desirable outcome.  In the military personnel are returning from the combat zones and are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which in my opinion is the undesirable retrieval of negative images, sounds, smells, and feelings associated with fighting wars.  The ability to forget a memory from a war rather than connect it to a loud noise of a car driving by would be welcomed deficiency for a traumatized soldier.

           

Manchenton explains in her article entitled, “New Training Scenarios Help Military Develop Tough Minds in Tough Bodies” how the armed forces are developing ways to prevent the horrors of war from being embedded into long-term memory (Manchenton, 2014).  The Army is working with brain information processing and learning specialist to create experiential learning environments that mimics stressful war-like situations.  The goal is for troops to be familiar with their own emotional and mental pressure associated with the extremes on the battlefield; when they experience the real environment, it will not be shock them.  This type of braining training is not restricted to the U.S.

Instructional designers in the Australian Army sought to understand how the brain works and developed training packages that engage two or more of learner senses.  According to Major Rod Powell, in his review of the Army’s training, he focuses on people and “developing a cognitive edge” which implies that their soldiers are smarter than their adversaries (Powell, 2015).   Both the U.S. and Australian Armies are embedding cognitive theory in training development or instructional design.  It seems that retrieving data from long-term memory is on the forefront along with emotional stimulus in developing future military training.  It would be beneficial for both countries to share their work.  The documents cited offer interesting perspectives on retrieving data from long term memory under extremely stressful conditions outside academia.  “To recall or not to recall,” that is the question for those susceptible to traumatic disorders.

 

 Ken M.

References

Manchenton, M. (2014). New training scenarios help military develop tough minds in tough bodies. Retrieved from https://www.mitre.org/publications/projects-stories/new-training-scenarios-help-military-develop-tough-minds-in-tough

Powell, R. (2015). Is Army’s approach to training optimal? Retrieved from www.army.gov.au/Our-future/Blog/Articles/2015/08/Army-training