Training Return-on-investment Analysis, Investigation, and Evaluation Reasoning (TRAINER) Toolbox

To continue organizational excellence and world superiority, the Navy must make wise, evidence-based investments in training systems to maximize return-on-investment (ROI). High-fidelity simulations are costly to develop and run, and they may not result in the best learning gains. The Navy needs a way to understand how fidelity, task complexity and level of experience interact to develop ideal training pipelines. For example, to address the shortage of Navy pilots, the Navy needs evidence-based analysis to optimize training sequences. To support the Ready, Relevant Learning concept and increase Navy training ROI, Charles River Analytics is developing the Training Return-on-investment Analysis, Investigation, and Evaluation Reasoning (TRAINER) Toolbox. TRAINER Toolbox is a set of decision support tools that enable training development, acquisition, and implementation decision makers to understand the evidence-based impacts of fidelity, cost, task, and trainee experience on training ROI and make informed decisions. TRAINER Toolbox features an Information Capture Tool to gather and import training ROI information; a Tradeoff Analysis Tool to perform evidence-based analysis of individual training systems; and a Training Portfolio Analysis Tool to perform evidence based analysis of collections of training systems supported by an organization. Together, these tools enable a comprehensive and evidence-based view of training ROI, enabling the Navy to save time and money while maximizing learning gains.