Figure 17 Overviewing the simulation-based exercise. This image shows that the interactions between the
In the debriefing session, the simulation-based exercise was recreated through a digital playback. This playback was a result of a recording of behavioural, operating and technical interactions, situations, events and actions. What figure 17 shows are movements of the ships involved in the simulation-based exercise. As these ships moved, the instructor and the students viewed the interactions and described situations, events and actions. By viewing and describing the simulation-based exercise was to give and get a general understanding of the exercise. Thus, overviewing the simulation-based exercise was to form an overall picture of the performed actions and interactions. One example that describes how the background of the simulation-based exercise was given is demonstrated as follows:
EXCERPT 6
Instructor: The scenario looked like this in the beginning. Up here is the Strait of Dover. Down here is the Azores somewhere. Down here we have Gibraltar and on the other side we have Newfoundland, just to have an overview of where we are. So where are we?
Student: In the Atlantic Ocean.
Instructor: Yes. In the Atlantic Ocean […] Everybody have the same scenario. Everybody have somebody who passed them fast. Implementation, contribution and constellation.
In this example, the instructor gives a background about the geographical location of the ships, followed by a brief explanation about the students’ same conditions during the simulation-based exercise. In turn, this is followed by three principles; ’Implementation, contribution and constellation’. These were indicated as central principles that would
further be investigated and analysed, set in practical context.
Figure 18 Laser pen and movements. This image shows how the instructor highlights a specific movement of a
ship as a method of emphasizing a specific action and rule.
As the instructor gives the background about the geographical location of the ships, a laser pen is used to highlight the directions in the interaction. This case shows how Elsa was on her way to Newfoundland, Canada. This way of overviewing the simulation-based exercise; viewing and describing it, consequently led to framing and defining the problem.
Framing and Defining the Problem
The process of overview of the simulation-based exercise began with firstly, framing and secondly, defining the problem. The following example is a representative demonstration of how the problems were framed.
EXCERPT 7
Instructor: Beda, you see how this goes out, what do you do? Student: We increased the speed of our ship.
Instructor: Increased the speed […] Good. What is the natural step after this?
Student: We turned around.
Instructor: Yes, good. But after this? What do you do then? Student: Then it becomes more complicated.
Instructor: Yes, because it’s not just one ship, it’s two. So the question is: what is the distance between this ship and the other ship? If we had full speed, could we drive between them that has a buoy cross that is at, at least two, just like we said.
Student: That is possible.
Instructor: Yes, it is actually. Increasing the speed, there is nothing wrong with that, but it can become risky too. And that is the problem. Even though you had full speed, you might not have managed to drive between them in time.
In this case, the main action and/or main event were viewed and highlighted. This way, the main action and/or main event was a problem that was framed and defined, and in turn, questioned and problematized. From the example, the main action and/or main event was when the speed of the ship increased and in turn, involved in a more complicated situation. By framing this problem, and subsequently, this general phase was further broken down into a more detailed and specific review of the scenario. In this case, the following question: ’What is the natural step after this?’ was an initial initiative to switch between the general
view and what is specific. The actual transition between the general overview of the scenario to a further specified review of the scenario was when the guided question: But after this? What do you do then?’ was answered by student and elaborated by the instructor. The
final explanation by the instructor was a summary of how risky traffic behaviour becomes when the speed of the ship increased. By framing and defining the problem, theoretical rules are explicated through the potential consequences of a specific risky traffic behaviour in a practical context. During this specified review, the playback of the simulation-based scenario was paused in order to highlight the interaction in which the problem was occurring.
Figure 19 Highlighting with a laser pen. This image shows how the instructor highlights the specific action
Figure 19 demonstrates how the instructor highlighted, with a laser pen, the interaction, events and actions that were presented in EXCERPT 7. Subsequently, the instructor used
rhetorical questions and provided ’if’-scenarios or hypothetical scenarios. These ’if’-
scenarios was recurring in the empirical material. These were related to the specific event that was crucial in the scenario. By providing ’if’-scenarios, and as presented in the example,
was a way of contrasting or comparing correct and incorrect actions necessary to take or to avoid. In this case, it was used as a method of framing the problem, which the learners’ responded to. Subsequently, the instructor confirmed the students’ response, explained the consequences of the actions and emphasized the rule of action.