SwRI was awarded the Federal Government Distributed Learning Association (FGDLA) Innovation Award 2007 for the project entitled "Effectiveness of Immersive vs. Non-Immersive Scenario Training: A Study of Game Based Learning."

In order to determine the impact of Game Based Learning (GBL), the Training, Simulation and Performance Improvement Division (TSPI) designed two methods of instruction, a freeplay game and a more traditional approach in the form of an interactive scenario exercise, each using the same learning objectives. TSPI then conducted a small-scale test to evaluate the impact of each on several training outcomes, including retention of technical information, accuracy of performance, attitudes and learning time.

The objectives of this study were two-fold. First, TSPI measured the impact of GBL on several important training outcomes, relative to a more traditional e-learning approach. Second, TSPI produced a prototype GBL immersive environment, for demonstration to Air Mobility Command (AMC) senior management at Scott AFB, IL.