What is your opinion on CBT (Computer based traning)?

PO1 Billy House — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 10:34:00 -0500

A few years ago the A school for IT's was converted to primarily CBT based with instructors being regulated more to a role of mustering POs. I have noticed since that time a severe drop in the military bearing of the new ITs I am getting as well as no basic level of knowledge. I can remember going to school and being put in a room full of computers and expected to build a functional PC and then taken to a room full of real communication equipment and expected to set up working voice and data circuits to graduate. This doesn't only apply to ITs however as I know that other rates in the navy have transitioned to CBT based A and C schools.

With all this said, the issues with military bearing and lack of knowledge have been addressed to top leadership within my community a number of times and each time the answer is the same. Too much money was invested in getting the current system of training online to change it again. Is this money well spent? What is the point in A school if I have to take a raw recruit and teach them everything from the very beginning. It seems like it would be more cost efficient to just scrap the school and send the sailors straight from boot camp to first command to start training while their military bearing is still intact instead of letting them languish in Pensacola for six-nine months with very little structure or discipline.

Thoughts?

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 19 at 2013 10:06 PM

SFC James Baber — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 22:06:32 -0500

Billy,

I am sure you know this is nothing new, all services have had issues with certain schools or MOSs and their students sitting for months at a time for various reasons (funding, slots, training areas, housing, changes to doctrine, etc.), it is a hindrance for the leaders of the gaining units many times over when they finally get these young troopers they have to retrain many of them in the customs and courtesies of being a Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman, Seaman all over again, it is a headache, but it is what makes the NCO/leader all that much better and stronger in what they do.

Take it as a compliment that you are able to mold that young mind and build them to be the future that you know you are capable of creating.

Good luck and have a happy holidays.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2015 7:43 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 19:43:04 -0400

In my opinion the idea of a CBT isn't that bad, i went through CBT base "A" school, but like you mentioned it's easy to just pass and know nothing. When i did get to my duty station i knew little to nothing about radios or how to set up circuits, i would have known more to just go to my station then wast time at the beach. Sorry station is severely lacking actual education, even networking side of the house. Every class room has an expensive rack full of router, switches all of which aren't used for teaching the class, enough equipment to set on the students desks to learn the inside and out of it. That would have been very beneficial to actually learn about the router and day to day tasks that are performed on it.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 11:21 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 23:21:07 -0400

I truly believe CBT can not replace Instructor based training. The human interaction is invaluable.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 12:13 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 May 2015 12:13:21 -0400

Don't forget that the training for ITA school have been moved and the time have been shorten while going to ITA school. So IT training really start at your first command doing your PQs. But the military bearing part use to be a pretty big thing in boot camp, so I do not know why your sailors are lacking it.

Response by MSgt Mike Brown; MBTI-CP; MA, Ph.D. made Jun 12 at 2015 5:37 PM

MSgt Mike Brown; MBTI-CP; MA, Ph.D. — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 17:37:08 -0400

It has its place; however, as I witnessed graduate students at a local university sitting in a classroom staring at a computer, with a professor being broadcast from across the country, we have to be honest: Human interactivity, candor, sharing of adult-learner-veteran experiences are what makes the classroom and knowledge promulgate!

Response by Barry Davidson made Sep 19 at 2016 9:42 AM

Barry Davidson — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 09:42:37 -0400

As someone who works within the IT field, I can say that there are some places where CBT is okay. Notice the "okay" in that last sentence. If you're just learning the fundamentals of Microsoft Office then there's a case to be made for CBT.

I haven't seen a computer based course yet for "building a functional computer system and then setting up working voice and data circuits" that beats being in an actual classroom with an instructor. I'd equate it to sitting in front of a screen to learn marksmanship with an M-107A1, and maintenance on an M-16.

Part of the reason you now have CBT practically across the board is mostly because some defense contractors buttered up a few people in Congress, and in military appropriations. The other part is that it's getting harder and harder to get and keep qualified instructors when the civilian market pays better. Especially with those same contractors and educational facilities telling everyone, as loud as they can, that to be qualified you need an advanced degree in computer science, ten or more certifications, etc. I'm sure your A School in Pensacola could find instructors for a whole myriad of subjects if graft wasn't being spread around so liberally.

If it is combined with actual classroom time and/or hands-on experience then it's not a bad thing.

Response by PO1 Jack Howell made Oct 16 at 2016 9:52 PM

PO1 Jack Howell — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 21:52:27 -0400

It's good for certain topics. However, when you're talking about 'A' school or 'C' school, it has no place in the school house, other that to run required simulations (depending on the rate......oops, I mean NOS....or whatever title you go by).