Training Software

A user explores a serious game using a virtual reality head mounted display

The Western Mining Safety and Health Training Resource Center works closely with industry partners to improve training through advances in instructional technologies. This section details the three key components of this initiative, which are the results of a ten year research and development effort:

  1. Training Workflows: In partnership with the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources, we have conducted fundamental research to identify common gaps and deficiencies in mine safety training that may be addressed through better instructional technologies, such as computer-based serious games. A new, evidence-based redesign of the training workflow has been derived and validated.[1][2]

  2. Software Platform: To create new serious games, we have also developed the Dynamic Safety™ platform, which is based on a high-end game engine and built to meet the specific training needs of the mining community.[1] This proprietary platform enables versatile multi-user environments and analytics capabilities.

  3. Learn with Harry™: We have developed a package of sophisticated software applications which uses computer-based simulation and gaming, coupled with competency assessment, to enable a better safety training workflow. Learn with Harry makes fundamental improvements to instructional design and delivery which can result in greater safety competency through the "gamer cycle" — a cycle of competitive experimentation and iterative assessment.[3]

Our software is provided at no cost to our partners for training and efficacy testing. The Center also offers a train-the-trainer workshop to help instructors and operators integrate and use these tools more effectively. This web portal provides access to over 250 pages of resources on our training software, including datasheets, white papers, trainer manuals, and photo essays. If you are interested in using our software in your training program, please contact us.


Further Reading

  1. Brown, L. D. (2015). Design, Evaluation, and Extension of Serious Games for Training in Mine Safety. Ph.D. Dissertation, Dept. of Computer Science, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Available at Univ. of Arizona Libraries
  2. Brown, L.D. & Poulton, M. (2019). "Improving Safety Training through Gamification: An Analysis of Gaming Attributes and Design Prototypes," In Cassenti, D. (Ed.) Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics 2018. LNCS v. 780, Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 392-403. (NIOSH invited paper.) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94223-0_37
  3. Garris, R., Ahlers, R., & Driskell, J.E. (2002). "Games, Motivation, and Learning: A Research and Practice Model." Simulation and Gaming, 33(4), pp. 441-467. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046878102238607