Dr Martin Ziarati

Summary A recent study found that almost 65% of all commercial ships have multinational crews. Over 10% of the fleet has crews with members from five or more nationalities. (Kahveki, E. Lane T. and Sampson, H., (2001), Transnational Seafarers Communities, Cardiff University, Seafarers International Research Centre, Cardiff.)

Summary The STCW convention, which specifies the minimum standards for training and certification of seafarers in 133 countries worldwide, specifies that seafarers should be able to speak English.

Summary The CAPTAINS project will provide computer based English language training materials and courses for non-native speakers of English, aimed specifically at the seafaring vocation.

Summary The materials and courses will be designed following a thorough needs analysis of seafarers and maritime English teachers from all around the world, and will be created in collaboration with experienced captains, chief engineers, and maritime English experts.

Main Goals 1. To contribute to an enhanced safety at sea culture by improving English communication skills, oral or written, through the identification of safety issues based on existing real-life critical situations emerging from English communication problems and diverse cultures due to multi-national ship crews. 2. To create a respective knowledge base of such real-life scenarios of ineffective English communication and their relevance to potential critical situations.

Main Goals 3.To develop attractive rich media interactive virtual simulators of identified real-life scenarios taking place on ship (bridge, engine, deck and social interaction) to allow for effective learning of functional communication of maritime English and avoid culturally originated communicative incompetence or misunderstandings. 4.To achieve transfer and evolution of knowledge by merging advanced learning/collaboration and evaluation software that already exists (AIT) and the rich media interactive learning simulations resulting from aims 2 and 3.

Main Goals 5.To develop an assessment method which will lead to some form of certification, thereby allowing professionals to establish a meaningful and well- established as well as standardised way to carry out safety critical procedures based on a communication on meaningful topics. 6.To increase cooperation between the training institutions and several social partners for overcoming linguistic and cultural deficiencies, resulting in the need to develop new vocational skills such as communicative English competence.

Main Goals 7.Optimized learning will be achieved by using real-life scenarios for preparation of innovative rich media simulations that will motivate learners, defining a scenario-based learning approach. 8.To enhance maritime VET by integrating innovative Information and Communication Technology (ICT) together with the latest refinements in Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) in maritime VET.

Partners University of the Aegean (AEGEAN) Centre for Factories of the Future (C4FF) Athens Information Technology (AIT) TUDEV Institute of Maritime Studies 1st Evening Vocational Senior School of Egaleo (EPAL) Osrodek Prac Rozwojowych (OPR - Centre for Development Works) University of Cadiz (UCA) Bureau of Vocational Training, 3rd Sector of Athens, Ministry of Education and Lifelong Learning (BVT)

Work Packages WP1 Project Management WP2 User Requirements Collection and Needs Analysis WP3 Novel Learning Approaches WP4 Course Design and Development WP5 Learning Platform WP6 Training Events and Evaluation WP7 Dissemination WP8 Exploitation and Sustainability

WP2 – User Requirements Collection and Analysis To come in close contact with stakeholders and target user groups in the maritime sector in order to fully understand the nature of the problem of ineffective English communication. To form up questionnaires, contact interviews, run user workshops, etc. so as to gather appropriate feedback and analyse the needs of target user groups based on the initial discussions with them. To define a knowledge base of maritime accidents where poor communication in English was a contributing factor.

WP2 – User Requirements Collection and Analysis Deliverables User workshop results report. Knowledge base of maritime accidents due to ineffective English communication.

WP2 – User Requirements Collection and Analysis Knowledge Base A knowledge base containing reports of maritime accidents contributed to by failures in communication was formed by C4FF. Two examples came from questionnaire participants. The knowledge base has been sampled in the course design process (which is ongoing).

Completed Steps Research on maritime accidents due to communication failures Online Surveys – Seafarers’ questionnaire – Maritime English Teachers’ questionnaire Analysis of Surveys - learning needs Workshops with Academia, Industry and Stakeholders Syllabus design - content and level setting

Ongoing and Future Steps Syllabus review Training scenarios IT Tools – E-learning system – 2D/3D Animations Implementation – initial training sessions – Evaluation – Final training session Dissemination and Exploitation / Sustainability

Recent technological breakthroughs in the field of e-learning, and modern communication based learning strategies will be creatively combined to form dynamic new learning tools, such as: Integrated e-learning and scenario-based interactive simulations software 2D/3D virtual and interactive simulators Which allow users to interact with the virtual environment in a variety of authentic scenarios, providing the opportunity to ‘learn by doing’. INNOVATIVE LEARNING TOOLS

2D/3D VIRTUAL AND INTERACTIVE SIMULATION IMAGES

PROJECT TOOLS AND OUTCOMES Stand alone version (CD version) Add-ons for the online version A Maritime English online learning community building

STAND ALONE VERSION (CD VERSION) Real-life scenario based modules & authentic materials Communicative English learning Intercultural awareness as multinational crews dictate Rich media virtual interactive simulations for hands- on experience

ADD-ONS FOR THE ONLINE VERSION Effective integration of the internet in teaching/learning Maritime English skills Motivate collaboration & co-learning Videoconference & chatrooms Creation of wikis & collaborative content Sharing learning experience in their forum Scheduling virtual classes using the calendar

ADDS-ON FOR THE ON LINE VERSION Classes from different Maritime Institutes can collaborate and learn together Experts can be invited to lecture or communicate with learners On-going support beyond the class sessions, e.g. creating support communities and discussion groups that “foster reflection” on the goals achieved as well as the obstacles met

ONLINE LEARNING COMMUNITY A Maritime English learning community where teachers, learners, experts can find their place for educational networking building

ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM

By working together, we can reduce the number of accidents.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research project has been supported by the European Commission, under the framework of the EU Transfer of Innovation Leonardo Project CAPTAINS (Communication and Practical Training in Applied Nautical Studies) of Lifelong Learning, Number GR1-LEO