AU2003100976A4 - Means for providing a proficiency assessment of a scenario participant - Google Patents

Description

Means For Providing A Proficiency Assessment Of A Scenario Participant Technical Field The present invention relates to a method and system for providing a proficiency assessment of managers, moderators, employees, etc.. The present invention provides a means whereby the proficiency and/or performance of participants can be assessed by a supervisor and/or a computer program. The present invention further provides a computer program for effecting the method and/or system. The method, system and/or computer program offers proficiency assessment in any area or field were a scenario can be constructed to assess the participants.

Background Art The requirement for companies, organisations and the like to assess the proficiency of managers, moderators, middle managers, group leaders, employees and the like, is time consuming, costly and dictated by specific situations.

Generally, any assessment of proficiency often has no follow-up training, and typically little saturation of skills back into the workforce.

Presently, the Applicant is unaware of any existing means of providing a proficiency assessment using interactive, character based "real-time, real-life" scenarios whereby participants are part of a scenario community. There is a need to provide a means for a proficiency assessment of participants which can contact the participants requesting them to make decisions, analyse situations and address solutions. The means for providing a proficiency assessment of participants should be able to be modified to suit a changing work-place environment by allowing scripting of another set of scenarios.

-2- As used herein, a participant is the subject of the proficiency assessment. There may be more than one participant for a distinct proficiency assessment.

A

participant could be any type of selected person including, but not-limited to, a manager, moderator, group leader, employee, etc..

In a networked data communications system, participants have access to terminals which are capable of requesting and receiving information from local or remote information sources. In such a system a terminal may be any type of computer or computerised device, a personal computer a mobile or cellular phone, a mobile data terminal, a portable computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a pager, a thin client, facsimile machine or any other similar type of electronic device. The capability of the terminal to request and/or receive information can be provided by an application program, hardware or other such entity. A terminal may be provided with associated devices, for example an information storage device such as a hard disk drive.

In such a system an information source may be a server, or a designated secure web site, or any other type of terminal (for example, a PC computer) coupled to an information storage device (for example, a hard disk drive). The exchange of information the request and/or receipt of information) between the terminal and the information source, or other terminal(s), is facilitated by a connection herein referred to as a communication channel. The communication channel can be physically realised via a metallic cable (for example, a telephone line), semiconducting cable, an electromagnetic signal (for example, a radio frequency

(RF)

signal), an optical fibre cable, a microwave link, a satellite link or any other such medium or combination thereof.

A variety of communication channels can be utilised in various embodiments of the present invention. These communication channels are commonly known and can include, email, facsimile, audio telephonic messages, Short Message Service (SMS) text messages, ect.. It should also be realised that the term communication channel as used herein can include physical mail.

-3- The infrastructure may be a telephone switch, a base station, a bridge, a router, or any other such specialised component, which facilitates the connection between the terminal and the network. Collectively, the interconnected group of terminals, physical connections, infrastructure and information sources is herein referred to as a communications network.

The communications network itself may take a variety of forms. It may be located within a local geographic area, such as an office building, and consist of only a limited number of terminals and information sources. This type of communications network is commonly referred to as a Local Area Network (LAN). On a broader scale, it may be larger and support more participants over a wider geographic area, such as across a city. This type of communications network is commonly referred to as a Wide Area Network (WAN). On an even broader scale LAN and WAN networks may be interconnected across a country or globally. An example of a globally connected communications network is the Internet.

To a participant the Internet appears to be a single unified network, although in reality it consists of many different types of computer platforms utilising many diverse data communications technologies. The technologies are connected together in such a manner so they appear transparent to the participant. This transparency is made possible through the use of a standard communications protocol suite known as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

(TCP/IP).

The Hyper-text Mark-up Language (HTML) and Hyper-text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and other extensions such as eXtensible Mark-up Language (XML) have developed to make the Internet or World Wide Web very accessible. The exchange of information on the Internet is further facilitated through hyper-text documents called web-pages. Hyper-text documents are unique in that they use tags to define links which, when selected, fetch the related information from within the same document or from a new document altogether. The links can be defined using HTML which provides a document formatting method which adapts in a consistent manner to any computer on which it is displayed. HTML tags are -4used to define the various components of an ASCII text file, image or sound which make up a hyper-text document, including such things as formatting and linking to other documents. HTML tags which link documents on one Internet information source to those on another do so by associating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with the referenced information.

The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is a TCP/IP protocol for sending email between server, or a designated secure web site. Generally, all email systems which send e-mail via the Internet use SMTP to send messages.

Typically, email is sent via SMTP to a Post Office Protocol (POP3) server, or a designated secure web site, from where the recipient may retrieve the email.

Attachments to e-mail sent via SMTP may be sent by making use of Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) which is an SMTP extension.

The various other types of communication channels previously mentioned have associated protocols and transmission standards. These technologies form part of the prior art and are not discussed in any further detail in this specification.

This identifies a need for a method, system and/or computer program which provides a proficiency assessment of participants which overcomes or at least ameliorates the problems inherent in the prior art.

Disclosure Of Invention In a broad form of the present invention there is provided a method of providing a proficiency assessment of at least one participant, the at least one participant taking part in a scenario, the scenario provided by a proficiency assessment program hosted on a server, or a designated secure web site, and the method including the steps of: the at least one participant being briefed as to the background of the scenario; the scenario being initiated; the at least one participant being contacted, via a communication channel, and provided with information about the present status of the scenario; the at least one participant able to monitor the progress of the scenario by viewing the status of the scenario on the server, or a designated secure web site, via a communications network; at predefined stages in the scenario, the proficiency assessment program prompting the at least one participant, via a communication channel, to submit a decision to the proficiency assessment program; the at least one participant submitting the decision to the proficiency assessment program; and, whereby, the progress of the scenario changes as a result of the submitted decision, and at further predefined stages in the scenario, the proficiency assessment program further prompts the at least one participant, via a communication channel, to submit further decisions until the scenario is completed.

Preferably, only one participant is prompted to submit a decision at any one time.

Also preferably, a scenario manager is provided and the scenario manager initiates the scenario. In particular embodiments, the scenario manager is a person, or a component of the proficiency assessment program.

According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the proficiency assessment program generated prompts to submit a decision are randomly generated by the proficiency assessment program from a set of available prompts.

Preferably, the proficiency assessment program has an associated database.

According to further aspects of the present invention, any one of the communication channels is selected from: email, facsimile, SMS, telephone or physical mail.

In a further preferred form of the present invention, the at least one participant views the status of the scenario on a web-page hosted on the server, or a designated secure web site.

-6- According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the proficiency assessment program provides timed deadlines for the at least one participant to submit decisions.

According to yet another feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one participant submits decisions via a web-page interface to the proficiency assessment program.

In a particular embodiment, decisions are submitted by true or false answers, selecting an option from a drag and drop menu, selecting an answer from possible answers, or typing an answer.

According to still yet another feature of an embodiment of the present invention, each response by the at least one participant generates feedback information to the at least one participant. According to yet another feature, the scenario manager can amend the scenario in real-time.

In a further broad form of the present invention there is provided a system for providing a proficiency assessment of at least one participant, the at least one participant taking part in a scenario, the system including: a server, or a designated secure web site; a communications network; a communication channel; a terminal; a proficiency assessment program, hosted on the server, or a designated secure web site, which provides the scenario; the at least one participant receiving information on the status of the scenario on the terminal via the communication channel; the at least one participant submitting decisions to the proficiency assessment program via the communications network; and, whereby, the at least one participant monitors the progress of the scenario by viewing the status of the scenario via the communications network, and at predefined stages in the scenario, the proficiency assessment program prompts the at least one participant to submit a decision to the proficiency assessment -7program, and the at least one participant submits the decision to the proficiency assessment program, and the progress of the scenario changes as a result of the submitted decision, and at further predefined stages in the scenario, the proficiency assessment program further prompts the at least one participant to submit further decisions until the scenario is completed.

In still a further broad form of the present invention there is provided a proficiency assessment program for providing a proficiency assessment of at least one participant, the at least one participant taking part in a scenario, the scenario provided by the proficiency assessment program which is hosted on a server, or a designated secure web site, the proficiency assessment program including procedures for: initiating the scenario; contacting the at least one participant via a communication channel, and providing the at least one participant with information on the present status of the scenario; allowing the at least one participant to monitor the progress of the scenario by the at least one participant viewing the status of the scenario on the server, or a designated secure web site, via a communications network; prompting the at least one participant, at predefined stages in the scenario, to submit a decision to the proficiency assessment program; receiving the decision from the at least one participant; and, whereby, the progress of the scenario changes as a result of the received decision, and at further predefined stages in the scenario, the proficiency assessment program further prompts the at least one participant, via a communication channel, to submit further decisions until the scenario is completed.

Brief description Of Figures The present invention will become better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment thereof, described in connection with the accompanying figures, wherein: -8- Figure 1 illustrates a first step of a particular embodiment showing briefing of participants.

Figure 2 illustrates a particular embodiment showing how a scenario evolves.

Figure 3 illustrates a particular embodiment showing a participant being contacted at a point in the scenario.

Figure 4 illustrates a particular embodiment showing the participant monitoring the scenario.

Figure 5 illustrates a particular embodiment showing the participant being prompted to make a decision.

Figure 6 illustrates a particular embodiment showing the participant submitting a decision.

Figure 7 illustrates a particular embodiment showing a path change in the scenario.

Figure 8 illustrates a particular embodiment showing a summary of the method of the present invention.

Figure 9 illustrates a summary of a single participant/scenario manager controlled (person) situation.

Figure 10 illustrates a summary showing a multi-participant/scenario manager controlled (person) situation.

Figure 11 illustrates a summary of multi-participant/scenario manager controlled (software) situation.

Modes For Carrying Out The Invention In preferred, but non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method, system and/or computer program offering proficiency assessment of participants.

In one particular embodiment of the present invention there is provided a proficiency assessment program which is a total immersive environment for participants to be assessed via a set of work place scenarios. The script of each set of scenarios depends on the content and requirements of the organisation seeking the proficiency assessment. For example, the requirements and content for diaster relief managers at an Emergency Management Centre will be very different to that which is required for types of middle managers at a Stock Exchange. All scripts and content providing the scenarios can be tailored to suit an organisation's specific environment, that is scripting and content can be applied to a specific model. In a preferred form of this embodiment of the invention there are three models for the proficiency assessment program. These are: Single participant/scenario manager (person) controlled; Multi-participant/scenario manager (person) controlled; and Multi-participant/scenario manager (computer) controlled.

These three models are discussed in more detail hereinafter.

Participants can be chosen by their managers to participate in the assessment.

Participants can be briefed by managerial staff as to the operation of the proficiency assessment program, their role in the assessment and the requirements within the scenario, and (optionally) the assessment criteria.

Each participant is provided with a code name and password. Once all participants have been advised of the proficiency assessment program, each participant can be logged into the scenario provided by the proficiency assessment program. The scenario may be initiated using a time variable, or by a scenario manager. Each participant would be unaware of when the actual scenario will commence. The participant receives information via a communication channel (for example e-mail, facsimile, SMS, telephone message, physical mail, etc.) to initiate the participants role in the scenario community.

This message prompts the participant to enter a designated website. On this website the scenario manager software providing a cyber-manager or a real person) will brief the participant about the current situation within the scenario community, any extra required information, data, resources, assets, liabilities or other characters. Participants are provided with a goal or task to complete.

The proficiency assessment program contacts the participant. This could be at the participant's work, home, after hours, on the way to work, etc. The participant then becomes involved in the scenario via a a to r- etc. The participant experience- It is the participant's input which determine the outcome of the scenario. Each time a decision is made by any of the participants in a scenario the progression of the scenario is altered to reflect such inputs.

In the proficiency assessment program a specific scenario is created for the organisation making use of the proficiency assessment program. s c r e ated f arhe scripted and threaded to suit specific environments or required Organesate outcomes environments or required organisation The Proficiency assessment program is hosted on at least one server, or a designated secure web site, and is supported by a database. The interface to the Proficiency assessment program can be delivered via the WWW/Internet/Iltranet.

Once a scenario is initiated, Participants are contacted using a selected communication channel. Such communication channels can include email, mobile phone SMS messages, facsimile, etc. The participants can also respond to the Proficiency assessment program via a similar multitude of technologies, for example, mobile phone SMS messages, email, facsimile, a website, etc.

Participants respond to the proficiency assessment program by submitting information or data via any of the accessible communications networks. The proficiency assessment program can be provided with the necessary softwar The interfaces to handle the receipt/transmission of information/data via th e nec ese modfware of communication. O informati n/data via these modes Initially, participants log-in to a specific scenario offered by the proficiency assessments rogram so asreured to besitable to articipate in the scenario. The Participants are not required to sit in front of a computer terminal for hours on end in order to interact with the proficiency assessment program and complete a scenario. Participants are presented with various challenges, activities, etc. The articipants are responquirses to undertake research using various media prior to submitting responses to the proficiency assessment program. The Participants are prompted to log into the website, investigate and answer questions, complete -11challenges or the like. The challenges can be competitive and are all specific to the scenario, which in turn is specific to the organisations requirements.

Each participant can be provided with feedback information. This feedback information may also state how each participant is fairing compared to other participants. The feedback information can be stored on the database associated with the proficiency assessment program which is operating behind the scenario.

The feedback information can be specific to the participant and an actual challenge or activity. At the completion of a scenario, the scenario manager can be provided with detailed feedback information concerning all of the participants.

This feedback information would preferably detail and analyse every decision made and its impact upon the overall proficiency of each participant. At the completion of the scenario or set of scenarios. A participant and a scenario manager can be provided with a "plan of attack" which could address all areas for which the participant requirements further assistance and what the appropriate actions should have been.

The scenario manager is provided with access to a "viewing platform" so that the scenario manager (if the scenario manager is a person) can witness the progress of all participants. The scenario manager is provided with the ability by the proficiency assessment program to alter the scenario in real-time.

At the completion of a scenario or scenarios offered by the proficiency assessment program, the organisation should be better equipped to understand the education and training shortfalls, and successes, occurring within the organisation due to the participants. At this point, the organisation has achieved a goal in assessing the proficiency of participants, in a work environment and at relatively small cost and in a short amount of time. The proficiency assessment program offers a cost effective means of assessing proficiency within the work environment in a "real-time, real-life" constant environment. The proficiency assessment program incorporates principles of embedded learning and assessment and additionally allows a participant to move away from a computer terminal.

-12- Reference to figures 1 to 8 is now made in further describing the system/method of the present invention. Initially, participants 10 are briefed by a manager The scenario 20 is initiated. This sets in motion the scenario components 20c, etc. The participant 10 is contacted 30 and receives information on the situation at hand, assets, liabilities, etc. Such information can be provided by the participant 10 viewing a website 35 running on a server, or a designated secure web site, which is hosting the scenario 20. The participant 10 monitors 40 the situation, that is monitors the scenario 20 via the website Referring now to figure 5, at a predefined point 20c in the scenario information 50 is transmitted to the participant 10 via communication channel The communication channel 55 may be SMS, mobile phone, facsimile, email, etc.

This is in effect the scenario 20 prompting the participant 10 with information for the participant 10 to conduct whatever research may be required and make a decision in response to the new information The participant 10 then provides an answer decision) 60 via whatever means was determined by the scenario 20. The information in the decision 60 is passed to the proficiency assessment program running the scenario 20 as decision component 20d which is in response to coded prompt 20c. The decision component 20d causes a change in the scenario path to scenario component which is then followed by scenario component 70b and so forth. Thus scenario path changes are as a result of the participant's decision 60, or by scenario changes made by the scenario manager via a viewing platform. Feedback information 74 and 75 can be provided to the participant 10 and/or recorded in the database in response to the decision component Illustrated in figure 8 is a summary of the aforementioned processes. At any particular time the scenario path may change in response to a decision from a particular participant 10. Different decisions 60 which result in different scenario decision components 20d can result in alternate scenario pathways. Alternatively, the scenario manager can cause changes in scenario pathways via the viewing platform -13- Various modes of operation of the proficiency assessment program are possible.

The three main modes are as follows.

1. Single participant/controlled scenario manager (person).

Referring to figure 9, a single participant 10 is engaging in a proficiency assessment program with a human scenario manager using the viewing platform The scenario 20 is evolving using previously scripted components. The scenario manager initiates the scenario 20 and the participant is contacted at a specific time in the scenario. The participant 10 is provided with information concerning assets and liabilities pertaining to his or her role within the scenario Each participant 10 is able to monitor the scenario 20 once he or she has been notified that the scenario has commenced. When the coded prompt component of the scenario 20 is initiated, the participant 10 is prompted 50 to respond accordingly. The participant's response 60 optionally triggers feedback 74. Responses 60 can affect the scenario pathway. All scenario paths may be altered and controlled by the scenario manager.

2. Multi-participants/controlled by scenario manager (person) Referring to figure 10, the scenario 20 is evolving according to previously scripted components. The scenario manager initiates the scenario Participants 10 are provided with information concerning assets and liabilities pertaining to their role in the scenario 20. Each participant 10 is able to watch the scenario 20 once they have been notified that the scenario 20 has commenced.

Once a scenario coded prompt 20c of the scenario 20 is initiated the participant to which the prompt 50 is directed is able to respond 60 accordingly. Only one participant 10 is prompted to respond at any one time. Each response can be provided with feedback information 74, and each response 60 can affect the path of the scenario 20. All paths of the scenario 20 maybe altered and controlled by the scenario manager.

3. Multi-participant/controlled by scenario manager (computer software) Referring to figure 11, the scenario 20 is evolving according to previously scripted components. The proficiency assessment program initiates the scenario Participants 10 are provided with information concerning assets and -14liabilities pertaining to their role within the scenario 20. Each participant 10 is able to watch the scenario 20 once they have been notified that the scenario has commenced. Once the coded prompt 20c of the scenario 20 is initiated, the participant 10 to which the prompt 50 is directed may respond 60 accordingly.

Each prompt 50 is randomly generated and set by the proficiency assessment program and is specific to the scenario 20 content. All assessment and feedback 24 is provided by the proficiency assessment program. Assessment can be determined by: standard computer based assessment (true/false); drag and drop menus; multiple choice; typing in correct responses; self assessment (for example, compare and contrast); peer assessment; and/or voice recognition and keyword identification.

Only a single participant 10 is prompted 50 to respond 60 at any one time. Each response 60 can be provided with feedback information 74. Each response can affect the path of the scenario 20. All paths of the scenario 20 may be altered and controlled by the proficiency assessment program.

Alternate embodiment According to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, parallel simulation calculations may be used rather than the previously described simulation branching methods. Parallel simulations are calculated using suitable algorithms.

Parallel, or distributed, simulation refers to the execution of discrete-event simulation programs on a multi-processor system or network of work-stations.

The primary goal is to obtain higher performance via parallel execution.

Furthermore, in some situations the nature of the simulation itself may be distributed.

In use, a set of consistent rules are applied. Feedback information can be provided to participants so that the participant can make informed, intelligent decisions and move forward based on earlier experiences. Rules are created that describe how objects/components of the simulation interact with each other. A physics system is used to define the rules within the parallel simulation and an artificial intelligence system can control any computer controlled inhabitants in the simulation. In this manner, the simulator becomes both a predictor of system performance and an active participant in the system development as the behaviour of the emulated elements is refined and evolved.

Example scenario The following example scenarios are provided to assist the reader in fully understanding the nature and scope of the present invention. These scenarios are provided by way of illustrative example only and should not be taken to limit the scope of the present invention.

1. Train Crash at Mungo Creek Performance Assessment of Emergency Management Managers Upon initial entry, the participant will be provided with the following information, assets and liabilities: Mungo Creek Introduction Mungo Creek is a quiet regional centre of population 20,000. It is named after the creek (a misnomer since it is really a river) which runs through the town to the coastline 25 kms to the south. The town owes its early development to the transport industry, and has railway yards located on its south-eastern perimeter. The town sits at the south of the Herlems Peninsula, a relatively remote area of increasing tourism potential, for which it has become a transport and communications hub since the 1940's. A dam was built on the upper reaches of Mungo Creek in the hills 20kms to the north-west during the 1960's, and a small hydro-electric power station was constructed which supplies power and water to -16the area. Five years ago a freeway link was also extended near the town to provide access to the expanding peninsula area.

Proximity to rail and road transport, cheap land, inexpensive power and government to encourage decentralisation have attracted a number of industries to the area including a large chemical plant 10 kms to the East. This plant is welcomed by the local community as a source of employment but has caused concern to environmentalists due to the nearby coastline which contains the breeding ground of the fare "Double-bellied Red-faced Egret" at the outlet of the Mungo Creek estuary. The rare "Northern Roo" also grazes on the plains adjacent to the coastline. Recent attempts to bulldoze the swamp for a casino and resort complex were stopped by vigorous environmental lobbying. The chemical plant continuously monitors and treats its effluent to ensure no pollution to this pristine area of swampland and the local council has to rigorously monitor effluent from the town of Mungo Creek which drains into the river.

Demographics The town situated 500 kms by road from the nearest capital city Harryville (1.5 million population). With the exception of Southam which lies 400 kms away from Mungo Creek (and 100 kms from the capital) and is of equal size, only smaller centres of a few thousand people lie within 500 kms. Likewise in the Peninsula, only small communities of 2-3,000 people make up the total population of 10,000 spread 100-200 kms away.

There is an indigenous community of 1,500 people at Willy Nilly 10 kms to the south.

Geography Environment Mungo Creek and the Herlems Peninsula are situated in northern Australia. They enjoy a warm to hot climate with temperatures ranging from daytime high of 25 Celsius in Winter to 43 Celsius in Summer. The climate is dry, punctuated by occasional tropical storms and rain bearing depressions which cause heavy rains to occur with winds coming over the ocean to the south-east. The last cyclone causing flooding and wind damage was in 1991.

During May the weather is usually still hot and days of 35 Celsius are not uncommon.

Due to ocean proximity humid conditions occur depending on prevailing winds.

-17- Communications The town has normal telephone communications and a cellular telephone network. It does have a long distance tone paging system used by many agencies and private individuals.

The town receives ABC Television and one commercial TV Channel. It likewise receives the ABC Regional Radio broadcast from a local repeater station and has its own commercial AM station 1604 YOB Radio broadcast from within the town.

Newspapers The town receives the main city paper late each morning either freighted by rail or by air.

A local Community Paper the Peninsula News is published only weekly.

Utilities Water is plentiful and comes from the nearby Mungo Hill Dam. There is an effluent processing plant for the main part of town but many houses still have septic systems.

Railway The railway has a passing passenger train daily (and sometimes twice daily during the summer) in addition to freight trains, particularly bringing supplies to and from the chemical plant. A small railway siding is the site of special rolling stock used by the chemical factory tankers awaiting connection to freight trains are parked here.

Interestingly the railway line passes through a tunnel, which runs 500 metres under the end of the main street, to the south east of the town. This is affectionately named the Gerbil Tunnel after a local endangered species, the "Brown-Faced Gerbil", a rather cheeky and inquisitive marsupial. The station and railway yards are south of this tunnel and the line is commonly referred to as the "Up Down Around" line.

Airport The local airport is well established and takes a daily aircraft either BEel146 or Fokker F28 (able to carry 80 passengers). Although of good length (2,900 metres) the runways cannot accommodate the weight of larger commercial aircraft. One charter operator, Deans Joy Flights is based there and takes tourists for scenic flights in a Cessna 206 or a Bell Jetranger which he owns.

Emergency Services A single Fire Station is the focus of the local fire and rescue authority which uses salaried crews and some volunteers to operate three fire appliances; two of which are fairly modern and one very old. They have some limited cutting and extrication equipment. They also have their own radio control room and own frequencies.

The local police station, commanded by Inspector Kerryn, is a major office for the peninsula and has 12 officers. There is a local lockup which is usually half full after Friday nights at the local pub. They have their own radio control room and own radio frequencies.

The local Ambulance sub centre has three ambulances and eight full time officers who do twelve hour shifts; two days, two nights then four days off. Up to two ambulances are available during the day. The third vehicle is a backup and used on the race track during the Spring Carnival. When necessary some volunteer ambulance staff are seconded to work with trained officers to make up additional two-person crews. The Senior Ambulance Officer is Mr Larry Levern. The officers answer phone calls themselves at the sub-centre after hours and when called out the phone is diverted to the hospital who can call them on radio. During the day a secretary operates the radio system.

School Mungo Creek Primary School (with 600 students) and a secondary school Mungo Creek High (with 400 students) are co-located to the south of the town and share a sports oval and large school hall (seats 600). Another primary school, North Mungo Creek Primary (with 250 students) is situated to the north east of town.

Community Facilities The city has a Town Hall built in 1930 which can seat 300. The Mayor, Councillor Les Bellowes, is also the local Real Estate agent and sold the land for the cancelled casino resort complex to the now defunct developer. He is President of the Lions Club which meets in the town hall monthly and is noted for somewhat flamboyant behaviour, particularly after long business lunches. The Rotary Club and CWA also meet here monthly.

There is a sports oval and racetrack to the West with a small pavilion and this is used for the Spring Race Carnival and summer cricket matches.

Hospital There is a regional hospital based in Mungo Creek. It has 125 beds although 15 are closed and 20 form a long stay geriatric ward. There is a single general surgeon, one obstetrician, one anaesthetist as well as a GP surgeon and two capable GP anaesthetists. The town has twelve general practitioners, one community public health physician and one general physician. One GP Dr D. Nightshade is the part-time Medical Superintendent. The local GPs are rostered to cover the Casualty Department one day in every twelve. The Casualty Department has twelve cubicle areas and there are four outpatient style examination rooms adjacent.

In Willy Nilly to the south there is a Community Medical Centre with one doctor and four nurses.

The hospital has two operating theatres and a resuscitation "theatre" in Casualty. There is a high dependency unit of four beds (all monitored) and two of these have ventilators.

Ventilated patients are usually evacuated to the city if they need management for more than 24 hours due to nursing staff shortages. This is usually by the Republican Flying Medical Service (RFMS) which has four fixed wing aircraft based in the capital city Grommet.

There is a radiology department with trained radiographers and a radiologist and ultrasound facilities. The hospital pathology lab can do most tests locally including blood gases and provides services to the hospital and all the local GPs. There is a blood bank and cross-matching facilities. Stocks are rotated with the Red Cross in Grommet, being air-freighted weekly or as required.

Chemical Plant The main chemical plant manufactures insecticides (organophosphates and organochlorines) which are so necessary in the agricultural and building industries in the State, (particularly for eradication of "Great Northern Termites" and "Bug-Eyed Grasshoppers). They have a workforce of 240 people, their own fire truck and a team of 14 employees who train part-time in rescue and fire-fighting drills at the factory.

Weather update: heavy rains expected across the region within the next 24 hours.

Temperature to reach 29 degrees with 90% humidity (weather updates will appear in real time with all prompts) News Report: Mungo creek's population is expected to swell two-fold as the annual race day approaches, already hotels an the camp grounds are reported to by filling fast News: tropical storms hit the Mungo Creek area no damage Telstra: communications are temporarily down due to storm Train crash: At 1310 hrs today 2 passenger trains were travelling in opposite directions through Mungo Creek. Train A (Northbound) has a crew of 40 and 346 passengers. Train B (Southbound) has a crew of 60 plus 454 passengers. Train B is a specially charted train for Japanese tourists in Australia for the Gerbil Festival being held at Mungo Creek.

Due to faulty switch gear at the trackside Train A and Train B were travelling at around per hour on the same line. As they entered the Gerbil Tunnel, which is 500 metres in length, they collided head on. Neither driver of train A nor Train B were able to apply the emergency brakes until the last second due to a lighting failure in the tunnel.

-21- As a result of the collision carriages from both trains have completely blocked the tunnel and some have derailed. Several derailed carriages at the south entrance to the tunnel have impacted with a Goods Train which is parked unattended at the south siding. The goods train is carrying a mixture of hazardous materials.

Decision prompt: What is the first thing you must do as the Local Emergency Manager? Answer: Contact all Emergency Service chiefs Feedback: Phone communications are down due to storm: it is now 15 minutes since crash (this time will be calculated in real time and will always appear in the prompts) Answer: Drive to Fire, Police and Ambulance centres to devise plan to stabilize danger and recover injured.

Diagrammatic Representation: (note: path change at Prompt Prmp Pop PrmtRsonse P r o m tR s o e 2. MILITARY EXAMPLE: (this is a brief example and only simulates the process rather that he actual detail) Intro Prompt 1: Assets and liabilities of military unit. Your roles and responsibilities as a unit Commanding Officer Prompt 2: Enemy (terrorist group Al Quada) Situation reports and Intelligence Summaries Prompt 3: Enemy Situation reports and Intelligence Summaries Prompt 4: Enemy Situation reports and Intelligence Summaries. Suspected terrorist sympathiser scene at a number of target locations within Sydney CBD over last 24 hours Prompt 5: Sydney Harbor Ferry bombed suspected terrorist involvement: mobilise troops in readiness (Emergency State Bravo second highest).

Response 1: Answer: call all troops from leave and training courses. All troops are to be at the barracks by 1300h today Prompt 6: Feedback: Security alert Bravo requires that you have a 24 hour guard established at the barracks you must establish a guard Notes: The assets and liabilities include troop strength and resource strength. It also states the role of your unit i.e: logistics, training or operational. This can have a direct effect on the scenario.

(ii) Only five initial prompts have been stated, there would generally be many more.

-23- (iii) This scenario is ideal for play back in a real simulated environment on a computer screen at the completion of the assessment. This can aid in the participant and moderator visualizing performance.

3. STOCK EXCHANGE EXAMPLE: (this is a brief example and only simulates the process rather that he actual detail) This example is computer run and moderated Intro Prompt 1: The breakdown of your portfolio. Your roles and responsibilities as a Financial Manager Prompt 2 4: Stock updates: News update: weather, impending USA/Iraq wan/ Floods in Europe (buy or sell shares?) Prompt 5: War between USA and Iraq (buy or sell shares?) Notes: The portfolio can detail shares world-wide. The participant has access to a separate work page within the scenario which he/she can buy and sell shares at any stage.

Weather reports, wars, droughts etc. can all be updated during prompts. The participant may predict and buy and sell at any stage. The participant can have access to other stock markets (Tokyo, New York etc) and be subject to their timings.

(ii) In practice, more than five prompts would be used.

(iii) This scenario is ideal for play back in a real simulated environment on a computer screen at the completion of the assessment. This aids the participant and moderator visualizing performance.

References to the terms connecting, communicating, transmitting, requesting, receiving, exchanging and the like, and permutations thereof, as applied to the term communications network and/or components thereof should be taken to pertain generally to the transfer of information or data. Such transfers of information or data can be facilitated for by any form of entity/entities for facilitating such, including, but not limited to, metallic wires or cables, semiconducting wires or cables, optical fibres and optical devices, wireless means, -24electromagnetic waves and the like and modulations thereof, acoustic waves and the like and modulations thereof, control of electric and/or magnetic fields, and/or the transportation of all forms of memory devices.

The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which the invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Dated this 2nd day of December 2002 SHARYN MAREE FEWSTER By Her Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE

Claims (16)

1. A method of providing a proficiency assessment of at least one participant, the at least one participant taking part in a scenario, the scenario provided by a proficiency assessment program hosted on a server or over a designated secure web site, and the method including the steps of: the at least one participant being briefed as to the background of the scenario; the scenario being initiated; the at least one participant being contacted, via a communication channel, and provided with information about the present status of the scenario; the at least one participant able to monitor the progress of the scenario by viewing the status of the scenario on the server, or over a designated secure web site, via a communications network; at predefined stages in the scenario, the proficiency assessment program prompting the at least one participant, via a communication channel, to submit a decision to the proficiency assessment program; the at least one participant submitting the decision to the proficiency assessment program; and, Swhereby, the progress of the scenario changes as a result of the submitted decision, and at further predefined stages in the scenario, the proficiency assessment program further prompts the at least one participant, via a communication channel, to submit further decisions until the scenario is completed.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein only one participant is prompted to submit a decision at any one time.

3. The method as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a scenario manager is provided and the scenario manager initiates the scenario.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the scenario manager is a person, or a component of the proficiency assessment program.

The method as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the proficiency assessment program generated prompts to submit a decision are randomly generated by the proficiency assessment program from a set of available prompts.

6. The method as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the proficiency assessment program has an associated database.

7. The method as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein any one of the communication channels is selected from: email, facsimile, SMS, telephone, PDA or physical mail.

8. The method as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one participant views the status of the scenario on a web-page hosted on the server, or over a designated secure web site.

9. The method as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the proficiency assessment program provides timed deadlines for the at least one participant to submit decisions.

The method as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least one participant submits decisions via either a web-page interface, SMS message or via PDA applications to the proficiency assessment program. it- V,

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein decisions are submitted by true or false answers, selecting an option from a drag and drop menu, selecting an answer from possible answers, or typing an answer.

12. The method as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 11, wherein each response by the at least one participant generates feedback information to the at least one participant.

13. The method as claimed in any one of the claims 3 to 12, wherein the scenario manager can amend the scenario in real-time.

14. A system for providing a proficiency assessment of at least one participant, the at least one participant taking part in a scenario, the system including: a server, or a designated secure web site; a communications network; a communication channel; a terminal; a proficiency assessment program, hosted on the server, or over a designated secure web site, which provides the scenario; the at least one participant receiving information on the status of the scenario on the terminal via the communication channel; the at least one participant submitting decisions to the proficiency assessment program via the communications network; and, whereby, the at least one participant monitors the progress of the scenario by viewing the status of the scenario via the communications network, and at predefined stages in the scenario, the proficiency assessment program prompts the at least one participant to submit a decision to the proficiency assessment program, and the at least one participant submits the decision to the proficiency assessment program, and the progress of the scenario changes as a result of the submitted decision, and at further predefined stages in the scenario, the proficiency assessment program further prompts the at least one participant to submit further decisions until the scenario is completed.

A proficiency assessment program for providing a proficiency assessment of at least one participant, the at least one participant taking part in a scenario, the scenario provided by the proficiency assessment program which is hosted on a server, or over a designated secure web site, the proficiency assessment program including procedures for: initiating the scenario; contacting the at least one participant via a communication channel, and providing the at least one participant with information on the present status of the scenario; allowing the at least one participant to monitor the progress of the scenario by the at least one participant viewing the status of the scenario on the server, or over a designated secure web site, via a communications network; prompting the at least one participant, at predefined stages in the scenario, to submit a decision to the proficiency assessment program; receiving the decision from the at least one participant; and, whereby, the progress of the scenario changes as a result of the received decision, and at further predefined stages in the scenario, the proficiency assessment program further prompts the at least one participant, via a communication channel, to submit further decisions until the scenario is completed.

16. A proficiency assessment program for providing a proficiency assessment of at least one participant, the at least one participant taking part in a scenario, the scenario provided by the proficiency assessment program which is either hosted on a server or over a designated secure web site, will provide feedback to the at least one participant. This feedback will be either provided by the Scenario Manager or it will be automatically generated.