Applying instructional design practices to evaluate and improve the roadway characteristics inventory (RCI) training curriculum.
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Summary
This study addresses the need to evaluate and improve the Roadway Characteristics Inventory (RCI) training curriculum for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The existing training program, conducted in a traditional classroom setting, incurs significant costs related to travel, materials, and scheduling while failing to account for instructional design standards. Furthermore, the participant demographic has shifted toward less experienced employees with diverse skill levels and language backgrounds, rendering the current curriculum less effective. Motivated by budget constraints and the need for a more efficient, competency-based delivery method, the research aimed to develop a strategy that enhances training effectiveness while reducing costs through modern technology. The researchers employed a multi-part methodology to gather qualitative data on the nature of the RCI technician job. This approach included a literature review, document analysis, job task analysis, direct observations of technicians, and in-depth interviews with job experts to identify necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes. Focus groups were utilized to validate the identified job tasks and the resulting competency model. The study sought to answer four primary research questions regarding technician responsibilities, required competencies, behavioral examples of those competencies, and desired performance levels. The findings established a comprehensive competency model for RCI technicians, detailing the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for effective job performance. Based on this model, the researchers developed a design document outlining a proposed web-based training solution. This included the creation of functional prototypes for course modules, such as "TRIP Orientation" and "RCI Fundamentals 101," which cover pre-inventory, inventory, and post-inventory activities. Additionally, the study proposed a learning portal called Training for Inventory Personnel (TRIP), featuring a learning management system to track progress, a discussion board for interaction, and resources such as a glossary and note-taking tools. The significance of this work lies in its provision of a structured, competency-based framework for RCI training that aligns with instructional design theory. By shifting from a traditional classroom model to a web-based, performance-focused curriculum, FDOT can achieve greater cost-effectiveness and accessibility. The resulting competency model and training prototypes offer a scalable solution that addresses the diverse needs of the current workforce, ensuring that training targets observable and measurable behaviors critical to successful job performance. This approach supports broader human resource functions, including employee selection, performance management, and career development, by providing a clear standard for technician proficiency.
Key finding
A validated competency model was developed and used to create functional prototypes for a web-based training curriculum and learning portal to replace traditional classroom instruction.
Methodology
mixed_methods
Provenance
The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed. Discovered via bulk_ingest_rosap on 2026-05-23 (6 acquisition events logged).
| Stage | Outcome | Tool | Model | Prompt | Attempts | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discover | success | rosap | — | — | 2 | 2026-05-23 |
| archive | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-05-23 |
| extract | success | cached | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-10 |
| clean | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-01 |
| chunk | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-01 |
| embed | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-02 |
| enrich | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-05-23 |
| promote | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-05-23 |
| summarize | success | llm | qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant | summ-v5 | 3 | 2026-06-10 |
| tag | success | vector_similarity | — | — | 24 | 2026-06-11 |
| verify | success | — | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-10 |
Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.
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- Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation