Snap-Courses: An Instructional Design Strategy for Aviation Mobile Learning

This article defines and describes the use of snap-courses in the field of aviation. Snap-courses are short (5-minute) segments of training that are designed to be distributed over several weeks or months. Brief instructional units, accessed once or twice a week, throughout the year, may bring more learning and retention than annual, longer training courses. The author notes that airplane cockpits now have access to electronic flight bags (EFBs) which have replaced paper charts and manuals with mobile devices. These same devices can also be used for Snap courses. The author explores how the features of mobile devices may facilitate new aviation instructional approaches, and presents a blended learning instructional design model that incorporates snap-courses into a complete program of classroom instruction, technology-based learning, and hands-on practical training (in simulators and aircraft). The author concludes that snap-courses may be well suited to a mobile learning context and facilitate long-term retention, but must be based on sound instructional design in order to be effective.