From Tacit Knowledge to Visual Expertise: Eye-Tracking Support in Maritime Education and Training

Abstract

The maritime pilot is an expert with knowledge on a specific navigational route. The maritime pilot cadet undergoes maritime education and training in classrooms, onboard vessels and in simulators. Developing visual expertise is a basic objective. Transferring knowledge from experienced maritime pilots to maritime pilot cadets is challenging since some of this knowledge is tacit. The transference is achieved by externalization and socialization processes. The objective of this pre-study was to assess eye-tracking methodology as a tool to support maritime education and training, and for transferring tacit knowledge. The study was performed in an explorative way during simulator sessions, by interviews, questionnaires and observations. The result shows that eye-tracking methodology is useful for transferring tacit knowledge in simulator settings, but not during other parts of the education and training. The results also show that situational awareness of maritime pilot instructors and maritime pilot cadets increases when utilizing eye-tracking methodology.

Service Desk Onboarding Training Environment

“…In comparison to the solution of knowledge transfer by eye tracking presented by Eklund et al (2020), our solution is more beneficial in that it uses simpler visual data (screen recordings) that can be easier to work with. The possible user experience may therefore be better.…”

“…This is also supported by the use of webcams instead of dedicated eye-tracking hardware in the form of headsets. As stated by Eklund et al (2020), those may cause discomfort during use and may pose a burden for users that have to wear glasses while also wearing the headset for eye tracking. From this point of view and with regards to the topic subject of the eye-tracking recordings, the proposed artefact is more appropriate.…”

“…One of the approaches is the use of eye tracking as a tacit knowledge elicitation tool. Eye tracking is used in various fields and can prove its usefulness as a tacit knowledge transfer tool, as was evaluated in an explorative study by Eklund et al (2020). They tried to identify whether eye-tracking technology is useful in supporting tacit knowledge transfer from expert to novice pilots, especially regarding visual expertise.…”

“…Those theories are eye tracking as a tacit knowledge elicitation tool and simulation as a tool for knowledge transfer. Tacit knowledge elicitation through eye tracking was already tested in environments such as armed forces (Eklund et al, 2020), marketing (Wedel and Pieters, 2017) or software maintenance (Ahrens et al, 2019). The theory behind tacit knowledge elicitation through eye tracking makes for an effective tool for implementing knowledge management practices into the onboarding process.…”

“…The kernel theories that the presented artefact is built upon were evaluated by implementation by Eklund et al (2020), Sommer et al (2017), Sukmana et al (2021) or Schmidtmann (2010), and the participants of the focus group discussion agreed that the proposed artefact may serve as a solution to the presented problem. Therefore, the formative validity of the proposed artefact is assumed.…”