====== Academy ====== Imperium Academy was started as a concept in 2014. The initial intention was to create a resource for Imperium and the community as a whole to provide them with quick and easily understood guides to fulfilling any role or mechanic which players were interested in, within the Star Citizen Universe. As time has gone by the initial Academy project has had a change in leadership, been folded into the Imperium Hierarchy and had its remit expanded, but the original goal still remains. To help a player to function in a new role or to expand on his current role quickly and easily. Academy also provides SCB members with "Certifications" which are basically an accreditation from Academy that we're confident in your ability in a certain role. Whether you're new to mining, or an advanced level trader, you deserve recognition for your skills. Academy Accreditation is recognised by Imperium. This means that when you apply for an official Imperium mission your accreditation will make you stand out as being competent in that skill and make you more desirable to someone recruiting. Whether you just want to dip your toes into Star Citizen for the first time or if you want to take your combat to the next level, Academy will be here to help. ===== Current Roster ===== {{ imp_academy.png?direct&200|}} ^ Division Sections ^ Member Names ^ | **Senior Officer:** | | | **Knowledge Section:** || | **• **Section Officer: | [[https://portal.starcitizenbase.com/user/view/7796/|PowerWagon]] | | **• **Senior Specialist(s): | | | **• **Specialist(s): | [[https://portal.starcitizenbase.com/user/view/1814/|SolLeks]] | ===== Introduction ===== The Academy Division is Imperium’s central Training and Information hub. All training will be coordinated through the Certification System on the SCB/Imperium portal. Academy’s primary function is to oversee and facilitate the distribution of pertinent training, Standard Operating Procedures and Methods of Operation that will assist Imperium Members and Divisional Specialists in performing their missions successfully. ===== Academy objectives ===== * Management of the Certification System (CS) on the SCB/Imperium portal. * Maintain support for Primary and Support divisions in regard to their training programs. * Centralize and distribute relevant information regarding training material, reference material, training requirements and standards. * Supply existing training documentation and media, while actively updating courses based on changing requirements. * Provide training for potential Divisional Instructors to better distribute knowledge across the entire fleet. * Assessment of current course packages and highlighting those that are due for review. * Providing relevant information for Instructors as required.  ===== The Training Package Cycle ===== No training package will ever be considered complete, it will merely be considered up-to-date. As the game develops and introduces further changes, or as the experience of Members increases, new methods and SOPs will be formulated to deal with specific situations. The training cycle, as it stands, is divided into 4 stages for the purpose of content creation and review. This is by no means a definitive and complete description of the cycle, however it serves to inform of the stages that a course perpetually goes through. **Real Experience (Part one)** \\ This is the first stage of any realistic training program. It involves people actually gaining the experience that informs any level of realistic development. Without this stage any package is purely developed from Theory-Crafting, which, while an informative and fun conversation, remains untested and therefore unrealistic. Real experience is always the most desirable source for any training material. **Analysis of the Training Requirement** \\ Once an area has been highlighted as having the most efficient methods of operation or specific skills required, this then progresses into an analysis of how well this can be translated, what areas are preferential, and collation of all pertinent information. This is then further assessed and a person/team is assembled to tackle the Course production. **Training Design and Development** \\ The Academy then uses the real life knowledge and experience of proficient Members to inform and guide them into the construction of a training package. This is tailored to the specific needs of the course and the Members who will be receiving it. The package is constructed and reviewed by the team and by objective Members outside the team, refined and finally considered “up-to-date” for the time that it is released. **Training Delivery** \\ The Package is now delivered through the media or Divisional Instructor as desired. The Package is considered successful if the subject matter is conveyed efficiently and the Members find that they are able to complete it in a timely manner. Also if the Member is able to demonstrate his understanding after the course is complete. **Real Experience (Part two)** \\ Once Members have completed the course, they use these skills for real. “Real” in this case, is within the game environment or the systems that Imperium has put into place. He is testing the skills simply by using them. He may find more efficient ways of completing his task, or he may find that elements of the package are redundant or even get in the way of his task. Also the natural development of the game may make the package no longer relevant in its current state and new methods are developed. This then feeds back into the Analysis phase of the Course Development Cycle and the process begins again, although with a greater amount of information to begin with, which would allow for refinement rather than beginning afresh. ===== Training, Certification and the Portal ===== We’ll now discuss the training system in order to better familiarise Members with the expected procedure. 1. Member identifies a need. \\ This Member identifies that he would like to undertake a specific Fleet mission type, however that mission will involve some level of coordination and therefore requires applicants to hold a Certification in a relevant area. 2. Member searches for relevant certification. \\ The Member then navigates to the Academy section of the Portal. Within this section is a list of available courses. As he knows which course he desires, he uses the search tool to find the appropriate course and selects the Enrol button. This then can have two outcomes: **A) For online training:** \\ 3. Online training. \\ In the first instance he simply needs to complete a familiarisation course. This involves some form of online media and is intentionally kept to a minimal time requirement. The course that the Member requires is a 6 slide powerpoint presentation along with a 1 minute video. He can spend as much time as he requires to digest the information he requires until he is satisfied that he understands all of the information. 4. Online test. \\ Now he has read, digested and understood the information he proceeds to a quick test. This comprises mainly multiple choice questions and is completed within a few minutes. This test is simply to assess the understanding of the subject and upon successful completion the Member is awarded with a Certification. He is now free to sign up for any Mission that requires this Cert. **B) Alternatively, for live training:** \\ 3. Live training. \\ Some training is too intensive to be conveyed through a powerpoint presentation or merely a video (without making the Member slip into a coma). In this case he can better be familiarised with either an intensive live training package, or a “Mentoring program” where he plays with a live instructor for a more extended period. 4. Live assessment. \\ The live training portion culminates with a live assessment to demonstrate his understanding of the subject. This can either be a guided conversation and theoretical situations which the Member will respond to in accordance with the training subject, or a staged assessment “Exercise”. Once the Assessor is satisfied that the Member has completed his training to the standard required he will then authorise the Member to receive the Cert on portal and the Member can now apply for Missions which require this Cert. All of this culminates to provide a method of getting a Member the information that he needs in order to be considered for an official Imperium Mission, or a private mission that has been set with restrictions. \\ Also anyone with the correct access on the Portal will then also be able to see, at a glance, that a member is proficient in a field and an asset to an operation, even if those two Members have never spoken, or even heard of each other. This Certification is a promise from the Academy that a Member has met a required standard and understands a specific area to their satisfaction. The actual use of that standard during live missions is now the decision of the Mission Coordinator. ===== Unit Certification ===== Units will require certifications just like an individual members will require certifications. Units however need not acquire certifications in the same manner that individual members will. Instead, a Unit’s certifications are granted based on the certifications of its members. For example, if X (X could range between 60-100%, this is still TBD) of the unit members hold certification 001, the unit will receive certification 001 so long as it maintains the minimum required personnel with certification 001. Units, just like individual members, possess the ability to obtain any and all certifications based on the Unit’s members dedication and personal direction. Still in consideration are factors such as: \\ What % of the membership must hold a certification for it to be granted to the Unit? How long can a Unit go before losing a certification based on a deficiency of said %? As always, this system will be in flux until a proper balance can be struck. ===== Conclusion ===== All of this ties together to produce a system that allows us to spread the knowledge developed within small sections of Imperium to Imperium as a whole. It allows for skills to be transferred, standards to be met, people to enter into new trades as quickly and simply as possible and for large groups to coordinate effectively. As always I will add the caveat that this is not intended as a barrier to entry, but to help spread the skills that will coordinate actions within Imperium and help Members achieve a basic level of understanding quickly and easily. ===== Links ===== * __ [[https://forums.starcitizenbase.com/forum/196-academy-suggestions/|Academy Suggestions Forum]] __ * __ [[https://portal.starcitizenbase.com/divisions/information/6|Apply for a position within Academy]] __