Abstract:

The paper demonstrates the use of professional switching simulator in business games. Such business games based on practicable emergency dispatch trainings are developed for operational staff of electrical power networks. Event-oriented procedures of the substation accident response are elaborated as the business game for students. The methodology of rating outcomes of the participants is also presented. The designed business game promotes obtaining initial switching skills, understanding the rhythm of dispatcher operations as well as approximating the teaching and learning process towards the real life conditions.

The business game is a special tool designed for simulation of real practical conditions. The effectiveness of the business game depends on the content of its components and their interaction. Every component is to be designed according to the type of activity and the game goal. Interaction and communication among players have the sense for the successful realisation of a business game.

The business game is known as an efficient way of teaching and learning which helps to interpret all the details of the industrial process. Students trained with business games demonstrate higher learning outcomes.

The business game methodology for switching in electrical installation under normal operating conditions or emergency response is developed by the department of Power Networks and Electrical Engineering of National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University. It includes the theoretical information of the arrangement and the switching order, the methodological references for the switching simulator, the methodological guidance for carrying out business games, programmes and the standard recording cards.

Training of operational skills is the basic form of checking up skills of the staff and their competence in order to carry out them in practice.
The emergency response drill is run as a part of the competition of the electrical network staff. The reliability of the energy system regime depends on the professionalism of the operational staff practicing to operate under stressful conditions.

The development of methodological support of the business game as provided by the maintenance of the power system conditions and the efficient switching have been directed on the obtaining goals of the effective management of students’ training process in the energy profile, gaining knowledge and skills in the field of the efficient dispatcher’s running.

The business game design requires a certain background including the real production situation. The action of the students – participants should be self-reliant as they have to work out their own scenario of actions their estimate outcomes. The approval of the outcomes demonstartes that the designed business game promotes the communicative skills of the students, it clearly indicates the specific character of practical activities and permits to simulate the diverse complex conditions of production, that are introduced without any risk for students’ life and their initial experience.

The rating of the business game outcomes with assistance to penalty points is successfully used in production and also it should be integrated into the teaching and learning process. The authors point out that the methodology of rating the outcomes of students’ activities is required for further development and improvement of the business game.

Keywords:

Business game, engineering students, electric power system, emergency dispatch training, switching training simulator.