“The culture for producing leading-edge talent has been here for decades,” says Florian Jentsch ’97PhD, chair of UCF’s Psychology Department and director of the Team Performance Lab at the Institute for Simulation and Training (IST). “The aviation industry as a whole is better because of UCF’s roles, and employers are very much aware of that.”

A casual reader might wonder how a university with no airfield could be ranked as the nation’s No. 1 supplier of talent six times by Aviation Week Network. Or why professors in fields like psychology and digital media play such prominent roles in the advancement of that talent.

Start with Jentsch. For 30 years he’s been an integral part of one of the world’s premier programs in human factors at UCF — and what could be more important than “human factors” before and during a flight? In the same area of IST, David Metcalf and Michael Eakins ’09BA ’17MFA are creatively using multimedia to bring K-12 students into the widening aviation funnel (forecasts from Boeing indicate the industry will need more than 600,000 new pilots over the next 20 years).

“As much as I like to use new gadgets,” Eakins says, “I get the biggest charge from watching the next generation use them. When I see the lightbulbs go on for the first time, I know we’re doing something impactful.”

How UCF Fills the Talent Funnel

To trace the dots from digital media to aviation talent, let’s start with Eakins’ and Metcalf’s backgrounds. Both grew up near aerospace and aviation centers. Eakins was raised on Florida’s Space Coast, where his grandfather was part of the team that built NASA’s first lunar module. Metcalf spent his formative years near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“As a kid, I’d hear conversations about space and aviation,” Metcalf says. After studying computer graphics at the University of Texas, he used his multiple interests to help NASA establish its first multimedia lab. In 2006 he took another leap and launched UCF’s Mixed Emerging Technology Integration Lab (METIL) at IST. The simulation lab has since spawned innovations in dozens of fields, including mobile healthcare, mobile learning, and … here it is … aviation training.

“Our students are never bored in the lab,” Metcalf says.

Eakins was one of those students early on.

“When I started my education at UCF, I thought I’d pursue a career in gaming,” Eakins says, “but once I met David and had my first exposure to simulation, I got hooked.”

Eakins is now the creative lead of METIL, developing simulation and training tools to hook others who least expect to be hooked. The lab hosts K-12 field trips so kids can see and touch those tools.

In February 2022, Metcalf and Eakins initiated the STEM Aviation Showcase, taking headsets and tablet-based simulators to events in Central Florida. Through partnerships with Orange County Public Schools, the Boys and Girls Club, and Junior Achievement, to name a few, they’ve already made a presence at 16 events and had hands-on interactions with 1,600 curious kids.

“We’re able to bring aviation to people who have never met a pilot or maybe have never seen an airport,” Metcalf says. “The airplanes flying high over their neighborhoods might be the closest they’ve ever come to a plane. We can use the portable tools that we’ve developed in IST to cast a wider net and grow more interest among people who thought it wasn’t a reachable goal. It’s also a great way to bring more women to the front of planes.”

Most recently, Eakins developed a more advanced training aid in collaboration with Boeing. Using an AR headset and a virtual captain — an avatar designed from a real pilot — users can experience flight training without the need for a plane, an airport, or an expensive, non-portable simulator.

“Anyone who has access to this can practice flying anywhere, without any risk,” Eakins says. “It could be a gamechanger.”

The dots that lead from digital media to gaming to portable flight simulation come to a question that parents of high schoolers often ask: “What’s the next step for my son or daughter?”

“We can point out the best classes to prepare them for a career in aviation,” Metcalf says. “If they decide to come to UCF, they’ll be guided through their educational journey to the personal future they desire.”

How UCF Makes Flying Safer

Jentsch arrived at ��AV in the early-mid 1990s to study for his doctoral degree in a crucial research field that, at that time, relatively few people knew anything about: human factors psychology. The application to aviation was always clear to Jentsch and his colleagues.

“The reliability of aviation is directly tied to the behavior of everyone in the system,” Jentsch says. “The gate agent. The security person. The baggage handler. The maintenance engineer. The pilot. Every person must know when to speak up and say, ‘we can’t leave the ground yet.’ Technology helps, but at the end of the day we rely on good behavior for high positive consequences — in this case, safe travel.”

In the ‘90s, UCF was one of five or six universities doing work in this space. Since then, many others have attempted to emulate UCF’s approach to research and training.

“We’re always a few steps ahead because many of our government and corporate partners are right here in Orlando,” Jentsch says. “People are always amazed that when you come into [Central Florida Research Park], you can find anyone and everyone who makes a flight simulator working here. This gives us access to tools at IST that allow us to explore the most realistic factors in aviation training.”

The control stick, however, is only as effective as the person using it. When the human factor fails, we call it “human error.” And human error is responsible for at least half of all aviation accidents.

“Our research and training in human behaviors have significantly reduced accidents since the 1980s,” Jentsch says. The Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (BAAA), an organization established in Geneva in 1990 for tracking aviation safety, reported 337 accidents in 1989. By 1999, the number had dropped to 234, and in 2022 the BAAA charted 97 accidents. “You can corelate the value of those results to the value of our students in the aviation industry.”

Jentsch and his research team were among the first to trace errors back to fixable, trainable factors. Communication is a good example. They concluded that instead of trying to figure out a flurry of issues at once, it would be safer to bring each issue to a resolution before opening the next issue — closed-loop communication. The strategy has since been adopted in other industries, like medicine. The reduction in surgical errors in hospitals is partly from the implementation of checklists and briefings during nurse shift changes.

“It originated from our research for aviation,” Jentsch says. He says he’s still excited after doing this type of research for 25 years.

“What we do is meaningful, and it goes hand-in-hand with meaningful simulation training and meaningful real-world jobs, Jentsch says. “At the end of the day, when employers know that people influenced by our research can tackle any situation and make flying safer, then we’ve done our jobs well. And we don’t even need an airfield to do it.”

SignificantTechnology Founder, Michael K. Clifford, Ph.D. said, “DreamDegree is the best of competency-based education powered by adaptive learning available on a mobile cloud-based platform. We believe this licensed technology from UCF will help improve communication between students and their professors and the overall learning experience for students.”

Students can interact with their content at their own pace, on their own time and use data to assess progress towards mastery. Robust analytics deliver learning insights to professors and students, improving communication and student learning outcomes.

“Students don’t learn the same way, know the same concepts or become proficient at the same time. DreamDegree identifies a personalized learning path for each student to aid in mastery of concepts. Faculty can spend more time on collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving skills.” adds Clifford.

The company is demonstrating the product today at the 2016 ASU GSV Summit in San Diego, CA.

DreamDegree is available in the App Store, Google Play and Amazon – anywhere internet access is available.

“The framework facilitates a learning and technology mash-up theory approach: personalized teaching practices within custom communication formats

 to provide the right information at the right time in the right format, giving users an optimal experience,” explains Metcalf.

An Orlando-based technology investment firm founded by a group of serial entrepreneurs, Merging Traffic, has licensed the software from UCF to streamline the process of investing in startups for both sides of the table – entrepreneurs and accredited investors.

Merging Traffic managing director Max Hooper, Ph.D. says, “In today’s on-demand economy, where consumer desire is fulfilled by immediacy and convenience, it’s critical to work ahead of the speed of business without compromising the regulatory compliance and due diligence required in raising or investing capital.”

Merging Traffic also plans on integrating the custom learning framework to provide investors with company and industry insights driven by robust analytics and intuitive performance evaluations, into its funding portal. “Today’s research becomes tomorrow’s industry. We are focused on cultivating and advancing this entrepreneurial spirit through expertise and continuous innovation,” says Dr. Hooper.

Although this is the first technology Merging Traffic has licensed from UCF, it will likely not be the last. Merging Traffic is already planning its next project with the METIL team to develop additional software solutions that offer startup companies personalized, entrepreneurial-focused education to support small businesses with scale and sustainability.

Merging Traffic contributes to economic development and growth across the globe by tapping into the surging entrepreneurial ecosystem throughout the State of Florida and across the United States to successfully connect accredited investors with entrepreneurs. Merging Traffic is based in Orlando—the center of Florida’s growing high tech corridor and the burgeoning field of commercializing publicly funded research. For more information, contact: A.J. Ripin, aj@mergingtraffic.com or visit .

David Metcalf, a senior researcher at the Ů��AV’s Institute for Simulation and Training, has helped create technology that will be used in a new online-learning platform coming to mobile devices.

Metcalf’s innovations are an integral part of the new mobile platform scheduled to be released in January by , a private company that offers free college-level courses online. Metcalf’s research allows the mobile courses to be adaptive, allowing users to progress at their own pace based on their answers and mastery of the material.

“Our students are increasingly mobile. DreamDegree integrates mobile, adaptive learning and competency-based education components to improve student outcomes and make learning faster and easier. We are pleased to be partnered with DreamDegree and Significant Technology,” said Metcalf, director of the Mixed Emerging Technology Integration Lab at the institute.

Thomas Cavanagh, associate vice president of Distributed Learning at UCF, said the technology can help lower the cost of a college education.

“I am eager to watch the new releases of the adaptive mobile software as it aims to continuously improve the student experience,” he said.

DreamDegree’s parent company, Significant Technology, LLC, sought out Metcalf as a co-founder to help design the mobile-learning strategy. Metcalf has been a leader in the field of online learning for more than 20 years. The company sponsored his research on the project.

“Dr. Metcalf’s research and technology have made higher education more flexible, affordable and effective for DreamDegree students,” said DreamDegree founder Michael K. Clifford. “And for the many whose life’s ambition was put on hold by living too far from campus, a challenging work schedule, or lack of money, he’s helping open doors that had long been shut.”

This year IST’s RAPTER group, led by Ron Tarr, shares in the honor. Metcalf’s and Tarr’s teams earned the recognition for their collaboration on the MyLearn Portal project.

Elearning! Media Group (EMG), publishers of Elearning! and Government Elearning! magazines, sponsors the 40 public sector and 60 corporate awards, which represent “the best-of-the-best in learning and development multinational organizations,” according to the media group.

This is the third year EMG has presented Top 100 awards. IST’s Dr. Anya Andrews’ work with the RETRO Lab garnered a top 100 award at the 2011 conference.

��AV researcher David Metcalf put that question to the test this weekend, and he successfully drove a Tesla Model S production electric car from Merritt Island to Lake Okeechobee, through the Florida Panther Preserve, across Alligator Alley and back north.

With his 12-year-old son Adam as co-pilot, Metcalf welcomed the grand challenge made by Tesla Motors’ CEO Elon Musk to be the first to drive one of the vehicles 400 miles on a single charge. Tesla, founded in 2003 by a group of engineers, is based in Palo Alto, Calif. The Model S starts at about $50,000 and has been named the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year for its safety, efficiency and performance.

Until Metcalf’s efforts, the record driven by a Model S on one charge was 311 miles.

“Others have tried the challenge in different parts of the country, but hills and other factors have made it difficult. Florida is flat, which worked to our advantage,” said Metcalf, senior researcher and director of the at UCF’s Institute for Simulation & Training.

Metcalf made the 423.5 mile drive in just under 17 hours.

Musk announced the challenge on Twitter in May. Metcalf used to promote the trip and raise awareness for UCF’s Haiti relief efforts, which work to bring technology to schools and clinics there.

The trip was strategically planned to allow for minimum energy use. For example, Metcalf chose a route ideal for low speeds and a time of year when it’s comfortable to not use air conditioning.

For Metcalf and Adam, who turned 13 yesterday, the trip was as much about father-son bonding as it was about record-breaking.

“We saw lots of wildlife and got to experience Florida’s natural beauty together and at a relaxed pace. It was an adventure for us,” said Metcalf. “Even if we hadn’t made it, it would still have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Elearning! Media Group (EMG), publishers of Elearning! and Government Elearning! magazines, sponsors the 40 public sector and 60 corporate awards, which represent “the best-of-the-best in learning and development multinational organizations,” according to the media group. this is the second year EMG has presented Top 100 awards.

garnered a top 100 award at last year’s conference.

The 100 organizations receive awards “for outstanding learning culture, innovation or collaboration that drives performances.” Organizations are evaluated across three criteria: Aberdeen Group’s Best-in-Class Learning & Development assessment, EMG’s Learning Culture index, and overall organizational performance.

IST ranked 11th among the 40 public sector awardees and has contributed research for several of the top-10-ranked organizations and a number of the remaining 29 awardees.

Led by the volunteer members of Task Force H.O.P.E., numerous projects during the past year – from collecting computer equipment and relief supplies to creating water purification systems and new ways of using mobile technology – have made a significant difference for the millions of people affected by the tragic 7.0-magnitude earthquake.

“There’s still so much work to do, but we’re making incredible progress,” said Dr. Edwidge Crevecoeur-Bryant, a UCF education professor and member of the university’s Task Force H.O.P.E., which stands for “Healing, Outreach, Partnership and Education.”

The task force, established by President John C. Hitt and led by Vice President Al Harms, has shaped the UCF community’s assistance in relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts to help the 1.5 million people left homeless after the earthquake and the thousands who escaped to Central Florida during the past year.

“The earthquake shattered many lives in Haiti and also had a tremendous impact on our local community,” Harms said. “Thanks to the efforts of many dedicated, talented and generous people throughout the university, we are making a positive difference in providing access to education and improving the public health system in Haiti. “

UCF has partnered with many outside organizations to host donation and charity drives, pack meals to help feed children in Haiti, offer “on-the-ground” medical aid, bring in expert speakers and even develop water filtration systems and smart phone technology for Haitian villagers, responders and educators. Many alumni remain active in recovery efforts in the local community and Haiti.

Made up of students, faculty and staff members from across UCF, Task Force H.O.P.E. recently collected more than 100 surplus computer systems from the university to send to the villages of Leogane and Petit Goave in southern Haiti. The computers will give villagers access to the Internet and provide high-school students and adults with opportunities to use them to take literacy and technology classes.

Crevecoeur-Bryant is developing courses in French literature, technology, English and Haitian Creole with technical support from Webcourses@UCF.

“It’s amazing what we can do when we all so generously work together for the benefit of others,” said Crevecoeur-Bryant, who in from Haiti and is also working with other College of Education professors to establish service-learning projects with UCF and Haitian students.

Keeping the Focus on Haiti

UCF students mobilized quickly last year to provide aid to Haiti and to comfort and support their peers with family members living there. Those efforts have continued throughout 2010 and early 2011.

To mark the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, student organizations Club Kreyol and the Caribbean Student Association will host a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. today, Jan. 12, by the Reflecting Pond outside Millican Hall.

During the past year, a handful of College of Medicine students traveled to Haiti, volunteering on the grounds of the Port-au-Prince Airport hospital, dispensing drugs, handling patient logistics, organizing blood donations and assisting with surgeries.

First-year UCF medical student Anika Mirick led efforts to bring leukemia patient Ginel Thermosey from Haiti to Orlando, where he continues to undergo treatment with help from the local community.

Other student groups, such as the International Medical Outreach chapters at UCF, are planning follow-up trips to Haiti to offer aid and improve public health.

Later this spring, UCF’s EWB group is scheduled to deliver and install water cisterns in Mare Brignol, where villagers must walk up to seven hours each way to find fresh water. The cisterns and sand filtration systems, which were installed during a previous trip, will help prevent water-borne illnesses and provide closer, safer water sources.

Mobilizing Technology

Shortly after the earthquake, Dr. Kevin Meehan, an English professor and the director of UCF’s Haitian Studies Project, teamed up with researchers from UCF’s Institute for Simulation & Training led by Dr. David Metcalf. Their goal is to use cell phones and smart phones to improve agencies’ coordination on the ground and Haitian college students’ access to online classes.

Partnering with the University of Fondwa and the University of Nouvelle Grand’Anse in Haiti, the team presented its preliminary findings late last year to the National Science Foundation, which funded its work.

Meehan has taught long-distance, video-recorded world literature courses to students at the University of Nouvelle Grand’Anse. Metcalf and his team are developing ways that Haitian educators can offer college courses entirely on smart phones while universities continue to reconstruct their buildings and infrastructure.

A brief video about their work is available .

Continuing Compassion

Jeremy Schurke didn’t expect to find himself in Haiti during last year’s earthquake. The 2008 UCF alumnus had once dreamed of being a “professional adventurer,” maybe chartering yachts in the Pacific.

Instead, he’s the co-founder of Lespwa Means Hope, an organization working to restore Haiti. He was volunteering at an orphanage outside of Port-au-Prince when he felt the ground violently shake. Fortunately, neither he nor the 60 children were injured in the quake. But seeing all the destruction around them made Schurke and several of his best friends stay and help.

For the past year, the Jacksonville native has helped organize other volunteers in Haiti. He’s now working with Mission of Hope, and he toured U.S. universities in the fall, engaging young people with updates from Haiti and ways to get involved with humanitarian efforts.

He’ll be at UCF on Jan. 18 raising money for an agricultural school and farming land in Haiti to help villagers learn new techniques and secure their own food supply.

“All of these experiences have taught me to think less about myself,” Schurke, 25, said. “My own goals and well-being are important, but they’re nothing compared to the gratification of helping other people.”

UCF Helping Haiti

To learn more about Task Force H.O.P.E. and see a listing of events, projects and ways to get involved, visit ucf.edu/haiti.

The Task Force will hold its next meeting at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, in the Provost’s Conference Room, Room 395E in Millican Hall.

Don’t see your project or event mentioned? E-mail Task Force Coordinator Christine Dellert at cdellert@mail.ucf.edu with more information.