Moucha method helps master PME Published March 22, 2006 03/22/2006 -- The necessity for pursuing excellence drives many to achievement. But when someone’s only need is to set the bar higher, then recognition is merely an afterthought. In the past few years, Technical Sgt. Todd Moucha, 27th Aerial Port Squadron element leader, has spent several hours, in his own freetime, to redesign a set of pretests for Aerial Port airmen to study for their 5 and 7-level tests. The idea came to Sergeant Moucha when, after returning from unit activation three years ago, an Airmen with the 27th Aerial Port Squadron expressed concern about their lack of studying for their upcoming test because of being deployed. “I took a look at the pretest we already had and realized that they were from the 1980s and I was not happy with what I saw,” said Sergeant Moucha. Sergeant Moucha also noticed that some people who were taking and passing the old pretest were failing the real test. Unsatisfied with the results, Sergeant Moucha began to look at the career development course books for the 5 and 7 skill level and began the daunting task of recreating the electronic pretest. After purchasing a scanner that could recognize text and interactive educational software that is designed for creating interactive tests, Sergeant Moucha set out to update the pretest. “I spent over 25 hours just scanning in the CDCs,” explained Sergeant Moucha. Because of technical limitations however, he would also have to re-create, by hand, graphics and tables that were used in the CDCs. His goal was to create a set of pretests that would best suit the needs of the student. For each skill level he created a practice test with the answers incorporated in the test and a test where no answers were shown whether they answered incorrectly or not. Sergeant Moucha also incorporated different colored backgrounds on different pages to break up the monotony of black and white pages. “If you change things a little bit around the mind becomes more active.” The pretests were also designed with review in mind. When a test taker gets an answer wrong on the test, the results printout will tell them where to find the correct answer in the CDCs. “Each question has the section and study unit where to find the answer in the CDCs,” said Sergeant Moucha. Once he completed the pretests, it was time to see if they worked. Sergeant Moucha, with approval from his squadron, allowed Airmen to use the program. After using the course, several Airmen was not only passing the test but getting higher scores. “People say they really like it,” said Sergeant Moucha. “A lot of the thanked me for creating it.” “It greatly improved the passing record,” said Senior Master Sgt. Mark Larsen, 27th Aerial Port Squadron NCOIC combat readiness. The pretests have also been designed to be portable and usable in any location with a computer. Using a CD-ROM, Airmen are able to bring the software along as it does not require internet access. “I designed it so, even if you are deployed, you can study for the tests,” said Sergeant Moucha. “It designed so that you do not need to be online or on a network to use it.” Sergeant Moucha’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. After seeing the improvements in the test scores, the leadership of 27th APS submitted the program to 22nd Air Force. From there the program has been distributed for use in Aerial Port Squadrons around the Air Force Reserve Command. “It is a great reinforcement-type tool,” said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Dressen, 27th APS. “Hundreds could be receiving aid in their studies.”