Advanced Distributed Learning Co-Lab Hub (ADL Co-Lab Hub)
by Marty Kauchak, MT2 Editor
MISSION
The ADL Co-Lab Hub operates to stimulate development of interoperable technologies and architectures that enhance learning and performance across the Department of Defense, other federal agencies and interested organizations. The ADL Co-Lab Hub serves as the department’s central organization for guiding, coordinating, and integrating ADL Co-Lab Network operations under the leadership of the director, readiness and training, office of the secretary of defense. The Joint ADL Co-Lab in Orlando is part of the network focusing on the implementation of ADL technologies within the services and DoD components.
CURRENT, MAJOR PROGRAMS
Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM)
SCORM, first released in January 2000, is the globally accepted model for delivering Web-based learning content via learning management systems (LMS). SCORM-certified LMSs can launch, communicate with, and track SCORM-certified learning content, ensuring that learning content is accessible, reusable, interoperable and durable. ADL continues to evolve SCORM. The most current release is SCORM 2004 3rd edition. ADL will release a 4th edition in autumn 2008, and plans are underway to work with the many stakeholders and international organizations in defining SCORM 2.0 for the future.
SCORM is widely adopted by industry. More than 200 products, developed largely by industry, are formally certified as SCORM-compliant through independent test laboratories. The number of LMSs certified as SCORM 2004 exceeds 60 and continues to grow, with nearly half of the products originating from outside America. The department now owns more than 1,000 courses that can run on any of the SCORM-certified LMSs.
ADL Registry Program
The ADL Registry provides a means for registering, searching and discovering learning content. The registry is based on structured descriptors of each content object. The content objects can, in turn, be combined to form a course or other training application. Registering content in the ADL Registry makes it visible, accessible and interoperable, consistent with the department’s net-centric data strategy. As a result, the department envisions the following benefits of using the ADL Registry:
* Higher-quality search results
* Reduced time to locate and access appropriate content
* Reduced effort for content developers
* Reuse of content objects for different contexts or audiences
* Support for multiple locally-managed repositories by various DoD components
* Potential to federate with other registries
DoD Instruction 1322.26, “Development, Management, and Delivery of Distributed Learning” (June 16, 2006) requires DoD components to share nonclassified resources by registering content metadata and content repositories with the ADL Registry, and to search the ADL Registry prior to developing or acquiring learning content.
Impact Evaluations Program This program provides consulting services to DoD organizations for evaluating and improving the effectiveness and efficiencies of ADL technologies, with an initial emphasis on Web-based training. For example, an analysis of the efficiency of Web-based instruction for electronic technicians at the Navy’s Center for Surface Combat Systems demonstrated a 48 percent reduction in training time compared to the traditional classroom, from 85 days to 45 days with the same level of performance. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the learning processes in ADL environments and document the benefits. This forms the basis for best practices.
A tracking function which documents completions of online training across the DoD has been initiated. Currently, thousands of online courses, on average, are completed every day, including the many compulsory short courses now available online, such as information assurance training. The tracking function will provide the big picture view on the overall impact that training technology affords.
Ongoing research is focused along several lines, such as developing techniques for increasing motivation and learning in Web-based training, and assessing the relationship among various training criteria. Future work explores case studies documenting cost effectiveness and return on investment as well as the impact of ADL technologies on reducing the development time for learning content.
Focused research is performed through collaboration on numerous training and evaluation projects with representatives from military, civilian and academic organizations. Results are documented in ADL technical reports, available on the ADL Website and through scientific publications. Consultation on designing evaluations is available to the department’s components at no charge.
Designing for SCORM Program
This program involves several projects to assist e-learning designers and developers in creating reusable and sharable content for SCORM. “ADL Guidelines for Creating Reusable Content with SCORM 2004” will provide instructional designers with guidelines for implementing SCORM 2004 and instructions for registering content in the ADL Registry. Content in the “ADL Guidelines” document will apply to the current version of SCORM, and previous versions as well. The guidelines will be publicly available as a draft review document in autumn of 2008.
The ADL Co-Lab Hub will be collecting, cataloging, and showcasing exemplary content from all sources (not limited to DoD), particularly content with advanced sequencing implementations. The purpose of the showcase is to:
* Promote the viability and use of instructional strategies or content architectures enabled and supported by SCORM
* Enable interested parties to understand and appreciate the range of technical and instructional capabilities of SCORM
* Stimulate thinking about the possibilities of using SCORM to implement innovative e-learning design architectures
The showcase will be available from the http://www.adlnet.gov Website in the autumn of 2008.
S1000D Technical Publication Integration Program
This program extends the S1000D international specification for technical sources to include and describe learning content. This will ultimately enable technical data structured in S1000D to be imported directly into e-learning and made SCORM compliant. This will provide multiple benefits, including maintaining the relationship of training materials to authoritative technical information, facilitating configuration management, and version control. In the same way that the S1000D common source data base is the sole source repository for technical data, it can be used as the sole source repository for training content—whatever the eventual form taken by the training product(s) based on that content, and not necessarily e-learning.
Joint Knowledge Development and Distribution Capability (JKDDC) Strategic Coordination
A strategic coordination cell (SCC) was established on July 7, 2007, through a formal agreement between the director, readiness and training policy and programs and the commander, Joint Warfighting Center (JWFC). This is part of a shared vision to provide high quality training and education products to DoD and other U.S. government stakeholders, international organizations and multinational partners. The SCC program agenda reflects a broad range of individual training transformation strategic initiatives assigned to the JKDDC in parallel with operational efforts mandated by the commander JWFC. Semi-annual meetings are held to review status, clarify goals and objectives, and facilitate open dialogue among the principals. The JKDDC chief for Strategic Plans and Implementation provides overall facilitation of SCC events in coordination with stakeholders.
As part of this JWFC initiative, ADL supports the SCC as a technology enabler for JKDDC. In turn, JKDDC leads the adoption of ADL technologies and policy initiatives across the joint training community. Working through the ADL Co-Lab Network, ADL provides technical support and expert advice in the areas of using SCORM and the ADL Registry, as required in DoD Instruction 1322.26, measuring the effectiveness of specific courses, recommending ways to enhance learning outcomes, leveraging advances in industry for immediate application in JKDDC, and directing advanced concepts for JKDDC application. ADL resources are allocated across the following areas to demonstrate value-added collaboration:
* Personnel resources to serve as a conduit between interagency partners and the JKDDC joint management office for improvements to existing JKDDC knowledge-sharing initiatives
* Research- and evaluation-based efforts to improve the effectiveness of the joint individual augmentee training course
* Formal agreements with industry to identify and leverage tools and products for JKDDC application and testing
Defense Strategy for Games
The ADL Co-Lab Hub has initiated an ADL Games-Based Learning program to help the DoD game technology community collaborate, innovate, and build games-based learning solutions. Meetings and seminars allow members of the community to discover and collaborate on gaming projects, learn about gaming standards and design principles, and disseminate lessons learned. Schedules of weekly Webinars and quarterly workgroup meetings are available at www.dodgames.org.