Department of the Interior University

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Department of the Interior University
Using Self-Paced Distance Learning to Meet
Strategic Goals at the Department of the Interior

• Robert Veltkamp
• Director, Online Learning

September 17, 2003
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Presentation Outline

• Mission and Strategic Objectives
• Overall Benefits from Using Online Solutions
• Three Online Training Delivery Methods
• Explanation of the Delivery Method
• Strategic Issues Addressed Using the Method
• Advantages / Limitations for this Method
• Lessons Learned
• Future Plans

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DOIU Mission

• Provide and foster learning opportunities to
  accomplish Departmental missions and to enhance
  career growth

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Interior Strategic Initiatives Addressed with
Online Training

• GPRA goals related to preventing and dealing with
  violence in the workplace and sexual harassment
• Information technology security awareness
• Interior-specific safety and occupational health
  mandated training
• Improved processing of special retirements for
  firefighters and law enforcement officers
• Conflict management awareness
• Activity Based Cost Management

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Overall Benefits from Using Online Solutions

• Meets mandatory training requirements efficiently
  and effectively
• Tracks the completion of mandatory training by
  individuals
• Provides a consistent message in training
  provided Departmentwide
• Provides training at geographically remote
  Interior locations parks, refuges, field
  stations, foreign countries
• Offers low cost alternative to travel and
  classroom training
• Provides Level II evaluation through assessments

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Delivery Methods Used

• Off-the-shelf training from SkillSoft, Karta and
  NETg
• Customized courses developed with the EAGLE tool
  from Little Planet lower bandwidth requirements
• Multi-media courses on the Vodium platform -
  higher bandwidth requirements

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Off-the-Shelf Courseware
Delivery Method

• Over 1,900 web-based courses from NETg, SkillSoft
  and Karta computer, general, and IT security
  skills
• Hosted on internal DOIU servers and linked to our
  LMS for administrative purposes
• Centrally purchased and managed on a
  Departmentwide basis
• Purchased on as-needed basis by users or
  organizations

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Off-the-Shelf Courseware
Department of the Interior Strategic Issues Being
Addressed

• Dealing with potential violence in the workplace
• Sexual harassment awareness
• End user computer training to meet new
  Departmental standards for personal computers
• Information technology security training for IT
  professionals
• Management, supervision
• Teamwork

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Off-the-Shelf Courseware
Advantages / Limitations

• Thousands of courses already developed by subject
  matter experts
• Inexpensive way to meet needs that do not call
  for Interior -specific information
• Academic credits toward certificates and college
  degrees are provided in some instances
• Great for certification programs in project
  management, information technology and other
  fields
• Courseware issues have to be corrected by the
  vendors (/-)

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Customized Courseware
Delivery Method

• Using EAGLE tool from Little Planet Learning to
  create new web-based courses to meet critical
  needs
• Courses available through DOI University Learning
  Management System
• Three full-time customized courseware developers
• Partner with Interior bureaus and subject matter
  experts to develop courses and train developers

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Customized Courseware
Delivery Method
Demo
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Customized Courseware
Department of the Interior Strategic Issues Being
Addressed

• Educate employees on safe workplaces and
  procedures
• Raise awareness of IT security issues and
  Departmental policies
• Provide environmental and laboratory safety
  training specific to Interior
• Offer Interior-specific online training for new
  supervisors

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Customized Courseware
Advantages / Limitations

• Targets multiple audiences
• Easily modified for other uses and users
• Provides DOI-specific information
• Standardizes training across the Department
• Requires a greater short-term commitment of
  resources for development

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Multi-Media Courses
Delivery Method

• Internet / CD-ROM training using Vodium platform
• Provides video streaming, PowerPoint slides and
  text transcript in one simultaneous desktop
  application for engaging learning experience
• Features top managers or experts to introduce key
  learning points and moderate training
• Uses vignettes and role-plays to illustrate key
  points

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Multi-Media Courses
Delivery Method (Continued)

• Searchable by any text in transcript with
  automatic synchronization of text, video and
  PowerPoint slides
• Provides links to other resources on the web or
  the CD-ROM
• Incorporates tracking, assessments, surveys and
  evaluations

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Multi-Media Courses
Delivery Method (Continued)
Demo
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Multi-Media Courses
Department of the Interior Strategic Issues Being
Addressed

• Increasing awareness of conflict management
  principles targeted for supervisors and
  managers
• Using Activity Based Costing across Interior
  all employees

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Multi-Media Courses
Advantages / Limitations

• Very engaging for the learner
• Easier to build in humor, drama, excitement
• Requires greater bandwidth or CD-ROM production
• More expensive to produce
• More opportunity for technical glitches

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Lessons Learned

• Partner within agencies and with vendors
• Conduct pilot tests
• Tie programs to management objectives
• Use internal and external resources effectively
  for custom courses
• Integrate with other training programs
• Use a variety of tools to meet needs
• Recognize that bandwidth and firewall issues may
  limit accessibility to some online training tools

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Future Plans

• Develop expanded marketing strategy increase
  awareness and educate managers
• Increase follow-up activities and make better use
  of course completion data and evaluations
• Integrate online training with other DOI
  University training programs