Distance LearningThe Global Challenge
Dr. Sue Stein & Dr. Beryl HarmanDefense Acquisition University
9820 Belvoir RoadFT Belvoir, VA 22060-5565
USA703-805-5403
e-mail: [email protected]
In This Session
• The Defense Acquisition University • The USA ARC• USA ARC’s Findings to Date• Lessons Learned from Experience• Challenges and Direction for the Future
About Defense Acquisition University
• Established in 1992• Mission - To train and certify the DoD
Acquisition Workforce (180K)• Audience - Military & civilians at all levels• Scope - 81+ courses covering 11 major
career fields• Faculty- 550 instructors and educators
The Call to US Government
• Enhance learning and education through technology- www.pub.whitehouse.gov
• Use of information technology to improve our society-www.pub.whitehouse.gov
Our Strategy
• All DAU courses will be reviewed for conversion to distributed learning within the next five years.
• Those courses or course segments appropriate for distributed learning will be converted using contracted support.
USA Acquisition Research Committee
• Founded in 1998• Group of USA Civilians & Military
engaged in training acquisition staff• Mission - To research acquisition workforce
related training issues
USA ARC Study
“What is the status of distance learning as a vehicle for training the federal workforce in select countries?”
Preparing for the Study
• Design of the methodology.• Endorsement by key officials.
USA ARC Study Findings
• Population Demographics• Training Environment• Use of Distance Learning Technology• Challenges for Future Collaboration
Findings on Population
• Similar categories of staff involved• Size of the population varied• Education level average highest in • Australia• Experience level average lowest in• Australia
Acquisition Specialties
ContractingSpecialists
PurchasingSpecialists
IndustrialPropertyManagers
BusinessSpecialists
Cost Estimators
Financial Managers Auditors
QualityAssuranceSpecialists
Australia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes YesCanada Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes YesIsrael Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
New Zealand Yes Yes Yes Yes YesUnited Kingdom Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes YesUnited States Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
AcquisitionLogisticians
ManufacturingSpecialists
SystemPlanners
Test andEvaluationEngineers
Education & Training
ProgramManagers
Communications/ComputerSpecialists Other
Yes Yes Yes YesIndustry Capability
Yes Yes Yes YesYes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
YesIndustry Program
YesYes Yes Yes Yes
AustraliaCanada
New Zealand
Israel
United KingdomUnited States
Size of Acquisition Work Force
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
New Zealand Israel Australia United Kingdom Canada United States
Levels of Education
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
NewZealand
Israel Australia UnitedKingdom
Canada UnitedStates
GraduateDegree
Some GraduateStudyBA/BSDegrees
SomeCollege
HighSchoolGraduatesSomeHighSchool
Experience Levels
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
UnitedKingdom
Australia Canada United States Israel New Zealand
More thanfive yearsOne to five yearsLess thanone year
Findings on Training Environment
• Varied sources for training support• Most had certification requirements• Average of 120 hours of education
provided annually• Only two countries had mandatory
continuing education requirements
Sources Utilized for Training
Training Source
Australia Canada New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States
National Government
X X X X
Foreign Government
X
Colleges and Universities
X X X X X
Private Vendors
X X
Professional Associations
X X X X X
On-the-Job X X X X X
Workforce Training Requirements
Requirement Australia Canada New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States
Certification Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Initial Training Hours
<120 <120 <120 <120 <120
Continuing Education Hours
0 0 50 0 40
Findings on Percentage of Distance Learning
• All except New Zealand are using Distance Learning to deliver some training
• % of training provided by distance learning is less 20 % of all training
• UK and Australia focused more on low tech distance learning
• US and Canada focused more on high tech distance learning
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Australia Canada United Kingdom United States
Not ReportedWrittenAudioLive VideoRecorded VideoInternetCD-ROM
Percentage of Distance Learning from Different Methods
Findings on Distance Learning
• The USA reported the greatest variety of categories of training offered
• The USA reported the greatest variety of support mechanisms
• Australia reported the greatest incidence of challenges to implementation followed by Canada and the USA
Categories of Training
Category Australia Canada United States
Management and Leadership Yes Yes
Policy Yes YesProcesses YesGuidelines YesResearch Yes YesConferences YesSeminars Yes Yes Yes
Support for Acquisition Training
Mechanism Australia Canada United States
Development Process Yes YesSelection Guidelines Yes Yes Yes
Evaluation System YesInstructor Criteria
Instructor Training YesAccreditation Yes Yes Yes
Challenges to ImplementationChallenges Australia Canada United StatesStudent Time X X X
Scheduling X X
Remote Sites X X X
Student Orientation X X X
Curriculum Adaptation X X
Accreditation X
Copyrights X
Contact with Students X X
Resistance X
Cost X X X
Marketing X X
Govt. Resources X X
Site Management X X X
Compatible Equip. X X
Instructor Contact X X
Lessons for Global Collaboration
• Areas for collaboration are systematically identified
• Contacts are current and electronic• Management is supportive of the effort• Technology interface issues are resolved• Time zone, cultural, and religious challenges are
accommodated• Equipment inadequacies
Our DAU Virtual Campus
What: YOU ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A GLOBAL DIALOGUE USING DISTANCE LEARNING.
When: JANUARY 2001
Where: THE INTERNET USING CENTRA COLLABORATIVE SYSTEMS
Our Global Challenge to YOU!!
Installing Centra 99
Click on Install (hot-word)
Go to http://192.239.92.194
Centra 99 Log In
Enroll and Attend A Class
Participant’s Desktop
THANK YOU
FOR INVITING US TO PARTICIPATE IN
YOUR CONFERENCE
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