Advance Distributed Learning (ADL)
Abstract
This Program Element (PE) describes the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative. This program was originally established in the 1990s in response to the NDAA (FY99, Section 378 of Public Law 105-261) and granted additional authorities via Executive Orders (e.g., EO 13111) and other supporting publications (e.g., 10 U.S. Code §2249d). Organizationally, this PE reports to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Education and Training (DASD(FE&T)). This PE provides policy oversight for distributed learning (e.g., online courses, smartphone-based learning, web browser–based simulations) and supports associated innovation, modernization, and coordination across DoD, Coalition partners (e.g., NATO), and other federal agencies. This work largely focuses on distributed learning interoperability (i.e., ensuring interagency technical and organizational systems function together) and helping agencies acquire new distributed learning capabilities effectively and cost-efficiency. Ultimately, this PE’s work promotes personnel readiness, helping the right people to receive the right training and education, at the right time—at the right cost. This PE’s work falls into three interrelated categories: (1) Modernization, (2) Documentation, and (3) Coordination. The “modernization” work involves Advanced Technology Development (6.3) in technical areas such as e-learning, mobile learning, learner modeling and analytics, and software interoperability. These efforts inform the PE’s “documentation” work, including the authoring and upkeep of technical guidance and policy documents, such as DoD Instruction 1322.26 (“Distributed Learning”) and software interoperability specifications. Finally, the documentation work drives “coordination” efforts, which consist of implementation support and interagency/interorganizational coordination. This PE’s modernization investments are driven by requirements collected from the Defense ADL Advisory Committee, a working group of military personnel and DoD/federal civilians (at the O-6 and GS-15 level) who represent their agencies’ distributed learning equities and are key stakeholders in shaping the direction of these agencies. These requirements are aligned to DoD/federal strategic direction, such as the Army Learning Concept for Training and Education for 2020–2040 (TP 525-8-2), Navy’s Sailor 2025, and Air Force Strategic Master Plan, and they are considered against emerging industry trends and technologies. This PE benefits DoD in three ways. (1) Interoperability: It strengthens interagency, interorganizational, and multinational interoperability by governing distributed learning interoperability policy, maintaining current technical reference guidelines, and fostering their implementation across communities of practice. (2) Efficiencies: It saves government resources by fostering unity of effort across DoD, other federal agencies, and Coalition Partners for distributed learning, eliminating duplications and identifying opportunities for interagency collaboration. (3) Learning Effectiveness: It helps improve training and education effectiveness by helping DoD, federal, and Coalition stakeholders acquire and implement emerging distributed learning capabilities effectively and cost-efficiently. In sum, this work supports the components’ training and education missions, helping them increase personnel readiness while driving down training and education portfolio costs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2019
- Source ID
- 776_0603769D8Z_3_0400_PB_2019
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