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Distance learning initiative recognized for innovation, prepares new coursework
Even as CIO Magazine recognizes U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Knowledge Online with an award for innovation and excellence in information technology, the distance learning system is developing new tools for students around the globe.
By Army Spc. Andrew Orillion
USJFCOM Public Affairs
(NORFOLK, Va. - June 11, 2009) -- U.S. Joint Forces Command's (USJFCOM) Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) will receive the CIO magazine 100 Award for excellence in information technology at a ceremony in August.
This annual award is presented by CIO Magazine, a leading journal of information technology, for excellence and innovation in the field of information technology. According to the publication, JKO was honored for using information technology in innovative ways and delivering quality content to its customers.
Mark Willmann, knowledge distribution chief for JKO's Joint Knowledge Development and Distribution Capability (JKDDC), said JKO won for more than just the size and nature of its courses and programs.
"It was the way that we leveraged the technology; it hadn't been done before within DoD (Department of Defense) to this extent," Willmann said. "The innovation of our IT (information technology) staff, the folks that really make this happen, is why we won this award," Willmann said.
With award in hand, JKO now will look to the future of web-based training with two training applications currently being tested: the Small Group Scenario Training (SGST) and the Virtual Cultural Awareness Trainer (VCAT). Fielding is expected later this summer and in early fall.
A web-based battle staff small group training application, SGST is designed to improve the readiness of individuals and small groups. Willmann said one of the problems with small group training is the time needed to familiarize oneself when working with new processes and personnel in the field.
"SGST allows [personnel] to do that remotely from their home base," Willmann said. "They can train virtually alongside the people who they will be working with, they can get to know the processes, so that by the time they arrive at an event or an operation they are about as ready as they can be."
Cathleen Moran, advanced technologies chief for JKDDC, said another advantage of SGST is repetition.
"They can do it as many times as possible," said Moran. "If there are one or two team members who don't feel comfortable with their role, they can do it over and over again until they are very confident that when they get to their destination they are trained."
Another new JKO program, VCAT, is a web and game-based training application that teaches cultural awareness by employing simulated missions. Using advanced learning technologies such as game-based learning, storytelling, tutoring, and remediation, VCAT assists personnel in developing cultural knowledge and skills.
As with other JKO products, Willmann said the innovation also is in the application - web-based as opposed to computer-based. The older version of SGST had to be loaded to a computer and the technical predecessor of VCAT ran on mobile video players.
"Most of us do not have the authority to load programs directly to a DoD computer and we all know how difficult that can be," Willmann said. "So we evolved the computer-based products to make them completely web-based, with no downloads of special software other than what you typically have in your internet browser."
Moran said JKO is looking to move beyond only web-based training.
"Everything on JKO is web-based; as for the future, we are looking at mobile capabilities that allow the warfighter to do the same thing while offline," Moran said.
Moran said that both SGST and VCAT have passed their beta testing phase and will begin acceptance testing later this year.
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