Photo By Terrance Bell | Jose Hernandez, director, Petroleum and Water Department, Quartermaster School, speaks...... read more read more
FORT LEE, Va. (Dec. 12, 2018) -- Virtual learning environments are the future of sustainment training here – a fact most recently exemplified by the launch of a technologically advanced pilot program of instruction at the Quartermaster School’s Petroleum and Water Department.
“These systems of learning (increase retention of) information through ease-of-use and increased repetition,” explained PWD Director Jose Hernandez in a recent Traveller article about his department’s initiative.
The student-centric learning platform, multiple levels of interactivity and cloud storage capabilities will allow today’s tech-savvy Soldiers to refresh their training as needed or learn new lessons long after graduation, he further noted.
To further facilitate the migration to virtual learning environments at the Sustainment Center of Excellence, an Education and Technology Readiness Symposium was held at the Army Logistics University Dec. 4.
Hosted by the Training Technology Division, CASCOM G-3/5/7, the occasion brought together instructors, training developers, members of academia and others to exchange ideas, network and listen to current trends.
“Our intent was to share how we can integrate technology into classrooms to help enhance our instructional capabilities,” said Ronald L. Sutton, event coordinator and TTD chief. “The end goal is to bolster efforts to produce the most mission-ready Soldier possible.”
To that end, the symposium featured several guest speakers including Dr. Peggy Kenyon, chief of Content Acquisition and Management, Army University, Joint Base Langley-Eustis; Dr. Benedict Uzochukwu, chair and associated professor and program coordinator, Information Logistics Technology, Virginia State University; and Dr. James Haug, associate professor, College of Business and Economics, Longwood University.
Also featured were Dr. Van Brewer, external research and development principal, Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative, Alexandria; David Garrison, chief of the Technology Integration Branch, TTD; and Richard Nuffer, chief of Workforce Development, Defense Commissary Agency.
While several subjects were discussed during the symposium, CASCOM’s Army Virtual Learning Environment contract generated much interest and enthusiasm, said Sutton.
AVLE, part of TTD’s three-pronged approach to creating more robust curriculums (in-house training enhancements and distributed learning are the others), allows training entities to access cutting-edge technologies from civilian companies to further engage students in the classroom.
Hernandez provided insights into his department’s experience with AVLE during the gathering, detailing how his organization “plans to implement virtual training enhancements under the new contracts,” said Sutton.
PWD, the only CASCOM training department awarded AVLE training enhancement funds for fiscal 2018, was allotted more than $4 million to improve training software packages that allow students to practice military occupational specialty tasks in virtual environments. Those interested in reading more about the initiative can read the previous article at www.fortleetraveller.com. Type “PWD Virtual Learning” in the search bar.
While sharing information and ideas served as the primary focus of the symposium, bringing together all those indirectly and directly responsible for skills instruction has the effect of strengthening the training community as a whole, said Sutton.
“You need collaborative efforts in our line of business,” he said. “That’s why this event is important. Everybody needs a seat at the table – the Ordnance, Quartermaster and Transportation schools, Army Logistics University and Soldier Support Institute – in addition to the training technology and policy folks to figure out not only how we can implement improvements but also how we should proceed.”
Last week’s event is not the first of its kind for TTD. Sutton said a symposium with a similar purpose was held roughly eight years ago. He added such an event is imperative in light of the ever-changing Army Learning Concept, Army Field Manual 3-0 and its soon-to-be-released sustainment counterpart, FM 4-0.
“The question is, how do we bring all of it together to ensure we are supporting the schoolhouse and the Army mission?” he said. “Ultimately, we need to ensure that when we train Soldiers and leaders, when they walk away from the schoolhouse, they will know how they can reach back to any sustainment school and leverage the technology using their smartphone or mobile device. It’s exactly what is needed to achieve the technically proficient goals of the Army.”
| Date Taken: | 12.11.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2018 14:10 |
| Story ID: | 303227 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 110 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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