Distributed Learning Newsletter, November 2010

The last issue of the DL Catalog showed the infrastructures on which “online

training” is encountered. The proponents of these courses are agencies and units

within the Department of the Army and the Department of Defense.

Those virtual frameworks, known as Learning Management Systems (LMS),

support Distributed Learning (DL) architectures which are Internet portals that give

access to both individual and collective training. Therefore, LMS keep Soldiers

Readiness as well as their military and even their civilian career development.

LMS are rapidly increasing its quality by developing new versions but are also

growing in quantity. On the last issue of the DL Catalog, PRARNG DL Program

identified 7 LMS supporting U.S. Army National Guard training requirements since. Now we have eight (see

diagram on next page).

The National Guard Bureau DL Branch (NGB-ART-DL)

has received field input from

the states indicating the need

for a single website enabling ARNG Soldiers to complete required “online” training without searching for courses by using civilian search engines like Google and Bing.

During the Integrated Training Workshop conducted at Reno Nevada on July 2010 a

new LMS was unveiled: Guard University, also known as “Guard U”.

Guard U is a distribution source meeting ARNG Soldiers requirements to learn at

their own pace and schedule. It also provides a continuous learning environment for

rapid student involvement and allows for personal experience input and institutional

training to improve ARNG readiness.

Guard University URL is http://guardu.ng.mil. The next page shows a list of

courseware that will be included in Guard U catalog during TY 2011.

While Guard U contains courses like Deployment Training Requirement (DTR) and Army Battle Command Systems (ABCS), it also provides links to other LMS like

ATIA (www.train.army.mil ), the official online source for Army Warrior Tasks.

Very soon, Guard U will have a mobile version to facilitate access thru cellular phones and handheld computer devices. This software will be similar to ATN2GO,

developed for the Army Training Network to view lessons-learned training videos,

field manuals, and other training materials on those devices. The intent is to take the

training to the Soldier.

GUARD UNIVERSITY, OUR LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Some DL Classrooms Capabilities:

Video Tele Conference

(VTC) worldwide connec-

tivity

VTC recording

Watch students desktops

remotely

Scan large documents

easily

Show small objects or hard

copies through VTC

Technical Assistance

Published by the

Puerto Rico National Guard

Distributed Learning Program

The DL

Catalog

On this issue:

Guard University, our Learning

Management System

1

“You won’t go to BNCOC phase

III without its DL phase II”

3

Keep your Troops proficient in

Army Battle Command

Systems

11

Taking the training to the

Soldier

12

November 2010, 1st Quarter, Training Year 2011 Volume 2, Issue 1

Page 2

The courseware on the

table at the left will be

included in Guard University

catalog very soon.

The courseware currently

available is listed on the

“Guard U Courses" tab

within Guard University,

available through

http://guardu.ng.mil

The last edition of the DL Catalog

showed seven main LMS that support

Distributed Learning across the US

Army.

This diagram adds Guard University as

another major LMS for a total of eight.

Is this warning familiar to you? The U.S. Army

Distributed Learning System, the most

comprehensive of the eight LMS, hosts the Army

Training Support Center (ATSC), an LMS

containing the U.S. Army Enterprise Lifelong

Learning Center (ELLC) which creates and

administers Blackboards to most military schools

including the schools under the Non-

Commissioned Officer Education System

(NCOES).

Most NCOES schools require the completion of

DL phases which require ATRRS registration and

are pre-requisites of BNCOC, ANCOC and MOS

reclassification courses (The DL Catalog, Volume

1, Issue 1, July 2010).

The NCOES Blackboard has a search engine to

find courses for all MOS by using criteria like

course ID, name, description or instructor.

Most courses are led by their respective instructors

using an interactive teaching methodology which

requires discipline from students to meet suspense

dates and to follow instructions with attention to

detail. Similarly, instructors follow up the

completion of every practical exercise, which

should be completed and submitted by the suspense

date or the student might end as an unsatisfactory

participant.

Students who go through technical problems with

their computers at home to complete the courses

“You won’ t go to BNCOC phase III without its DL phase II”

Most NCOES schools require the

completion of DL phases which

require ATRRS registration and

are pre-requisites of BNCOC,

ANCOC and MOS reclassification

courses.

Page 3 The DL Catalog

November 2010

Volume 2, Issue 1

must read the troubleshooting

tips published on the home page

of this Blackboard (see

screenshots on pages 4 thru 10).

The NCOES Blackboard has

several tools to assist students

including a calendar to which

students can attach files of

several types, even video. Other

tools provide links to send e-mail

messages or to post threads on a

discussion board to effectively

communicate with instructors, their assistants and the rest

of the students. These tools can be found on the

“Communication” tool under the “Community” tab.

Some of the courses on the NCOES Blackboard catalog

are the “Advanced Leader Course”, the “Battle Staff NCO

Course”, and “Blackboard Basics”. The “Advanced

Leader Course” provide sergeants (SGT), sergeants

promotable SGT (P), and staff sergeants (SSG) with the

technical, tactical, and leadership/trainer skills necessary

to be successful in Army operations as squad/platoon

leaders within the context of their specific MOS.

Students will complete their courses more easily after

taking the Blackboard Basics course which teaches the

most elementary steps to browse this LMS like “How to

Login”, “How to Access Course”, “Connectivity Issues”

and “Mini-Tutorials”.

The proponent of the NCOES Blackboard is the United

States Army Sergeant Major Academy. Its Alpha

Company administer the Sergeant's Major Non-Residents

Course, with the mission to provide senior NCOs with the

highest quality education by leveraging both DL and

resident educational technologies. As a result they

develop agile and adaptive senior NCO’s that can meet

the challenges of full spectrum operations in an era of

persistent conflict.

The United States Army

Sergeant Major Academy

crest

How to login and troubleshoot ELLC Blackboards

https://ellc.learn.army.mil

Page 4

Page 5 The DL Catalog

November 2010

Volume 2, Issue 1

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Page 7 The DL Catalog

November 2010

Volume 2, Issue 1

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Page 9 The DL Catalog

November 2010

Volume 2, Issue 1

Page 10

The Battle Command Training Center located at Camp Dodge, Iowa, uses DL to conduct training on Army Battle Command Systems (ABCS) for National Guard Soldiers. Mr. Rusell A. Grant, Commander’s Operations and Training

Assistant with the Mississippi National Guard, praised BCTC Dodge during training

conducted by the 155th HBCT, a MSNG unit:

“I heard repeatedly from unit Soldiers and leaders that they learned more in two days

with your trainers than they did in a week of initial operator training they received during fielding. Also, your engineer did a superb job in getting things running and

keeping them running. She received a unit coin from BG Fisher for her efforts. Thanks

again, look forward to the next exercise.” said Mr. Grant.

BCTC Dodge develops, conducts and supports training on ABCS for leaders, BCS3 and

BFT for operators and leaders, among other ABCS. BCTC Dodge can support individual training through the use of video teleconference and the Internet. Other

systems like MTS, TiGR, CIDNE, DCGS-A are planned for the future.

BCTC Dodge supports collective training for Sections, Battalions or Brigade level exercises, for units that need a BCST

or ERF driver support, initial training on systems prior to the exercise, tailored refresher training on systems prior to the

exercise, Over-the-Shoulder (OTS) trainer support during the exercise, OTS system engineer support during the exercise and advice to develop units TTP’s and SOP’s.

Once individuals or units are qualified on systems,

they can keep their skills sharp with BCTC Dodge refresher training opportunities, collateral

material, and additional support.

Specifically, BCTC Dodge can maintain your

training with lesson plans designed for

sustainment training, ability to connect to our data center for low overhead system training through

your DL classroom, operator support material,

advice in the development of unit TTP’s and

SOP’s, tailored follow-up training to address specific requirement or concerns, provide “over

the shoulder" support during CPX’s and other

exercises.

BCTC-Dodge is located at building B-3 at Camp

Dodge, Iowa. Its URL is http://www.bctc-dodge.net. LTC Tom Cole, is BCTC Dodge Commander, available through telephone (515) 331-5701 and e-mail address [email protected]. Mr. Jeffrey Holle is the Operations Manager,

available through telephone (515) 331-5706 and e-mail address [email protected].

Page 11

“I heard repeatedly from unit Soldiers and leaders that they learned more in two days with your

trainers than they did in a week of initial operator training”

- Mr. Rusell A. Grant, Commander’s Operations and Training Assistant with the Mississippi National Guard

KEEPING THE TROOPS PROFICIENT IN

BATTLE COMMAND SYSTEMS

The DL Catalog

November 2010

Volume 2, Issue 1

Taking the training to the Soldier offer video teleconferencing of high definition quality. The MDLC also

features a projection system that sets

up in seconds to provide a large viewing surface which includes a full

HD projector that offers the highest

standard presentations.

The classroom also has high quality HD cameras with pan/tilt/zoom

capability and a wireless microphone

system, which provides quick deployment with no cable

management.

Its professional grade amplified audio system provides high performance

compact amplifier and speakers to

produce ample audio for a large-size

audience. Its DVD equipment has recording capabilities to capture

training content and video

teleconferences and its laptops have wireless capability and integrated

Our cover story announced the intent of United States Army leaders to take

the training to the Soldier (see article

“Guard University, our Learning Management System” on page 1). The

Mobile Distributed Learning

Classrooms (MDLC) offers; portable

storable equipment that will be configured to work on both DLP and

RCAS network at any Training Center,

Readiness Center or Armory.

MDLC, to be fielded by NGB-ART-

DL, features state-of-the-art audio/

video and network equipment can be transported in just four cases, designed

to be extremely tough and durable, that

fit in a Troop Carrier HMWV. Just

two Soldiers can set it up quickly since

it only requires minimal connections.

MDLC also features a video

conferencing codec, with the latest platform with HD 1080p capability to

The DL Catalog is published by the

Puerto Rico National Guard

Distributed Learning Program;

you may contact us by:

DL classrooms across the Island! For reservations see contact information below

Mail:

P.O. Box 9023786

San Juan, PR 00902-3786

Phone: 787-289-1560

Fax: 787-289-1561

MilBook: https://www.kc.army.mil/book/

E-mail: [email protected]

Mayaguez

Fort Allen

Vega Baja San Juan

Page 12 The DL Catalog

November 2010

Volume 2, Issue 1

1LT Alan M. Eleutice, DL Program Training Administrator Phone: 787-289-1560

Mr. Heriberto Acosta, DL Site Administrator (San Juan and Vega Baja) Phone: 787-289-1560

Mr. Gabriel Quiñones, DL Site Administrator, (Juana Diaz and Mayagüez) Phone: 787-832-2300, ext. 5724

webcam to facilitate individual

training.

PRARNG will be fielded with

one MDLC during TY 2011.

Please refer to the contact information on this page for

details.