Distributed Learning Equipment Orientation

1. Distributed Learning Equipment Orientation This Course is self-paced, but should not last more than 2 hours. Enjoy. Welcome to the WebVersion of the DL Equipment Orientation Course. If you have any questions during the course just hit the email box in the lower right corner of the screen. I will generally get back to you within 5 minutes, but no longer than a work day. Click to Continue

2. Distributed Learning Equipment Orientation We will discover the Equipment and the Training Capabilities of the NGB DL Equipment. First, the Course Objectives. Click to Continue

3. Distributed Learning Equipment Orientation Our main objective today is to gain an understanding of NGB DL classroom equipment and the functionality of the equipment. In order to do that we will discuss 8 specific areas. Click to Continue

4. Distributed Learning Equipment Orientation 2. We will discuss Computer Based Training. 1. DL mediums, equipment that delivers training at a Distance. 3. Internet or Web Based Training. Click to Continue

5. Distributed Learning Equipment Orientation 5. Audio Graphics Training. 6. Video Training. 4. Audio Teletraining. 7.Audio and Video Recording. 8. Use of DL equipment as a package, breaking the mental training box. Click to Continue

6. DL Equipment Orientation Have you ever - taken a correspondence course? watched an instructional video tape? listened to an instructional audio tape? What is DL? watched the History Channel? This is all DL, and much more. Click to Continue

7. DL Equipment Orientation What components do you recognize? This is a picture of the first NGB DL “Classroom” (June 1996). Click to Continue

8. DL Equipment Orientation We have come along way, the equipment is newer, but the functionality remains the same. In our discussion today, we will start with the DL technologies and thenand move to DL training success with those technologies. Click to Continue

9. DL Equipment Orientation We will start with the computer because it is one of the main components of the DL Classroom equipment set. What are the components of a multi-media computer? Click to Continue

10. PC CPU Monitor Keyboard Mouse Speakers DL Equipment Orientation Click to Continue

11. In the military, the Guard was first in fielding a nationwide network of DL classrooms. DL Equipment Orientation Because we were first, we found most of the problems. Click to Continue

12. In our first set of classrooms, we fielded computers with a 100Mhz Pentium processor, 1 Gig HD, 15 inch monitor, 33.6 fax modem and Windows 95. DL Equipment Orientation Top of the line back then. We were convinced that configuration would last for years. “We’ll never use all the hard drive space.” Everything seemed to work OK. Click to Continue

13. In the second generation of classrooms, we fielded computers with a 233Mhz Pentium II processor, 4 Gig HD, 17 inch monitor, a 33.6 fax modem and Windows NT 4.0. DL Equipment Orientation “We’ll never use all the hard drive space.” Very little seemed to work at all. Click to Continue

14. We discovered that much of the current courseware would not run on Windows NT 4.0. DL Equipment Orientation Who would have thought it? “We’ll never use all the hard drive space.” Click to Continue

15. The third generation we fielded 400Mhz Pentium III, 8 Gig, 17 inch monitor, 33.6 modem (if it had one) and Windows 95. DL Equipment Orientation Magically, everything began to work again. Several lessons learned that we shared DoD wide. One was we need courseware that is operating system independent. Click to Continue

16. The next “equipment” set we are going to discuss is the Internet. DL Equipment Orientation It is actually a combination of software and wires rather than a solid piece of equipment. Click to Continue

17. How much experience do you have with the Internet? DL Equipment Orientation The Internet offers the capability for both synchronous and asynchronous training. Synchronous meaning at the same time. Asynchronous meaning at any time. Click to Continue

18. The two major programs that we use to access the Internet are: Internet Explorer Netscape Distributed Learning E O C Click to Continue

19. The first generation of DL classrooms were equipped with Internet Explorer 3.0. Distributed Learning E O C This was actually a set of programs doing various things on the “net.” FTP, Email, a browser, etc. Everything seemed to work OK. Click to Continue

20. The second generation of DL classrooms came Netscape Communicator 4.0. Distributed Learning E O C Again, this was a set of programs doing the same things on the “net.” FTP, Email, a browser, etc. Some things worked, some did not. Click to Continue

21. As with the operating systems, we found that some internet courseware and websites would only work with one or the other of the programs. Distributed Learning E O C The term for this is browser dependent. Click to Continue

22. The lesson learned was that courseware and websites need to be written browser independent, so everyone can use them. Distributed Learning E O C The third generation has IE 4. Click to Continue

23. The next set of equipment we are going to discuss is audio conferencing. Distributed Learning E O C • It includes: • Polycom • Harvard Elite • Speakerphone Click to Continue

24. Each of the devices do basically the same function, transmit voice, but each also has differences. Distributed Learning E O C The size of the audience/class, the other equipment required and the method of transmission are all factors in choosing the “right” device. Click to Continue

25. The Polycom is a device best suited for a group of 5 to 15 around a single table. Distributed Learning E O C It can be used as a stand-alone device or in conjunction with audio graphics systems. It does not work well in conjunction with video transmissions. Click to Continue

26. The Polycom is fairly easy to operate. It requires a 110 v power source and an analog phone jack. Distributed Learning E O C (From sad experience, a digital jack will not work.) Click to Continue

27. It is as simple as plugging it in and hitting the “on” button. Distributed Learning E O C The mute button is a vital feature for effective conference and courses. An additional feature that is often over looked is the RCA jack in the power box. From it you can record all the voice traffic. Click to Continue

28. The Harvard Elite (or the push to talk microphone) System is best suited for larger groups and use during video conference and courses. Distributed Learning E O C This device has changed over the course of the fieldings, but the concept of the “push to talk” has remained. Click to Continue

29. The Harvard Elite is more complicated to set up, but in most cases comes ready to use now. Distributed Learning E O C The microphones are “daisy chained” to accommodate as many as two dozen folks. Both of these devices are capable of being recorded during interaction. Click to Continue

30. Most of the DL Classrooms come with a speakerphone and a cordless telephone. Distributed Learning E O C Both of these devices can be used with audio tele-training. The speakerphone is ideal for a group of up to three folks. The Cordless phone will work for a single individual. Click to Continue

31. Audio Graphics Systems Distributed Learning E O C During the first generation of DL Classrooms we used a system called the Telewriter 2000 System. It was used by most of the other federal agencies but was fairly expensive and not continued. Click to Continue

32. Audio Graphics Systems Distributed Learning E O C There is an online training for the Telewriter system at http://www.nnsi.doe.gov/Courses/Online/ITV_Or/ITV_1.html Click to Continue

33. Audio Graphics Systems Distributed Learning E O C Currently the functional requirement for AG is being filled by Microsoft’s Net Meeting. Some of you may be familiar with it. It is not as robust nor as simple to operate, but it has the advantage of being free. Click to Continue

34. Audio Graphics Systems Distributed Learning E O C Microsoft’s Net Meeting is part of the suite of programs that comes with IE 4+. Netscape has a similar product bundled with its suite, but, I know this will be a surprise, they are not compatible. One cannot talk to the other. Click to Continue

35. I am sure you have some experience with satellite or cable television. Distributed Learning E O C Do you have any experience with instructional television? Oh, come on, History Channel? CNN? PBS? That is educational. Click to Continue

36. We are using the same technologies for military training. Distributed Learning E O C To enhance it, we are making it interactive. Either by voice, video, or digital response. We will discuss three mediums of video training. Each having advantages and disadvantages. Click to Continue

37. VTC (Terrestrial) ITV (Satellite) Streaming Video (Web) Distributed Learning E O C Click to Continue

38. We will start with the technology that we have been using the longest. Distributed Learning E O C ITV or Interactive Television. ITV is a satellite based system using a variety of devices for interaction. The “push to talk,” fax, or digital devices like the One Touch System (the key pad in the previous slide). Click to Continue

39. The advantages of ITV are it can reach everywhere in the USA at once. Distributed Learning E O C With a fixed cost from $200 per hour. It is fairly easy for the receive site to operate. It is ideal for vast audiences with a lower level of interaction. Click to Continue

40. VTC or Video Tele-Conferencing is a newer terrestrial (or wire) based system. Distributed Learning E O C It uses the “push to talk” microphone system for the voice portion of the interaction. Click to Continue

41. The advantages of VTC are it can have a high level of interactivity. Distributed Learning E O C With a variable cost per site, about $50 per hour. It is fairly complicated to operate. Requiring full-time technicians at both ends. It is ideal for limited audiences/sites with a higher level of interaction. Click to Continue

42. The newest video technology we are beginning to leverage is Video Streaming (also called Web Casting). Distributed Learning E O C It is an internet or network based system, with the interaction from the web, either with email, chat or voice over IP. Click to Continue

43. Video Streaming has some unique advantages and some disadvantages. Distributed Learning E O C It is very low cost and available almost everywhere. It is very easy to operate. It is ideal for vast audiences/sites with a lower level of interaction. Click to Continue

44. VCR is the last of six equipment systems we will discuss. Distributed Learning E O C I have included it because it is often forgotten as a integral functionality. Click to Continue

45. The DL Classroom was designed so that every course could be video taped, either as the origination site or the receive site. Distributed Learning E O C You can tape Computer Based Training, Web Based Training, Audio Tele-training, Audio Graphics Training and any video training. Click to Continue

46. PC Internet Audio Conferencing Audio Graphics Video VCR Distributed Learning E O C We have discussed six functionalities or equipment systems. Click to Continue

47. Now we are going to discuss some successes from each functionality. Distributed Learning E O C Computer Based Training Defined as courseware that is resident on a single computer, either loaded by disk, CD-ROM, or downloaded from the Internet or network. Click to Continue

48. Defined as training that is resident on a web server, requiring a constant internet or network connection to operate. Distributed Learning E O C Web Based Training Click to Continue

49. Use the following hyper-link to view some examples of both computer based and web based training. Identify which is CBT and which is WBT. http://www.arng.army.mil/about_us/training/dl/dl_courses.asp Distributed Learning E O C When you finish, hit the back button to continue. Click to Continue

50. You should have identified Distributed Learning E O C As CBT: Combat Lifesaver, SINCGARS, ITC, and VACR . As WBT: ITV Orientation Course, AVRC and Armor Captains Career Course. And as both/either the Software Training. Click to Continue