Effective Education Anytime, Anywhere
Soldier readiness necessitates on-demand training. Yet, the concept of “on-demand’ often conflicts with traditional training structures and environments. Course curricula offered once or twice a year, in a handful of brick-and-mortar locations, may limit Soldier access and slow down the training process. The Army Distributed Learning Program (TADLP) works to ensure that Soldiers have training options beyond traditional classroom settings and are able to gain critical training anytime, anywhere.
The Army National Guard Distributed Learning (DL) Program, a component of TADLP, provides multiple distributed learning methods and technologies that facilitate the improved readiness of Soldiers by offering flexible, online or remote delivery of standardized training materials and coursework.
Using Guard Knowledge Online (GKO), Soldiers may collaborate with fellow Soldiers and instructors, share files, access DL Program contact information and learn more detailed information about the program in general. Soldiers may use their common access cards (CACs) to login to GKO at GKOPortal.ng.mil/my.policy.
The Army National Guard DL Program offers more than 400 internet-accessible Distributed Learning Classrooms (DLCs) nationwide.
The Army National Guard DL Program is comprised of the following elements:
Distributed Learning Content Development
Army National Guard DL content is focused on Guard-specific needs, with emphasis on preparing Soldiers to meet all functional and readiness requirements. Content dealing with Duty Military Occupational Specialty Qualification training and professional military education is also at times offered. The DL program has also collaborated with U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) in the development of training apps for use on mobile devices.
GuardU
Through the online learning portal, GuardU, Soldiers may access over 200 links to DL-based instructional content that covers topics for both directed learning and self-development. In an effort to facilitate an instructor-led, yet collaborative and self-paced learning environment, trainers assemble, manage, deliver, discuss and document course materials through the GuardU site. To visit the GuardU site, Soldiers may use their CACs to login at GuardU.ELLC.Learn.army.mil/.
Distributed Learning Capabilities
The Army National Guard DL Program leaders coordinate and manage a federal program that provides States and Territories with DL capabilities that include both fixed and mobile DLCs. Each classroom has video tele-training capabilities, networked computer workstations as well as audio/video equipment. A mobile DLC, or Mobile Digital Training Facility (MDTF), is a wirelessly networked classroom consisting of 10 notebook PCs, video tele-training/video conferencing equipment and two ruggedized cases for storage and/or shipment of the classroom elements. The MDTFs are designed to run off a local connection to a secured wireless network for use wherever and whenever access to DL is needed.
For more information on the Army National Guard DL Program or to register for a class, visit the GKO website at GKOPortal.ng.mil/my.policy or GuardU at GuardU.ELLC.Learn.army.mil/.
By Staff Writer Matthew Liptak
