u.s. department of agriculture egovernment program aglearn overview phase 1 march 2004

U.S. Department of Agriculture

eGovernment Program

eGovernment Program

AgLearn Overview

Phase 1

March 2004

2

U.S. Department of Agriculture eGovernment Program

I. eLearning Initiative Overview

II. What is an LMS?

III. LMS Benefits and Features

IV. Integration Approach

V. Learning Management

VI. Future Phases

VII. Next Steps

Agenda

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Enterprise-Wide eLearning Benefits

An Enterprise-wide eLearning capability will provide financial benefits while at the same time improve the training opportunities available at USDA.

Strategic Benefits- Enhance the skill development of USDA employees by providing access to a wide array of training

not previously available; and- Coordinate management, and promote interagency collaboration, of Federal eLearning services. - Utilize common soft skill content from Presidential eTraining initiative.

Financial Benefits- Eliminate redundancies among training offered within the enterprise; - Allow for economies of scale in the enterprise-wide purchase of eLearning products and services;

and- Reduce travel expenses, training delivery costs, and training administration costs.

Operational Benefits- Transform the learning experience to include more online courses, in lieu of costly traditional training

methods;- Link competency requirements and individual development plans;- Provide access to content from other government agencies; - Agency trainers will be able to devote their time to what they do best--training--rather than

administration of IT systems; and- USDA LMS will become the official System of Record to store all training histories and training

content.

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Enterprise-Wide eLearning Solution

An Enterprise-wide solution will also provide many intangible benefits…

Intangible Benefits

- Improving training effectiveness, resulting in a better-educated and more knowledgeable workforce characterized by improved judgment and decision-making

- Enabling a single, web-based access point for class registration and the training catalog eases administration processes associated with training provided by outside partner institutions

- Allowing employees access to training content, class registration, and course catalogs from any location at any time using a web browser

- Automating administrative tasks, which allows administrators to focus on value added functions like course preparation, course review, and performance review

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Reduction of Duplicative Services and Systems

TRAI (Training Information System)

- USDA training system maintained by NFC containing USDA employee training histories.

TIPS (Training Integrated Personnel System)- A training system used by Forest Service to manage the registration, approval process,

and costs associated with training.

VTA (Virtual Training Assistant)- Training system used by Food Safety and Inspection Service and Forest Service to

manage registration of classroom and other types of training.

RMA Distance Learning

- A training creation and delivery system used by RMA.

To realize economies of scale and reductions in cost requires a consolidation of existing USDA training systems.

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Migration & Integration of Training Systems

I-CAMS Training Delivery and Management- A component of the I-CAMS personnel system used Service Center agencies to track

and manage instructor-led training.

APHIS Agency Readiness Center- A system developed for the APHIS Veterinary Services to train and deploy First

Responders.

RMA Distance Learning

- A training creation and delivery system used by RMA.

For some USDA training systems providing unique services and capabilities, they will operate cooperatively with the USDA LMS.

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AgLearn - Phase 1

10 USDA Agencies with 7,500 users

Configuration of enterprise-based LMS settings including domains, organizations, student management, and security roles

Integration of “off-the-shelf” and custom USDA e-learning courseware

Migration of existing student data from the GoLearn (student data and training history)

USDA Customized User Interface branding

Operations Services and Tier 1 Help Desk Support

System Environment Maintenance and Hosting, including Courseware hosting

Configuration of online exams

One-way batch interface from I-CAMS (PeopleSoft 8.0) for student profile and training history

Migration of training history from GoLearn, I-CAMS, and TRAI

Phase 1 of the LMS implementation will include the following:

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II. What is an LMS?




VI. Future Phases

VII. Next Steps

Agenda

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What is an LMS?

A Learning Management System (LMS) is a software application that enables the delivery and management of all facets of training.

An LMS allows individuals and groups of users to:- Manage classrooms, learning assets, instructors, schedules, learning paths, and all of

the necessary components to deliver training

- View complete course listings and course information

- Register, schedule, and track all training activity

- Create, edit, manage and deliver content

- Track competency and certification progress

- Personalize training and development plans

- Manage payments

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How will an LMS be used by USDA?

The AgLearn LMS will provide for the management and delivery of USDA’s training and career development, and other capabilities.

AgLearn

Traditional Classroom Virtual Classroom Online Training

Course Catalog

Phase 1: Management and Delivery of Training Other Functions

Phase 1:

- Career Development Plans

- Reporting

Future Phases:

- Competencies

- Skill Assessments

- Certification Programs

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II. What is an LMS?




VI. Future Phases

VII. Next Steps

Agenda

12


AgLearn Users

USDA employees, including:- Agency Personnel

- First Responders (USDA Homeland Security)

- Domestic and Foreign Nationals

Others working with USDA programs, such as:- Federal

- State and Local such as Wild Land Fire Fighters

USDA Contractors and Partners, such as:- Farmers

- Rural Housing Loan Officers

- Others

Users of AgLearn will include not only USDA employees, but also others who work closely with USDA.

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User Features

Search available training courses by title, subject area, or agency catalog

Register for courses – online, instructor-led, virtual, and other

Launch and Track Course – Record Scores

Access Reference Materials and Training- Systems Training and Support (ICAMS, IAS)- Desktop Application Support (Microsoft Office)- Business Skills (Supervisory Materials, Leadership, Project Management)

Manage Certification Requirements- Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) Training

Build Skills According to Competencies- Identify skill requirements for next job level, series, or position- 2210 Series in progress; Others being planned

Fulfill Mandatory Training Requirements - IT Security, Civil Rights, Ethics- Deliver and record completion

The new AgLearn LMS provides USDA employees and others with the ability to:

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USDA Supervisor/Manager Features

Assign specific training to employees through AgLearn

Receive and Approve employee requests for USDA training

Track employee training activity

Receive Training Reports

In addition to regular user features, USDA supervisors and managers will also be able to oversee the training activities of their employees, by the following:

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Training Staff Features

Centrally manage and track learning for entire assigned organization, group, or individual

Ability to leverage training across and within USDA agencies

Access reports containing agency training activity

Deliver online training materials, surveys, and exams

Schedule and manage instructor-led classes, online training, and virtual meetings

Manage facilities, assets, and courses (e.g., instructor, classroom, equipment)

Create certification and specialized training programs such as new employee orientation, COTR training, and others

Training Staff will be able to manage training more efficiently by using AgLearn to:

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II. What is an LMS?




VI. Future Phases

VII. Next Steps

Agenda

17


eLearning Migration & Integration Strategy

€ €Isolated Systems and Agency Coordination

Enterprise eLearning Solution and Integration

Current Environment Future USDA LMS

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Duplication of Activities and Services Limited System and Business Capabilities Lack of Enterprise-wide Coordination Manual, non-Standardized Processes Cost Prohibitive

Manual Process

I-CAMS VTA TIPS HR Finance

Agency Training Systems

€CitizensCitizens

EmployeesEmployees

BusinessBusiness Partners Partners€

Departmental

Finance / ProcurementHR

AgLearn LMS

Traditional Classroom CollaborationOnline

Courseware

Content Management

Skills Assessment

Training Admin

TRAI APHIS & RMALMS

Other Data

bases

Procurement

(IAS)

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Integrated Approach and Platform

Centralized Hosting of Learning Solutions - GoLearn hosting facility at GP-eLearning (GPE) will include the following components:

Learning Management System – AgLearn - Delivery and management of training and career development

Learning Content and Courseware- GoLearn COTS Courseware (e.g., NETg, SkillSoft, Karta)

- Custom Courseware, CBT, WBT

- Reference Materials, Job Aides, Procedures

Web Meeting Services- Internally hosted within USDA

The eLearning solution is built upon an integrated approach and platform for delivering new capabilities to USDA.

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Data Migration and Management

AgLearn hosted by GP-eLearning (GPE)

USDA Courseware

COTS CoursewareStudent

Profile Data

COTS Courseware

Student Profile Data

Training History

Training History

Training History

Student Profile Data

USDA Courseware

Starting from existing LMS’s and other USDA training systems, the new LMS will be a single repository for all USDA training activity. All USDA employees will have access to the AgLearn system by end of FY2004.

GoLearn LMS (GeoLearning)

Other Internal USDA Training Systems

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Transition of Sensitive Data

GoLearn Service Provider:

Geo Learning

Current Employee Data Management Scheme

Future Employee Data Management Scheme

Hosts COTS Courseware and

Employee Data in Canada

COTS Courseware

Employee Data

COTS courseware available through GoLearn.Gov is hosted by Geo Learning.

Employee access and utilization uses the Geo Learning LMS services.

GoLearn Service Provider:

GPE LearningHosts USDA-specific

Courseware and Employee Data in

Pennsylvania

USDA Courseware

Employee Data

COTS courseware and USDA-developed courseware is hosted by GPE Learning in Pennsylvania

USDA employee data is hosted by GPE-Learning

COTS Courseware

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II. What is an LMS?




VI. Future Phases

VII. Next Steps

Agenda

22


Approach to Learning Management

Role Based System- Student, Manager, Administrator

- Roles define learning management functionality, system authority, and available views

The AgLearn system is a role based system which provides for a secure environment to manage user permissions efficiently.

Administrator

ManagerManager

StudentStudent Student

Manager

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Learning Management – Tailored Delivery

The enterprise LMS is customized to fit each agency’s training requirements. Through a student login, courseware can be assigned to specific groups (ie. Agencies) or made available to the “public” for all to view.

Agency 1

AgLearn

Public

CatalogStudent

€€€Agency 2

CatalogStudent

€€€Catalog

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Learning Management - Domains

The AgLearn system maps to USDA’s organization in a hierarchical structure using Domains. Following is a part of the Domain structure to be used in AgLearn.

USDA

OHRMFNCS REEFFASFSIS RD

Public Level

Mission Area

Agency

Locations and Other Sub-Domains

OCFOMRP NREE

Agency

Sub-Domain

Sub-Domain

To be determined by each agency

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II. What is an LMS?




VI. Future Phases

VII. Next Steps

Agenda

26


Future Phases

Phased rollout to all USDA employees and agencies (FY2004)

Competency and Skills Assessment

Financial and Procurement System Integration (IAS)

Multi-level supervisor approval process for training requests

SF-182 Training Approval Process

Entry of non-component items on development plan

Agency specific customizations

Following Phase 1 will be additional system rollouts to the remainder of USDA and other system enhancements as determined by agencies.

Next Phases will include:

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II. What is an LMS?




VI. Future Phases

VII. Next Steps

Agenda

28


Next Steps

Phase 1 Launch of AgLearn

- FY04 – Q2

- 10 Agencies with 7,500 users

Phase 2

- FY04 – Q3

- Integration with eAuthentication solution

- Add additional estimated 60,000 users from- APHIS

- FS

- FSA

- FSIS

- RMA

Phase 3- FY04 – Q4

- Remaining USDA Employees

u.s. department of agriculture egovernment program aglearn overview phase 1 march 2004

Documents

training content

training creation

training effectiveness

types of training

wide array of training

training administration

training delivery costs

lms benefits