Army Distance Learning
Army e-Learning is the US Army's distance education program designed to provide online training across the whole range of individual and organizational requirements. Sort of upgraded correspondence courses for the modern age. The idea is for all Army organizations to use it, and the program is designed to help active-duty Army personnel complete college degrees or technical certifications.
How much does Army distance learning cost & who can use it?
The program is centrally funded so it doesn't cost the individual student anything, and basically uses computer and web-based software. All active duty soldiers, members of the National Guard or Reserves, Department of the Army civilian employees, and USMA and ROTC cadets are eligible.
As a participant, you have access to over 1,500 Information Technology, Business Skills and Interpersonal Skills courses from anywhere at any time (24/7). They use SkillSoft as a provider, an international producer and distributor of interactive server-based training solutions. There's an amazing variety of courses on offer, covering application development, system administration, office systems, business skills, interpersonal skills, environmental, safety and health topics, etc. The system also hosts the Rosetta Stone foreign language material. Have a look through the Army e-Learning Course Catalogue to see the courses available:
https://www.atrrs.army.mil/channels/eLearning/smartforce/sfCatalog.pdf
How can I get access to Army distance learning courses?
To use Army e-Learning all you have to do is get an Army Knowledge Online (AKO) account and complete your registration through ATRRS (you do NOT need an ATRRS Logonid/Account to register). To register for access, go to the AKO homepage at http://www.us.army.mil and follow the > My Education > Army e-Learning Portal Page > New User Link
Other places to find answers to questions about Army Distance Learning
It's definitely worth checking out the US Army Training and Doctrine Command DL Telegraph news page at http://www.tadlp.monroe.army.mil/ for more details, and some interesting videos about some courses.
(The US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) operates 33 schools and centers at 16 Army installations. TRADOC schools conduct 1,714 courses (187 directly in support of mobilization) and 391 language courses. The 1,714 courses include 451,682 seats for 399,406 Soldiers; 29,238 other-service personnel; 6,723 international Soldiers; and 15,827 civilians)
State-of-the art Computer Based Training available for free to the Army Workforce: https://www.atrrs.army.mil/channels/eLearning/smartforce/
Links of interest to Soldiers, Leaders, and Developers from army sources:
- http://www.train.army.mil - The Reimer Digital Library, THE portal for online army publications and courseware.
- http://www.mimic.org/wbt/ngb/ctt03/ - The online version of the yearly Common Task Training series, developed, produced and published by MIMIC.
- http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pams/p350-70-12/p350-70-12.htm - TRADOC Pamphlet 350-70-12 Distributed Learning Managing Courseware Production and Implementation.
- http://www.libraries.army.mil/refctr.htm - Army Library Reference Center.
- http:// www.cs.amedd.army.mil/ddl – The Army Medical Corps catalogue of CD ROM & Videoteletraining DL products.
- http://jdeis.cornerstoneindustry.com/jdeis/jkddc/jointCatalogCourseList.html -Joint DL Courseware Catalog A consolidated, hyperlinked, web-based catalog of Services DL products that are Internet or CD ROM based and require no instructor input.
- http://www.atrrs.army.mil/atrrscc/ - Comprehensive DL catalogues of all Department of the Army directed DL courses currently available.
- http://www.knox.army.mil/asl/aska.htm - Ask-A-Librarian
Online Education News
- Online Education Increasingly Popular Among Students (Hornell Evening Tribune)
(ARA) - Many people think about going to college. Whether they've never gone, have attended some college, or already obtained a degree, each person's situation and career goals are unique.
- Online Education Puts Highly Valuable Psychology Degrees Within Reach (Hornell Evening Tribune)
(ARA) - According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 40 percent of psychologists are self-employed, with clinical psychologists earning anywhere from $50,000 to over $100,000. The average salary for a psychology professor was $82,554 for the academic year of 2005-2006, according to the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources.
- Top Universities Partner to Offer Online Teaching Credentials (Hornell Evening Tribune)
(ARA) - Ashford University and Rio Salado College have partnered to offer aspiring teachers a new opportunity in online education. Ashford now offers a bachelor's degree program designed to provide students with an accelerated way to earn their undergraduate degree and teaching certification.
- Senate OKs measure to regulate online education programs (Rocky Mountain News)
A new division of the state Education Department would regulate online schools under a bill approved Thursday in the Colorado Senate.
- Is Online Learning For You? (Benton Evening News)
More and more college students are taking classes online, according to a new survey by the College Board and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. About 3.2 million people took at least one college course online during the fall of 2005 term, compared to 2.3 million in the fall of 2004.
