Web-Based
Training (WBT)
and
Computer-Based Training
(CBT)
National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Web-Based
Training Tutorial
U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), National Highway Institute (NHI)
ICF International is supporting the National
Highway Institute (NHI) by developing a Web-Based
Training Tutorial that enables personnel
to develop knowledge of NEPA principles and
the essential elements of the transportation
decision-making process. The three-hour tutorial
serves as a preparatory instructional experience
to instructor-led training, allowing for
a more effective classroom experience. The
Web-based tutorial addresses awareness-level
competencies and supplies additional informational
resources. A Level Two assessment that evaluates
the participant's mastery of the learning
objectives also is part of the tutorial.
The tutorial is being developed using Javascript,
HTML and Flash objects. It is Section
508 compliant and SCORM v1.2 conformant,
and it will be hosted on the U.S. Department
of Transportation's (DOT) enterprise-wide
learning management system.
EPA OUST Web-Based Training Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Underground Storage Tanks
(OUST)
ICF International is currently developing three
Web-based modules (totaling six instructional
hours seat time) for EPA Office of Underground
Storage Tanks. Budget reductions at the state
level and increasing staff turnover increased
the need for Underground Storage Tank (UST)
inspectors and Leaking Underground Storage
Tanks (LUST) site managers to receive foundation-level
training using an easily accessible medium.
Training content needed to address situations
and issues likely to be encountered during
inspections and management of UST/LUST sites.
The modules ICF International is developing
use interactive and engaging scenarios and
activities featuring text, graphics, digitized
still images, or animation; provide immediate
feedback on student responses to scenario-based
exercises; link to resources and related
content; and feature end-of-module exams.
Intelligence 101 On-line Course
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
The FBI contracted with the Center for Systems
Management (CSM), the prime contractor, to
design and develop an on-line learning course
titled FBI
Intelligence 101. The
FBI wanted specific features in the application,
such as an exam, conformance to SCORM standards,
interoperability with the FBI's Learning
Management System (LMS) at the Virtual Academy,
and compliance with Section
508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
CSM requested the help of ICF International
to develop the project for the FBI on a tight
timeline.
ICF International employed a rapid prototyping
process for the project, increasing communication
and lessening major revisions to the product
later on. ICF International developed an e-learning
HTML/Javascript shell template that complied
with SCORM and Section 508 and was interoperable
with the LMS. ICF International created rollover
interactions, brought content into the pages,
and developed the navigation and the module
exam. ICF International enhanced the graphics
in both the presentation of content and the
navigation interface, as well as developed
Flash media interactivity to enhance the
learning experience.
CCCO Content Repurposing
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The Customer Contact Center Optimization
(CCCO) Design Team's mission is to improve
the communications between the IRS and taxpayers.
Toward this end, the CCCO Design Team turned
to ICF International for assistance in
converting traditional classroom training
to a reusable e-learning format. ICF International
developed and administered an assessment
of the current classroom-based content, followed
by a thorough job task analysis of the target
audience for the training. ICF International
then developed a detailed course design plan
outlining how the new course was to be constructed
from reusable learning objects based on learning
objectives reflecting actual job tasks. The
final product, complete with electronic performance
support tools, will allow the IRS to effectively
and efficiently deliver critical training
to approximately 20,000 employees in two
large business units. What's more, the material
can be easily updated whenever there are
changes in tax law or the Internal Revenue
Manual.
A Preview for Census Managers: The Decennial
Census Challenge
U.S. Census Bureau
ICF International developed an Internet-based
course for new Census Bureau managers hired
to work on the 2006 Census Test. The three-module
course serves as a broad introduction to the Census Bureau, including information
about Census Bureau history, organization, and operations. Ultimately, the
course introduces new managers to their roles and responsibilities related
to the census test and serves as a lead-in to more intensive classroom instruction.
The course is provided via the Internet so that new managers can access it
from home or another location prior to their classroom training. ICF International
created the course to be SCORM-compliant and Section
508 compatible, as well
as capable of being delivered through GeoLearning, the Census Bureau's Learning
Management System (LMS).
Analysis of Training Delivery Methods and
On-line Training Development
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Native American
Program (ONAP)
HUD's Office of Native American Programs
(ONAP) is charged with overseeing the implementation
of HUD's housing and community development
programs for tribes. ICF International worked
with ONAP to assess the best manner in
which to train tribes in the use of new block
grant of assistance that featured a wide
flexibility of possible affordable
housing uses. A Web-based
training solution was selected
to address the need for tribal staff of varying
skill levels to be able to learn at their
own pace. In all, ICF International built seven
modules covering homeownership, housing finance,
construction management, procurement, property
management, financial management, and a
tutorial for the on-line training itself.
The training was designed for entry-level
staff and provides basic technical information
using digitized stills, graphics, animation,
and text to drive the instruction. The training
also included knowledge check and challenge
review questions incorporated with immediate
feedback to reinforce the knowledge and skills
acquired.
Taxpayer Resolution Representative On-line
Course Development
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The IRS Wage and Investment (W&I) business
unit is responsible for ensuring that employees
filling the new Taxpayer Resolution Representative
(TRR) position are properly trained and
prepared to perform their job responsibilities.
A comprehensive curriculum, designed to lead
to consistent development of all TRRs,
is required to ensure that all TRR employees
possess the competencies to perform the
job. W&I worked with ICF International to
convert the recently updated classroom-based
IRS Course 6612: Collection
Procedures for Field Assistance into
a self-paced, e-learning course. The new
course was designed to be AICC and Section
508-compliant, adhere to SCORM version
1.2 standards, and be meta data tagged
to current IRS standards.
On-line
Help Systems and Performance Support
Web-Based Training and Expert Help System: "Completing
a Section 106 Review under the National Historic
Preservation Act"
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Services Agency (FSA)
For the Department of Agriculture Farm Services
Agency (USDA/FSA), ICF International designed
and developed a Web-based
application to
provide in-depth training to FSA state and
county employees on implementing Section
106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act (NHPA). In addition, this application
included an expert help system using a logic
engine. The training application is a SCORM-based
e-learning product that resides on the USDA
Learning Management System (LMS). ICF International
provided instructional design, content development,
e-learning Web programming, Flash development
of interactive materials, and systems integration
programming to complete this application.
The logic engine, which "walks" the
user through the steps of evaluating data
and recommends responses to questions on
required FSA environmental forms, was developed
with the assistance of ICF International partner
EXSYS Systems. ICF International managed the
flow of information between EXSYS and USDA,
managed technical requirements, and vetted
server issues with USDA technical groups
to find the appropriate USDA hosting facility
for the logic engine. ICF International also
created a document management system to aid
USDA FSA in performing keyword searches in
the content of both the training application
and the logic engine.
Training, Performance Support, and Communications
Campaign to Introduce New EDL and ATLAS Technology
U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
To remain competitive and improve business,
USPS must update its equipment and processes
to be able to track individual pieces of
mail from drop-off to delivery. To that end,
USPS developed the Enhanced Distribution
Label (EDL) and Automated Tray Label Assignment
System (ATLAS). The EDL is a 24-digit bar-coded
label that allows for unique identification
of each tray. The ATLAS system is a Web-based
software application that allows postal workers
to print the EDL from a centrally located
workstation or from machine-side printers.
The transition to the ATLAS system required
the vast majority of the more than 700,000
career employees in the USPS to understand
the human readable information on the EDL,
the main functions of the ATLAS program,
and the changes in mail distribution processes
necessary to make each tray individually
identifiable. ICF International developed a
comprehensive training and communications
plan to deliver the necessary competencies
to relevant workers. In addition to such
communication materials as posters, brochures,
videos, and Web site content, ICF International
developed a blended learning solution comprised
of train-the-trainer
workshops delivered to regional sites across
the U.S., an on-line Help system integrated
into the ATLAS application, and interactive
Web-based training.
DEA Management Review and Productivity Improvement
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
The Liaison and Policy Section (ODL) of
the Office of Diversion Control contracted
with ICF International to upgrade the quality,
timeliness, and responsiveness of the services
that the office provides to its stakeholders.
ICF International was engaged to develop a set
of recommendations to improve ODL business
processes, staff attributes and productivity,
management style, and other dimensions of
the office that could affect overall performance.
As a part of this effort, ICF International
oversaw a staff training program to increase
the expertise of all staff in regulatory
development. In one essential component of
this training program, ICF International developed
an interactive, Web-based training manual
to assist new staff in learning the processes
and to serve as a reference for more experienced
staff when developing regulatory notices.
The Web-based manual provides a graphical
overview of the major steps involved in drafting
and publishing regulations with interactive
links to specific detail, guidance, and templates
for the different types of regulatory actions.
The manual encompasses more than 100 pages
of information with several navigation options
to find specific topics. Users can click
through an interactive map of the regulatory
process to drill down to specific pages,
click on a hierarchical structure of topics
to find information, or utilize links resulting
from searches. The interactive map also has
zoom and pan features to scan across the
regulatory process.
Knowledge
Portals and Communities of Practice (CIP)
Development of a New Employee Orientation
Program
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Devices and Radiological
Health (CDRH)
FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological
Health (CDRH) ensures the safety and effectiveness
of medical devices and works to eliminate
unnecessary human exposure to man-made radiation
from medical, occupational, and consumer
products. CDRH Staff College is responsible
for developing, coordinating, and providing
continuing education and training for CDRH
employees. The Staff College contracted with
ICF International to substantially revise the
existing new employee orientation program
to better facilitate new employees' entry
into the CDRH organization and improve their
ability to make significant contributions
to the organization as quickly as practical.
As part of the new employee orientation program,
ICF International is developing the CRDH
Discovery Portal, a rich Internet application that
will reside on the CDRH learning management
system (LMS). This application will allow
employees to plan their first year at CDRH,
monitor their progress in completing important
tasks related to their orientation, access
forms and other CDRH resources, view streaming
video messages from the Center Director,
and link to mandatory and optional courses
and learning activities. The orientation
program ultimately developed will help to
ensure that new employees within CDRH feel
welcomed, motivated, and engaged while obtaining
the information they need to succeed in the
organization.
Human Resource Community Portal
U.S. Navy, Office of Civilian Human Resources (OCHR)
ICF International
has been contracted to assist the Office of Civilian Human Resources (OCHR)
as it strives to improve the skill level
and effectiveness of Navy personnel through
human capital initiatives and business
process improvements. As part of this effort,
ICF International has been asked to design,
develop, and deploy an HR
community "sub-portal" tool to help Navy HR professionals respond to
customer needs more thoroughly and efficiently;
keep up to date on OCHR initiatives, news,
and developments; locate important information
within or seek advice and assistance from
the HR community; share best practice information;
and manage training and professional development
in a proactive fashion. The OCHR sub-portal
site will be implemented in several "generations" over
the next 12 to 18 months. From initial
development of the new site framework and
largely static HTML pages, ICF International
will expand content, add remote content
management capabilities, increase interactivity
and customization options, expand content
management and centralized publishing capabilities,
and incorporate external news feeds and
fully interactive forums and chat areas.
Ultimately, the sub-portal will allow for
complete user customization of the application's
interface/desktop, intra-portlet communication,
integrated personal information management
capabilities, and more.
|
