Defence Learning Portal achieves
Full Operating Capability
Article by Lt. Sarah Buck, Royal Navy
On 31 January
2006, the DLP achieved its Full Operating Capability and now really
opens the door for learners across Defence. Currently, there are 49,000
users registered on the system and they can access courses such as
Joint Personnel Administration, RAF Air Power, Energy Wardens and
Army Datacomms.
The DLP will allow students to embark on courses at their place
of work, on deployment or even in the comfort of their own home.
The system allows students, managers and instructors to access the
DLP over the MoD Intranet and the Internet (for unclassified courseware)
at any time of the day. The capability will eventually be available
to everyone in the MoD, both military and civilian, with an estimated
user base of 300,000 personnel by 2010, making this the largest
e-learning project of its kind in Europe.
The capability has at its heart services to deliver a single Learning
Management System (LMS) and Learning Content Management System (LCMS).
It also includes learning management information and an environment
for storing, managing and developing re-usable e-learning courseware.
DLP uses SumTotal software products for the LMS and LCMS and initially
supports SCORM v1.2. As other software releases become ratified,
the service will move to support the SCORM 2004 standard.
It has always been recognised that one of the MoD’s highest
priorities is to train people for military operations. That training
includes development of attributes such as leadership, teamwork,
ethos and courage, which predominately requires human interaction.
Consequently the MoD has always adopted a blended policy to learning
but is now taking a more progressive approach to e-learning in order
to exploit known benefits and to explore uncharted opportunities
without undermining its current output. Therefore, whilst traditional
classroom based methods will never be entirely redundant in the
MoD, both web enabled and non-web enabled e-learning will add considerably
to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the learning process.
The introduction of the DLP will enable Defence to use leading
edge technology to deliver world-class training in the largest and
most exciting project of its kind in Europe. The £46M contract
has been developed in partnership with BT and managed by Defence
Corporate Business Applications (DCBA) Integrated Project Team (IPT).
The implementation of the product is through the Defence Centre
of Training Support (DCTS). Further information on DLP is available
from Lt Sarah Buck on 01296 656427 or why not visit us at ITEC
between 16-18 May.
NB. Epic will once again exhibit at ITEC. Come and visit us on
stand 740.
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