New Tools and Metrics for Evaluating Army Distributed Learning

Distributed learning (DL) is a key element of the Army's training strategy, and the Army has ambitious goals for expanding the future use of DL and for changing how it is developed and delivered. Program-level evaluation of DL can play an essential role in accomplishing those goals and in identifying strategic directions for the overall program. This report describes a series of studies designed to develop and test new tools and metrics to assess training and to document the impact of Army DL courses at the program level. More specifically, the studies examined soldiers' experiences in DL and knowledge retention of DL material in training that had both DL and resident phases. The project also assessed the capabilities of Army information systems to support efficient data collection for DL evaluation. Results provide information about the current state of Army DL and point to the need for changes in policies and procedures to improve its effectiveness. These studies also demonstrate the feasibility of evaluating DL within the Army and suggest that a more comprehensive program of assessment, better supported by the Army's information systems, could provide major benefits to The Army DL Program.