CUSTOMIZED AGENCY-BASED ONLINE TRAINING ON A

BUDGETKevin R. Duffy, M.A.Ed. DBPD, Daytona State

CollegeCharles “Chuck” Russo, Ph.D., DBPD,

American Military University

ONLINE ENVIRONMENT FOR TRAINING

• Agency Goals– Provide customized repeatable training modules – Provide mixed mode training for topics like

firearms, driving and defensive tactics– Provide promotional training and post-promotion

training– Provide enhancements to the FTEP training

ONLINE ENVIRONMENT FOR TRAINING

• Roadblocks– Cost– Server issues– Design issues– Maintenance issues– Proposed savings

ONLINE ENVIRONMENT FOR TRAINING

• Opportunities– Better quality training– Training where none had existed before– Enhancements in current training– Cost savings in productivity and overtime

reduction

ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORMS – LMS

• Learning Management System– Blackboard– Desire2Learn– Moodle• Free open-source download• Continually evolving• Lots of add-ons• Can have a good look-and-feel• Can be difficult to configure and make useable

MOODLE

• Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment– Pros

• Free• Works well when configured properly• Provides a platform for all types of online learning • Professional look provides confidence in materials

– Cons• Back-end recordkeeping difficult to use• Pointed towards education rather than training• Can be clunky to use, documentation is not great

OLC SCREEN SHOT

DAYTONA BEACH P.D.

• Moodle used for the Online Learning Center– Considerations• Cost• Flexibility• Cost• Adaptability• Ease of Editing• Cost

• Moodle.Org

ONLINE LEARNING CENTER

• Functionality– Annualized Training • Topics that must be trained each year• Use of force, pursuit policy, etc.

– Legal Updates– Policy and Procedure– Training Bulletins– On-Demand Training– FTEP Add-On

USE OF FORCE TRAINING

ONLINE LEARNING CENTER

• Implementation Issues– Hosting vs. Server Based• IS wanted nothing to do with it• Open source software too vulnerable to place on

agency server– Steep learning curve for administration– Software configuration – Design issues– Officer buy-in

ONLINE LEARNING CENTER

• Pleasant Surprises– Officer buy-in over 70%– Software proved stable– Add-ons (certificate) worked well– Recordkeeping not as bad as feared

FIRST YEAR RESULTS

• 225 Registered Users• Almost 1,000 Training Certificates issued

FIRST YEAR RESULTS

• The Money– Hosting Cost: $800 per year– Design and Maintenance by Part-Time Officer: 700

hours @ $11/hr, $7,700– Training time saved: 1,000 hours• 500 hours at straight time: $9,500• 500 hours of overtime: $14,250• Total $23,750

– Total savings $15,250

FIRST YEAR RESULTS

• New courses planned– Supervisory courses– FTEP Enhancements– Accountability with policy and procedure

• Overall long term – centerpiece of training– Training announcements– Mixed mode courses– More FTEP enhancement

FTEP

FIRST YEAR RESULTS

• Success?– Unqualified success– Need more involvement for design and execution– As more agency leaders learn more and there is

more buy-in, more functionality will occur

CONFERENCE MATERIALS AND MORE INFORMATION

CJTraining.netClick on ACJS Conference Link