This page provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the ADL Initiative.
ADL
What is ADL's vision?
The vision of the ADL Initiative is to provide access to the highest-quality learning and performance aiding that can be tailored to individual needs and delivered cost-effectively, anytime, and anywhere.
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What is ADL's strategy?
The strategy of ADL is to:
- Work closely with industry, government, and academia to promote common, open, international specifications and standards that enable reuse and interoperability of learning content.
- Promote widespread collaboration that satisfies common needs.
- Enhance performance with emerging learning technologies.
- Promote a coordinated implementation process with incentives for organizational and cultural change.
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How does ADL work with other standards and specifications organizations?
ADL works with multiple organizations to develop and ratify standards and specifications. ADL contributes technical ideas and concepts as well as integrating and testing these specifications and standards, to bridge the gap between their early stage development and their widespread adoption by industry.
Among the many organizations working on specifications related to e-learning, there are four in particular that are key to SCORM . While ADL may not incorporate all of the work from these organizations, as some information is out of the scope of SCORM, these organizations play a vital role in the formation of next-generation learning technologies.
These organizations are:
- Aviation Industry CBT Committee (AICC)
- Alliance for Remote Instructional Authoring and Distribution Networks for Europe (ADRIANE)
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Learning Technology Standards Committee (LTSC)
- IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc. (IMS GLC)
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Why do organizations collaborate with ADL?
Implementing the ADL Initiative requires collaboration within the Department of Defense (DoD) and the federal government at large as well as with industry, academia, and state and local entities. The DoD is taking steps to establish a cost-effective distributed learning environment that is consistent across the military services and all other DoD components. Many university and business training organizations have similar interests. ADL partnerships among the federal government, private-sector technology suppliers, and the broader education and training community are the means for formulating voluntary guidelines that meet common needs.
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How do I become involved with ADL and SCORM?
There are no formal membership processes or requirements to become involved with ADL or SCORM. To stay up to date, become a Registered User . By registering with ADL you can participate in events such as Plugfests, submit articles relating to SCORM, and receive the latest information from ADLNet.gov.
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What is the single most important feature of ADL?
All aspects of ADL are critical to its success. A few of those important aspects are:
- Creating reusable learning content that can be delivered over a network.
- Developing technical standards and guidelines that make this possible.
- Conducting research and development on technical issues that stand in the way.
- Ensuring that developing and marketing such learning is cost-effective, allowing industry to make a profit.
- Supporting an ADL community that allows the public and private sectors to identify and address their common interests in developing and transitioning to the ADL environment of tomorrow.
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Why is the DoD putting so much effort into advanced learning technology?
The increased rate of deployments of the DoD’s forces in recent years, which often involve rapid, unplanned movements to locations around the world, highlights the need to provide training on demand to individuals and units deployed worldwide. Accordingly, because of more demanding deployment criteria and other time-sensitive constraints, the DoD recognizes that yesterday’s framework of "right time, right place" learning, with its use of set times and places, may not meet future requirements. It also recognizes that providing "anytime, anywhere" instruction is essential to maintaining military readiness in the information age; future forces and their support activities must be highly adaptive to address threats effectively and rapidly.
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ADL Co-Lab Network
What is the Co-Lab Network?
The DoD established the ADL Co-Lab Hub in 1999 in Alexandria, Virginia, at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) to foster the collaborative research, development, and assessment of the common tools, standards, content, and guidelines for the ADL Initiative. In addition to the Co-Lab Hub, DoD supports the Joint ADL Co-Lab in Orlando, Florida. The Co-Lab Network also includes an Academic ADL Co-Lab based at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, and a Corporate Co-Lab, located at the FedEx Institute of Technology in Memphis, Tennessee. Additional information about the Joint, Academic, and Corporate Co-Labs is available at http://www.adlnet.gov/About/Pages/CoLabNetwork.aspx.
The ADL Initiative has also established a network of Partnership laboratories, based on agreements with agencies in several countries. In 2009, this network includes partners in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Latin American and Caribbean Regions (ILCE), Korea, Norway, and Romania. Additional information about each of ADL's Partnership labs is available at http://www.adlnet.gov/About/Pages/PartnershipLabs.aspx.
The ADL Co-Lab Hub is ADL's central organization for guiding, coordinating, and integrating the operations of the ADL Co-Lab Network; it operates under the direction of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD).
Located just outside Washington, DC, in Alexandria, VA, the ADL Co-Lab Hub serves as a clearinghouse across organizational boundaries to coordinate and lead the systematic development and refinement of the future learning environment. The ADL Co-Lab Hub operates to stimulate development of technologies that enhance learning and performance across the DoD and other Federal agencies.
For additional information on a specific ADL Co-Lab visit the ADL Co-Lab Network section.
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Who runs each ADL Co-Lab and Partnership Lab?
The directors of each ADL Co-Lab and Partnership Lab are:
- ADL Co-Lab Hub (currently vacant)
- Kristy Murray, PhD., Joint ADL Co-Lab
- Rovy Branon, Academic ADL Co-Lab
- Xiangen Hu, PhD., and Trey Martindale, PhD., Corporate ADL Co-Lab
- Professor John Traxler (Acting Director), U.K. ADL Partnership Lab
- Bill Railer, Canada ADL Partnership Lab
- Nigel Ward, PhD., Australia ADL Partnership Lab
- Manuel Quintero, Latin American and Caribbean Regions Partnership Lab (ILCE)
- Sangil Lee, Korea ADL Partnership Lab
- Lt Cdr Geir Isaksen (Acting Director), Norway ADL Partnership Lab
- Professor Dr. Ion Roceanu, Romania ADL Partnership Lab
For additional information on a specific member of the ADL Co-Lab network visit the ADL Co-Lab Network section.
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How do the members of the ADL Co-Lab Network assist the ADL Initiative?
In addition to the collaboration with government, education, and technology sectors, each member of the ADL network of Co-Labs uniquely contributes to the evolution of ADL in specialized areas, and disseminates their research, subject matter expertise, common tools, and learning content throughout the general ADL community.
Each ADL Co-Lab and Partnership Lab facilitates an open collaborative environment for sharing learning technology research, development, and assessments.
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Plugfest
What are Plugfests?
The ADL Initiative sponsors Plugfests to bring together adopters of SCORM. Plugfest events provide the ADL community with the opportunity to synchronize the evolution and convergence of commercial authoring tools, learning management systems, and Web-based courses with evolving open-architecture specifications. Representatives from learning software developers and content providers from various sectors of government, industry, and academia also attend and participate in Plugfests. Plugfests provide participants with a forum for sharing their experiences in converting instructional products to comply to SCORM specifications.
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Are the Plugfest presentation materials available on ADLNET.gov?
Yes. During Plugfests, the ADL team posts presentations from each day's proceedings at www.adlnet.gov, the ADL Web site. Occasionally, ADL provides webcasts of Plugfest sessions and makes them available for real-time viewing on ADLNet.gov. ADL posts all remaining presentations and videos taken during the event within one to two weeks following the event.
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ADLNet.gov
I'm having trouble seeing the videos. Why?
The majority of the videos on ADLNet.gov are in Windows Media format (.wmv). You may not have the latest version of Windows Media installed on your machine. Visit Microsoft.com to download the latest version of Windows Media or to get help with using the player. ADLNet.gov does contain some videos of other formats (.rm, .smil, .avi, .mov). Verify that you have installed the correct plug-in or program.
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What should I do if I get an error when I click on a link?
Please report dead links immediately to the ADLNet Webmaster through Contact ADL .
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Why can't I open the document I downloaded?
ADLNet.gov documents are saved in different formats, primarily .PDF and .PPT. To view .PDF files you must have either Adobe Acrobat or the Acrobat reader plug-in installed on your machine. Visit Adobe to download the required plug-in. Word documents are zipped for easy download. Make sure you have a program to unzip these file.
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May I use the ADL logo on my Web site or presentation?
ADL has specific guidelines governing the use of the ADL logo on Web sites, presentations, papers, and other documents. Refer to the ADL Logo Usage Guidelines for additional information.
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How do I subscribe to ADL Newsletters?
To subscribe to an ADL Newsletter mailing list you must register with ADLNet.gov. Visit Registered Users to create an account. During the process, you will be asked to select the type of newsletters you wish to receive.
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Are there policies I should be aware of while accessing ADLNet.gov?
ADL has compiled a list of policies including Software, Privacy, Document, and Logo Usage among others. For a list of these policies and for additional information visit the Web Site Policies & Notices section.
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Does ADL host user forums?
ADL does not host user forums.
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JADL
Are there tools available from ADL?
ADL does not sanction any particular tool, nor does ADL produce tools. A tool cannot be SCORM compliant. The content produced by a tool can be SCORM compliant. To view a list of SCORM adopters go to http://www.adlnet.gov/Technologies/scorm/Custom%20Pages/SCORM%20Adopters.aspx.
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Are there resources available to help estimate the cost of ADL products?
Managers interested in estimating costs of SCORM and related technology programs should review the tools available in the Cost Estimation area. The COSCOMO cost estimating model available there is the result of a FY05 Joint ADL Co-Lab prototype effort based on the popular COCOMO II model tailored specifically for SCORM development projects.
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Can I get access to any existing style guides?
The publications below are very comprehensive in nature, but the table of contents of each represents some good areas of guidance for a style guide. There are many dimensions of style.
Also, many ADL related style guides are extensions of web standard/style conventions since most ADL content is web content.
- Marine Corps Web Standards
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Are there any design templates for SCOs?
There is a SCO design template at the back of the SCORM Best Practices Guide for Content Developers (Pages 70 and 71).
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How does DoDI 1322.26 affect DoD training professionals?
OSD signed DoD Instruction 1322.26, Development, Management, and Delivery of Distributed Learning, in June 2006, requiring all DoD distributed learning materials be SCORM compliant and registered in the ADL Registry. Furthermore, as part of a front-end analysis, new procurements must first search the ADL-Registry to see if existing training can be reused or repurposed before creating new materials to save time and money. DoD Repository Managers who are ready to contribute to the ADL Registry can learn more at http://www.adlnet.gov/Technologies/adlr/default.aspx.
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What does DoDI 1322.26 require related to the ADL Registry?
DoD Instruction (DODI) 1322.26, Development, Management, and Delivery of Distributed Learning, policy requires DoD Components to share training resources, including Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM)-compliant objects, to the maximum extent possible. Specifically, DoD Components are required by 1322.26 to:
- Register digital object metadata and digital object repositories with the ADL Registry.
- Search the ADL Registry prior to developing or acquiring learning objects.
Currently, content with classified metadata is exempt from registering in the ADL Registry.
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What types of things are required to be registered in the ADL-Registry?
The Instruction states:
6.3. All acquired or developed SCORM-compliant content packages (CPs) shall:
6.3.1. Include metadata.
6.3.2. Be registered in the ADL-Registry according to Enclosure 3.
6.3.3. Be maintained in DoD Components' repositories
6.3.3.1. These repositories shall be registered in the ADL-Registry... Content with classified metadata is exempted...
So you must register SCORM compliant content packages and repositories. In addition to what DoDI 1322.26 requires, you should register objects that others could redeploy, rearrange, repurpose, and rewrite. The scope of what you register may vary, it may equate to a course, a module, a unit, a lesson, a topic, etc. Sometimes you will register a single SCO in a content package, while other times you may register a content package that contains several SCOs or numerous SCOs with a complex sequencing structure. You may also want to register a simulation, video, animation, or image that would be applicable to, and could be used by, other organizations. You don’t need to register every piece of media you create, simply register those that are likely to be reused.
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What metadata needs to be included in SCORM compliant content packages?
The Instruction states:
6.3. All acquired or developed SCORM-compliant content packages (CPs) shall:
6.3.1. Include metadata.
6.3.2. Be registered in the ADL-Registry according to Enclosure 3.
6.3.3. Be maintained in DoD Components' repositories
So the metadata required to be included in SCORM CPs includes the ADL-Registry Application Profile for LOM metadata used in the registration submission.
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Where can I go for guidance about metadata?
The ADL Guidelines for Creating Reusable Content with SCORM 2004 offers some general. Volume 2: Registry Overview and User’s Guide offers specific implementation guidance for the ADL Registry. The Navy ILE Content, Design, Development, and Deployment Guide represents an example of further tailoring metadata guidance for a specific organization (Section 3.2 ILE Content Metadata Requirements).
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What ADL acquisition guidance is available across the services?
The ADL Acquisition Guidance Document is a helpful resource acquisition professionals can use to acquire current ADL capabilities based on MIL-PRF-29612B contract deliverables. It addresses products from both the software and the instructional design points of view. The ADL Acquisition Guidance Document is arranged around the major phases of a DoD acquisition. MIL-PRF-29612B and the MIL-HDBK-29612 series of handbooks provide a comprehensive discussion on the acquisition and development of training products for DoD.
While MIL-PRF-29612B and the MIL-HDBK-29612 handbooks are excellent resources, they were written at a time when an earlier version of SCORM® was in effect. Consequently, some of the terminology in these documents is obsolete and no longer exists in the current version of SCORM.
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What guidance is available across the Services on intellectual property (IP) rights?
According to DoD Instruction 1322.26, Development, Management, and Delivery of Distributed Learning, Intellectual Property (IP) and government rights to software should be considered at the outset of any ADL-related project. The IP Rights area of 1322.26 discusses these requirements in the context of the ADL Registry and SCORM.
Section 6.4 of DoDI 1322.26 states, "Intellectual property rights shall be described in the ADL-Registry. Contract documents for distributed learning content shall invoke DFARS Subpart 227.71 and 227.72 to obtain the rights needed for the Government to be able to secure the minimum necessary rights and/or product..."
Also, according to Enclosure 4 of DoDI 1322.26, "The contracting officer is encouraged to use the clause DFARS 252.227-7020 in contracts to deliver distributed learning products when it is necessary so that the service provider, as one of the contract deliverables, copyright the resulting work and/or products and assign the copyright in its entirety to the Government."
ADL-Registry Requirements
The ADL-Registry metadata requires a "yes" or "no" under the "Copyright and other restrictions" field.
Definitions and copyright laws
More information on government copyright and intellectual property rights can be found at: http://www.cendi.gov/publications/04-8copyright.html.
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Where can I find sample contract language related to IP that has been used in government contracts for Distributed Learning?
Sample Contract Language follows:
The Government retains rights to all deliverables/materials (to include editable source files) produced as part of this Task Order, excluding COTS materials. All products developed under this contract shall belong solely to the Government. The government shall have the right to distribute all deliverables under this contract to any person or entity at no cost to the government or the user. There shall be no license or user fees associated with the deliverables under this contract. Products developed under this contract shall not have any commercial license or cost requirements for delivery to other federal, state, and local government customers. User information supplied to the contractor for access purposes shall be returned to the Government. The contractor shall ensure that all information submitted to the Government is accurate and up-to-date. The contractor shall support a seamless transition, transparent to the users, with no degradation of services. The contractor shall ensure that all data developed for and utilized by contractor staff and (Government Organization) in the execution of the aforementioned and detailed Knowledge Management (KM) tasks, is backed-up and protected, so that it can be reconstructed in the event of a catastrophic failure event.
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What are some areas to consider when purchasing an LMS product?
Below are several points to consider.
- LCMS vs. LMS The terms learning content management system (LCMS) and learning management system (LMS) cause confusion because of overlapping functionality among some vendors. LCMS functionality is quite varied and so as a product category it is nearly impossible to define. Often, LCMSs are used during the authoring/development cycle of learning content to manage and maintain all of the digital assets used in creating deployable content. Some LCMSs also include authoring capabilities. Most LCMSs are not intended to be used as the delivery/launch system fpr content deployment. For LCMSs there is no applicable compliance test, but content produced by the system can and should be tested for compliance.
- Hosted vs. Non-hosted System
- What is the cost for hosting course, configuration management, and help desk support?
- Can you provide these services?
- What is the average turn-around time for your help desk support?
- How many personnel do you have performing help desk support?
- Scalability
- How many users can your LMS support?
- How many users can be online concurrently?
- Technical Support
- What evidence do you have to demonstrate quality of service?
- Enterprise interoperability
- Does this system interface with other enterprise systems (Human Resources, Financial, etc.)?
- Does the system offer connectivity to your particular database vendor?
- Organizational Stability
- How long has the LMS/LCMS been on the market?
- What is the financial health of the manufacturer?
- SCORM Compliance SCORM-compliant LMSs should run any content that complies with the same version of SCORM, however ADL does not guaranteed this because of the complexity of the underlying specifications. A final acceptance of content from a contract developer should include a quality assurance step involving a human review of representative content, and a commitment from the vendor to fix bugs/problems if they are found later for some reasonable period of time. To verify system compliance, the following alternatives are available: Compliance. An error-free repeatable test log output for the LMS, produced by ADL SCORM (current version) Test Suite, providing evidence that the LMS (current version) compliance was achieved, will verify SCORM compliance. Certification. A certificate from an approved ADL Certification Testing Center, providing evidence that the LMS achieved the LMS SCORM Complaince Label, shall verify SCORM compliance.
- Information Assurance If the system must be installed on a network that requires information assurance certification, has the LMS/LCMS obtained this assurance already?
- Specific Use Case
- Areas Course and curriculum creation/development
- Creating, managing, and using learning objects (SCOs, Assets, etc.)
- Establish workflow
- Registration and scheduling functionality
- Course management and progress tracking
- Assessment functionality
- Competency management
- Reporting
- Asynchronous/synchronous learning
- System administration User notifications/signaling
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What is Section 508 Compliance?
Section 508 Compliance refers to 29 United States Code 794d. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others.
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Has there been research done on using technical data in training using the S1000D spec?
Please visit the ADL Job Performance Technology Center.
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