CHISINAU, Moldova (23-25 November, 2017) - From 23 to 26 April, the Advanced Distributed Learning Working Group (ADL WG) held its first workshop of the season in Chisinau, Moldova. The workshop emphasized the progress made by nations and institutions comparatively new to ADL, and also focused on the provision of a better user interface using state-of-the-art video embedding technology, sustainment of the PfP Consortium ADL WG’s website by integrating into the GlobalNet framework and application to language training.

Riga, Latvia (May 2, 2016) -- The Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Working Group, sponsored by the Partnership for Peace Consortium (PfPC) at the George C. Marshall Center in Garmisch, Germany, met from 25 - 27 April 2016 in Riga, Latvia. This workshop meeting, graciously hosted by the Latvian National Defence Academy, saw approximately 40 participants from 14 countries in attendance.

Technology has been part of education and training in security and defense organizations for a long time. E-learning and advanced distributed learning (ADL) have helped to standardize, optimize, and scale education and training. Many organizations and affiliated institutions already make good use of Web-based technologies to provide training for performance support and career development. Over the past years, ADL solutions have become part of the standard procedures of many organizations. The Partnership for Peace Consortium (PfPC) plays an important role in facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experiences among ADL practitioners in defense academies. The ADL Working Group of the PfPC is home to a strong and active community that brings new technologies into the practice of education and training in security and defense organizations. In the past, the primary focus of ADL activities was creating and enhancing interoperable Web-based training modules by promoting the adoption of the Scalable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM). The joint learning management system of the PfPC that is hosted by the International Relations and Security Network (ISN) based in Zurich has become a hub for Web-based training resources that are shared and used by the entire PfPC ADL community.

The Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative’s Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM®) has been a staple of online learning standards since 2001. The SCORM specification was created by ADL to address interoperability challenges that existed prior to the wide adoption of touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. A new interoperability standard is needed to support training opportunities on mobile devices. ADL’s Experience API (xAPI) can now provide an option for mobile devices to support traditional online training scenarios as well as new types of informal learning opportunities. However, a mobile SCORM capability involves more than simply ensuring technical compatibility with a new technology. It has new implications for instructional design as well as the potential to improve the overall learning experience. Mobile learning is now a ubiquitous educational technology, one that introduces both exciting capabilities and complexity into the learning design process. However, there are very few guidelines for developing mobile learning. As a growing number of mobile innovations become available in the learning space, education and training technology thought leaders are now interested in how to effectively design programs for a variety of mobile learning scenarios. ADL is currently leading a project that will develop an instructional design framework along with guidelines and best practices to better support mobile learning design.

PfPC's Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Working Group seeks enhancements to ADL capabilities, improving NATO e-learning platforms as well as new initiatives.