Educational Blog #1 of 2

Educational Blog #1 of 2
http://usacac.leavenworth.army.mil/BLOG/blogs/cgsc_student_blog/archive/2009/06/22/blended-learning-bl-ile-a-good-concept-but-continual-improvement-is-needed.aspx

Author: MAJ Gary Loucks

Topic: Blended Learning (BL) Intermediate Level Education (ILE): A Good Concept, But Continual Improvement is Needed

Audience: Military service members of all branches participating in Blended Learning at the Intermediate Level

Summary:
Warning! This blog is full of Army acronyms. Brace yourself.

This blog has an article posted that takes on the topic of “Blended Learning.” Collaboration is addressed, specifically with joint training, showing a need to connect this team effort in the inclusion of other branches of service (Navy, Air Force, and Marines).

There are suggestions for improvement. These improvements specifically address joint training and lengthening the face-to-face course time.

The ability for teamwork to successfully continue in this blended environment is at issue. This illustrates a very important point. There are some training scenarios that do not lend themselves well to a limited blended environment. The military audience and arena have to consider scenarios in a somewhat different light. Some military training scenarios, no matter how technologically infused, may not be served well unless adequate face-to-face time is considered. In this blended environment the suggestion is to allow more time for this to occur.

References and Additional Information:
b. Intermediate Level Education (ILE). ILE is a system rather than a single course. It is made up of two independent courses, ILE Common Core (ILECC) and a credentialing course that is specific to the career field of a particular student. CGSC is the proponent for the credentialing of Operations Career Field majors and has developed the Advanced Operations and Warfighting Course (AOWC). Other career fields and functional areas have developed or are in the process of developing their credentialing courses. http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/cgsc/repository/dde_1_catalogCh1.pdf


How this blog is relevant to my career:

In particular, this blog is doing its “job.” This author has offered suggestions for improvement. This is exactly how change is brought about. People, who take the time to think about how to improve the system, SHARE this information. This is how positive changes can occur. This is the feedback element that helps decision-making. This blog is relevant to my career because I will be designing instruction for these Soldiers. I need feedback to do my job. My job, of course, is to offer the best training possible to our Soldiers. I want feedback to guide me because I don’t know off hand (because I’m not in the actual classes) what is working and what needs to change.

Lessons Learned:
Only those people who have had experience with both methods of instruction, blended and actual “resident” classroom time, can give feedback on what “works” and what needs to change for successful learning to occur.