Maximizing Training Efficiency: Budget Dilemmas and Solutions

1. Budget Dilemmas: Do More with Less … F.B.I.N.A.A. Illinois Chapter September 08, 2011 American Military University Daytona Beach Police Department SPS Group Chuck Russo, PhD

2. Agenda • 0845 hours to 1200 hours • Index cards • 10 minute breaks on/about the hour • Fundamentals of online learning • Agency in-service training • Trainer Multiplier

3. Chuck Russo, PhD Professor – American Military University Police Officer – Daytona Beach Police Dept. Trainer, Instructor, Designer & Consultant

4. Fundamentals of Online Learning Bringing together: • Learner • Content • Internet • Platform

5. Learner • Sworn personnel • Non-sworn personnel • Partnering agencies • Public

6. Content Formats Include: • Computer based training (CBT) • Blended courses • Instructor led learning

7. Internet Accessible via: • MDT • Workstations • Palm devices • Home

8. Platform Learning Management System (LMS) • Blackboard • WebCT • Moodle • Sakai

9. Effectiveness Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning –US DoE 2009 Meta Analysis Contrasted: • Online to face-to-face instruction • Measured student learning outcomes • Rigorous research design

10. CBT • Least Effective • Even When Coupled With: • Chats • Discussions • Emails

11. Blended Courses • Compared to fully online courses • Found to be: • Less effective than fully online courses • Online students scored significantly higher

12. Instructor Led Learning • Higher student learning outcomes • Application and use of material increased • As effective if not more effective than face-to-face learning

13. Index Cards and Break • Questions? • Concerns? • Put them on the cards • 10 minute break

15. 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

16. Online Environment for Training Roadblocks: • Cost • Server issues • Design issues • Maintenance issues • Proposed savings

17. 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

18. Moodle 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

19. Olc Screen Shot

20. Daytona Beach P.D. Moodle used for the Online Learning Center Considerations: • Cost • Flexibility • Adaptability • Ease of Editing • Cost

21. 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

22. Use of Force Training

23. 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

24. Online Learning Center Pleasant Surprises: • Officer buy-in over 80% • Software proved stable • Add-ons (certificate) worked well • Recordkeeping not as bad as feared

25. First Year Results • 225 registered users • Almost 1,000 training certificates issued

26. Today’s Results • Utilizing in house talent • Small expenditure of funds • Large return on investment • DBPD Online Learning Center • Over 2500 training certificates issued • $16,000 investment • Software hosting + salary • 2500 hours of rededicated training time • $75,000 cost savings

27. Future 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

28. FTEP

29. 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

30. Index Cards and Break • Questions? • Concerns? • Put them on the cards • 10 minute break

32. Trainer Multiplier

33. Invest in Training? • One of the few areas you can put some $$ in and get $$$$$$$$$$ out • Return on investment (ROI)

34. Trainer as a Force Multiplier • One Trainer in training • Designs training • Distributes modules • Shift/squad level trainers • Presents canned content to personnel

35. Trainer Needs • Instructor certification • Adult learning • Instructional design • Presentation skills • Technology competency • PowerPoint, Word, etc.

36. Trainer Tasks • Designs training modules • Briefing training • 10-15 minutes in duration • All content, handouts, supplemental materials, quizzes, etc. provided to presenter • Maintains records

37. Shift/Squad Level Trainer Needs • Instructor certification • Same as Trainer needs • Job competency • Respect from peers • Must be able to “sell” training module

38. Shift/Squad Level Trainer • New “gateway” assignment/position/task: • Trainer position • Field training officer • Supervisor • Field training officer • Supervisor

39. Shift/Squad Level Trainer Tasks • Prepares for presentation • Reviews materials • Makes necessary copies • Presents materials in squad/briefing setting • Administers quiz if necessary • Returns quizzes, sign in materials to Trainer

40. Topic Selection • Low repetition, high liability • Low repetition, low liability • High repetition, high liability • High repetition, low liability

41. Topic Rotation * Per individual per year

42. Investment In One Trainer = • 40-60 hours of annual training per officer • Improved performance • Conform to standards • Confidence in knowledge • Reduced agency liability

43. Questions? Comments? Concerns?

44. Presentation Materials and Additional Information Chuck Russo, PhD ChuckRusso@me.com 386.527.2462 www.SPSGrp.com http://DaytonaState.edu/COPST