1. eGovernment Program AgLearn Overview Phase 1 March 2004

2. Agenda eLearning Initiative Overview What is an LMS?
LMS Benefits and Features
Integration Approach
Learning Management
Future Phases
Next Steps

3. Enterprise-Wide eLearning Benefits
An Enterprise-wide eLearning capability will provide financial benefits while at the same time improve the training opportunities available at USDA.
Strategic Benefits
Enhance the skill development of USDA employees by providing access to a wide array of training not previously available; and
Coordinate management, and promote interagency collaboration, of Federal eLearning services.
Utilize common soft skill content from Presidential eTraining initiative.
Financial Benefits
Eliminate redundancies among training offered within the enterprise;
Allow for economies of scale in the enterprise-wide purchase of eLearning products and services; and
Reduce travel expenses, training delivery costs, and training administration costs.
Operational Benefits
Transform the learning experience to include more online courses, in lieu of costly traditional training methods;
Link competency requirements and individual development plans;
Provide access to content from other government agencies;
Agency trainers will be able to devote their time to what they do best--training--rather than administration of IT systems; and
USDA LMS will become the official System of Record to store all training histories and training content.

4. Enterprise-Wide eLearning Solution
An Enterprise-wide solution will also provide many intangible benefits…
Intangible Benefits
Improving training effectiveness, resulting in a better-educated and more knowledgeable workforce characterized by improved judgment and decision-making
Enabling a single, web-based access point for class registration and the training catalog eases administration processes associated with training provided by outside partner institutions
Allowing employees access to training content, class registration, and course catalogs from any location at any time using a web browser
Automating administrative tasks, which allows administrators to focus on value added functions like course preparation, course review, and performance review

5. Reduction of Duplicative Services and Systems
To realize economies of scale and reductions in cost requires a consolidation of existing USDA training systems.
TRAI (Training Information System)
- USDA training system maintained by NFC containing USDA employee training histories.
TIPS (Training Integrated Personnel System)
A training system used by Forest Service to manage the registration, approval process, and costs associated with training.
VTA (Virtual Training Assistant)
Training system used by Food Safety and Inspection Service and Forest Service to manage registration of classroom and other types of training.
RMA Distance Learning
- A training creation and delivery system used by RMA.

6. Migration & Integration of Training Systems
For some USDA training systems providing unique services and capabilities, they will operate cooperatively with the USDA LMS.
I-CAMS Training Delivery and Management
A component of the I-CAMS personnel system used Service Center agencies to track and manage instructor-led training.
APHIS Agency Readiness Center
A system developed for the APHIS Veterinary Services to train and deploy First Responders.
RMA Distance Learning
- A training creation and delivery system used by RMA.

7. AgLearn - Phase 1
Phase 1 of the LMS implementation will include the following:
10 USDA Agencies with 7,500 users
Configuration of enterprise-based LMS settings including domains, organizations, student management, and security roles
Integration of “off-the-shelf” and custom USDA e-learning courseware
Migration of existing student data from the GoLearn (student data and training history)
USDA Customized User Interface branding
Operations Services and Tier 1 Help Desk Support
System Environment Maintenance and Hosting, including Courseware hosting
Configuration of online exams
One-way batch interface from I-CAMS (PeopleSoft 8.0) for student profile and training history
Migration of training history from GoLearn, I-CAMS, and TRAI

8. Agenda eLearning Initiative Overview What is an LMS?
LMS Benefits and Features
Integration Approach
Learning Management
Future Phases
Next Steps

9. What is an LMS?
A Learning Management System (LMS) is a software application that enables the delivery and management of all facets of training.
An LMS allows individuals and groups of users to:
Manage classrooms, learning assets, instructors, schedules, learning paths, and all of the necessary components to deliver training
View complete course listings and course information
Register, schedule, and track all training activity
Create, edit, manage and deliver content
Track competency and certification progress
Personalize training and development plans
Manage payments

10. How will an LMS be used by USDA?
The AgLearn LMS will provide for the management and delivery of USDA’s training and career development, and other capabilities.
Phase 1: Management and Delivery of Training
Other Functions
AgLearn
Phase 1:
Career Development Plans
Reporting
Future Phases:
Competencies
Skill Assessments
Certification Programs
Course Catalog
Traditional Classroom
Virtual Classroom
Online Training

11. Agenda eLearning Initiative Overview What is an LMS?
LMS Benefits and Features
Integration Approach
Learning Management
Future Phases
Next Steps

12. AgLearn Users
Users of AgLearn will include not only USDA employees, but also others who work closely with USDA.
USDA employees, including:
Agency Personnel
First Responders (USDA Homeland Security)
Domestic and Foreign Nationals
Others working with USDA programs, such as:
Federal
State and Local such as Wild Land Fire Fighters
USDA Contractors and Partners, such as:
Farmers
Rural Housing Loan Officers
Others

13. User Features
The new AgLearn LMS provides USDA employees and others with the ability to:
Search available training courses by title, subject area, or agency catalog
Register for courses – online, instructor-led, virtual, and other
Launch and Track Course – Record Scores
Access Reference Materials and Training
Systems Training and Support (ICAMS, IAS)
Desktop Application Support (Microsoft Office)
Business Skills (Supervisory Materials, Leadership, Project Management)
Manage Certification Requirements
Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) Training
Build Skills According to Competencies
Identify skill requirements for next job level, series, or position
2210 Series in progress; Others being planned
Fulfill Mandatory Training Requirements
IT Security, Civil Rights, Ethics
Deliver and record completion

14. USDA Supervisor/Manager Features
In addition to regular user features, USDA supervisors and managers will also be able to oversee the training activities of their employees, by the following:
Assign specific training to employees through AgLearn
Receive and Approve employee requests for USDA training
Track employee training activity
Receive Training Reports

15. Training Staff Features
Training Staff will be able to manage training more efficiently by using AgLearn to:
Centrally manage and track learning for entire assigned organization, group, or individual
Ability to leverage training across and within USDA agencies
Access reports containing agency training activity
Deliver online training materials, surveys, and exams
Schedule and manage instructor-led classes, online training, and virtual meetings
Manage facilities, assets, and courses (e.g., instructor, classroom, equipment)
Create certification and specialized training programs such as new employee orientation, COTR training, and others

16. Agenda eLearning Initiative Overview What is an LMS?
LMS Benefits and Features
Integration Approach
Learning Management
Future Phases
Next Steps

17. eLearning Migration & Integration Strategy
Current Environment
Future USDA LMS € € € €
Citizens
Business Partners
Presidential Initiative: Improve education and training services through e-Training
Isolated Systems and Agency Coordination
Manual Process
Employees
Enterprise eLearning Solution and Integration
Agency Training Systems
Departmental
I-CAMS
VTA
TIPS HR
Finance
AgLearn LMS
Online Courseware
Collaboration
Traditional Classroom
TRAI
APHIS & RMA LMS
Other Data bases
Procurement (IAS)
Skills Assessment
Content Management
USDA Initiative: build enterprise-wide capabilities for managing training
Training Admin
Duplication of Activities and Services
Limited System and Business Capabilities
Lack of Enterprise-wide Coordination
Manual, non-Standardized Processes
Cost Prohibitive HR
Finance / Procurement

18. Integrated Approach and Platform
The eLearning solution is built upon an integrated approach and platform for delivering new capabilities to USDA.
Centralized Hosting of Learning Solutions
GoLearn hosting facility at GP-eLearning (GPE) will include the following components:
Learning Management System – AgLearn
Delivery and management of training and career development
Learning Content and Courseware
GoLearn COTS Courseware (e.g., NETg, SkillSoft, Karta)
Custom Courseware, CBT, WBT
Reference Materials, Job Aides, Procedures
Web Meeting Services
Internally hosted within USDA

19. Data Migration and Management
Starting from existing LMS’s and other USDA training systems, the new LMS will be a single repository for all USDA training activity. All USDA employees will have access to the AgLearn system by end of FY2004.
GoLearn LMS (GeoLearning)
COTS Courseware
AgLearn hosted by GP-eLearning (GPE)
Student Profile Data
Training History
USDA Courseware
Student Profile Data
COTS Courseware
Other Internal USDA Training Systems
Training History
USDA Courseware
Student Profile Data
Training History

20. Transition of Sensitive Data
Current Employee Data Management Scheme
Future Employee Data Management Scheme
GoLearn Service Provider:
Geo Learning
GoLearn Service Provider:
GPE Learning
Hosts COTS Courseware and Employee Data in Canada
Hosts USDA-specific Courseware and Employee Data in Pennsylvania
COTS Courseware
Employee Data
COTS Courseware
USDA Courseware
Employee Data
COTS courseware available through GoLearn.Gov is hosted by Geo Learning.
Employee access and utilization uses the Geo Learning LMS services.
COTS courseware and USDA-developed courseware is hosted by GPE Learning in Pennsylvania
USDA employee data is hosted by GPE-Learning

21. Agenda eLearning Initiative Overview What is an LMS?
LMS Benefits and Features
Integration Approach
Learning Management
Future Phases
Next Steps

22. Approach to Learning Management
The AgLearn system is a role based system which provides for a secure environment to manage user permissions efficiently.
Role Based System
Student, Manager, Administrator
Roles define learning management functionality, system authority, and available views
Administrator
Manager
Manager
Manager
Student
Student
Student

23. Learning Management – Tailored Delivery
The enterprise LMS is customized to fit each agency’s training requirements. Through a student login, courseware can be assigned to specific groups (ie. Agencies) or made available to the “public” for all to view.
AgLearn
Public
Catalog
Agency 1
Agency 2
Student €
Student €
Catalog
Catalog

24. Learning Management - Domains
The AgLearn system maps to USDA’s organization in a hierarchical structure using Domains. Following is a part of the Domain structure to be used in AgLearn.
USDA
Public Level
Mission Area
FNCS
FSIS
FFAS
MRP
NREE RD
OCFO
REE
OHRM
To be determined by each agency
Agency
Agency
Locations and Other Sub-Domains
Sub-Domain
Sub-Domain

25. Agenda eLearning Initiative Overview What is an LMS?
LMS Benefits and Features
Integration Approach
Learning Management
Future Phases
Next Steps

26. Future Phases
Following Phase 1 will be additional system rollouts to the remainder of USDA and other system enhancements as determined by agencies.
Next Phases will include:
Phased rollout to all USDA employees and agencies (FY2004)
Competency and Skills Assessment
Financial and Procurement System Integration (IAS)
Multi-level supervisor approval process for training requests
SF-182 Training Approval Process
Entry of non-component items on development plan
Agency specific customizations

27. Agenda eLearning Initiative Overview What is an LMS?
LMS Benefits and Features
Integration Approach
Learning Management
Future Phases
Next Steps

28. Phase 1 Launch of AgLearn
Next Steps
Phase 1 Launch of AgLearn
FY04 – Q2
10 Agencies with 7,500 users
Phase 2
FY04 – Q3
Integration with eAuthentication solution
Add additional estimated 60,000 users from
APHIS FS
FSA
FSIS
RMA
Phase 3
FY04 – Q4
Remaining USDA Employees