Beyond Our Training World

Sometimes it’s good to learn what is going on in the training world beyond our corporate-generated one. The Department of Defense (DoD) is a leader in all forms of training. Its research and development has contributed to many civilian areas of training and instructional design. It is no surprise to find a substantial learning management system geared toward DoD personnel.

The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) is a learning portal offered to all DoD Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (AT&L) personnel. As explained in Frank J. Anderson’s Message from the President, it is designed to support the goals of its stakeholders, keep a customer-centric attitude, and support the new learning paradigm from that of classroom to a total learning environment.

Like most professional training, DAU offers training in areas of essential to maintaining and advancing individual careers, while adhering to DoD goals. To accomplish a total learning environment, the DAU follows their Performance Learning Model to support the training offered.

AT&L areas of training include:

• Certification training
• Assignment-specific training
• Executive & International training

DAU has adopted the popular strategy that learning does not end with the course.

The total learning environment includes:

• Training courses in all available formats geared toward certifications and assignment-specific training.
• Continuous learning area offers a substantial catalog of both online and classroom courses plus conferences and symposiums geared to enhancing the individual’s professional career.
• Knowledge sharing with a Community Connection offering access to presentations, references, learning materials, related websites, and discussion areas. The DAU Virtual Library is also available.
• Performance support that includes consulting, mentoring, executive coaching, team collaboration support, analysis, and problem solving.

The DAU provides the courses to train its personnel, as well as the encouragement and support to make the successful transition of that knowledge into the performance environment.

DAU: www.dau.mil