ConnectSolutions developed an integrated learning module centered on an instructor-led virtual course.
by Site Staff
November 19, 2012
CONNECTSOLUTIONS
ConnectSolutions, a provider of unified communications as a service, is accustomed to coming up with learning services for large enterprise and government organizations. But the company had to exercise significant outside-the-box thinking and a blended technology approach to provide new learning instruction for the Veterans Affairs (VA) Acquisition Academy.
In the last year, the Office of Management and Budget outlined new training requirements for contracting officer representatives who help with federal acquisitions and contracts. The VA employs more than 10,000 of these representatives at any time. Further, ConnectSolutions had to be mindful of budget cuts for travel-related spending at the VA.
ConnectSolutions developed an integrated learning module centered on an instructor-led virtual course. The virtual nature of the training significantly reduced travel expenses. ConnectSolutions used Adobe Connect software to develop the course. Adobe Connect allowed ConnectSolutions to develop a Flash-based training module without requiring the potentially problematic task of downloading software to participants’ desktops.
The four-hour course takes place over eight days. The instruction incorporates multiple modes of learning, including lecture, game, individual and team projects, and a threaded case study. ConnectSolutions worked to make this virtual course as interactive as possible by including discussions, group rooms, polls and games. Most importantly, trainees use a contracting officer representative toolkit, which they can access while in the field to remind them of new processes and procedures.
All of the training modules needed to meet stringent security mandates from the federal government. ConnectSolutions focused on meeting these mandates so the VA Acquisition Academy could focus on creating new content. In the first year, employee confidence in performing contract officer representative tasks increased 20 percent. In the same time period, representatives’ self-evaluation of their ability to perform 20 critical competencies increased 40 percent.