1	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors from Eight Government Training Courses Presented to the Distance Teaching and Learning Conference 16 August 2002
2	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses John Bennett, M.S. Retired Navy Pilot and DoD Program Manager Kurt Rowley, PhD,Instructional Systems Research & Development, Inc. (ISRD) Ellen Bunker, PhD, ISRD
3	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses DAU and Student Information Research Project Basis and Design Data Collection/Analysis Results Discussion and Conclusions
4	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses DAU consists of five campuses across the United States Capital/Northeast Mid-Atlantic Midwest South West
5	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses DAU faculty: Are both military and civilian with backgrounds as practitioners of Acquisition Management Develop and Teach Acquisition Workforce training courses Provide Performance Support, Knowledge Management and Continuous Learning resources Conduct research
6	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses Student characteristics Professional DoD employees Variety of backgrounds & experience levels Drawn from all four services and DOD agencies Both military and civilian Continuous supply Certification courses required for career advancement No out-of-pocket costs for students
7	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses Corporate University Model Provide more services on-demand Shift away from traditional classroom teaching Flexibility for students Instructional opportunities Cost savings Increased throughput
8	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses Context of the Research Course development manager responsibilities Dynamically changing management and technical environment Course selection criteria
9	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses Definition of Technology-Based Courses Audience poll What three factors were most important to the successful development of our tech-based courses? Effectively Blending Delivery Modes/Technologies Technical Configuration Control Project Planning/Management Techniques
10	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses Literature review Large body of knowledge available Qualitative design Guided interviews Qualitative data analysis Post-hoc analysis and review of findings
11	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses Face-to-face guided interviews Transcript analysis identified 99 issues Issues were organized into main theme categories Ten most commonly recurring issues identified as success factors Post-hoc analysis reviewed by course managers Ten initial factors reduced to eight Factors #3 and #7 combined Factors #8 and #10 combined
12	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses Eight success factors were identified 1. Effectively Blending Technologies Analysis of available delivery technologies Blending technologies to optimize learning 2. Technical configuration control Maintaining version control over updated content Maintaining version control over course releases Controlling and tracking learning objectives across content and exams
13	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses Identified success factors (continued) 3. Project Planning and Management Techniques Defining requirements and developing effective baselines Making appropriate management tradeoffs 4. (tie) Meeting student needs with sound instructional design strategies Particularly important for online interactions Consider difficulty level, student preparedness, and providing students an effective learning environment
14	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses Identified success factors (continued) 4. (tie) Subject Matter Expert Availability Timely access to subject matter experts 4. (tie) Effective Test and Evaluation Early usability testing of prototypes Iterative formative testing Pilot offerings to both faculty and students
15	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses Identified success factors (continued) 5. Staffing and teaming Proper skill mix Integrated team Effective, well-understood team processes 6. Long-term technology support Consideration of future technology requirements Compatibility with future software versions
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17	Managing the Development of Technology-Based Courses: Success Factors From Eight Government Training Courses Relationship of DAU success factors to literature Both addressed human factors and technology DAU addressed more Project Management issues Research provided a reasonable group of success factors Further research warranted Understand mechanisms for their application in future course developments Take-Away Effectively integrate Technical, Design and Managerial skills in a team environment for optimal results