Panel says e-learning a necessity
The Clinton administration announced Oct. 4 that it has approved recommendations designed to accelerate the use of technology in federal training programs and create a better trained federal workforce
The Clinton administration announced Oct. 4 that it has approved recommendations
designed to accelerate the use of technology in federal training programs
and create a better-trained federal workforce.
The interagency Task Force on Federal Training Technology had submitted
the recommendations to President Clinton for approval in July. The task
force is led by the Office of Personnel Management and was formed through
an executive order signed by the president in 01/1999.
Without continuous learning, federal workers will not be able to deliver
the services the public expects, the task force said in its report. "Using
technology to fulfill a growing need for retraining and new skills is no
longer an option; it is a necessity," according to the task force.
The task force recommendations are to:
* Create a one-stop shop for agencies seeking assistance and information
on implementing technology-based training.
* Require agencies to establish specific training goals and measures
as part of their Government Performance and Results Act annual performance
plans.
* Establish a governmentwide innovation fund to support agency requests
for technology-based training.
* Launch a campaign to educate senior officials on the advantages of
using learning technology.
* Develop a program to promote existing procurement flexibility for
agency acquisitions of learning technology.
The next step is putting the recommendations into action. "We will start
creating the initiatives that will make the use of learning technology a
viable and cost-effective tool for addressing the training needs of our
workforce," said OPM Director Janice Lachance.
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