Technology-based training gets a lift
The White House approves recommendations designed to accelerate the use of technology in federal training programs and create a bettertrained federal workforce
The Task Force on Federal Training Technology's report
The White House announced this week that is 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 the president for approval in July. The task force
is led by the Office of Personnel Management and was formed through an executive
order signed by President Clinton in 01/1999.
Training is essential for today's workers, especially as agencies make
more services available online. Without continuous learning and development,
federal workers will not be able to deliver the services and programs 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 and 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 flexibilities for
agency acquisitions for learning technology.
The next step is putting these recommendations into action. "Now that
the president has approved our recommendations, 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 work force," said OPM director
Janice Lachance.
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