Individually Adapted Web-based Training

Sonalysts is pleased to offer this proposal to create a system for delivering individually adaptive web-based training (WBT). Our system will successfully deliver training via Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) and similar proven systems dedicated to other services or agencies. Moreover, our system will assemble individualized courses from objects found in content repositories used by the U.S. Navy or other services or agencies. The system will develop an individualized training plan for each user, assemble the material required by the plan, deliver the material to the user, monitor their progress throughout the plan, and re-plan as needed. Our approach is based on a technological foundation established by InTrain™, our tool for individually adaptive interactive multimedia instruction. InTrain has many similarities with the ONR-supported REDEEM. In broad terms, our primary Phase I technical goal is to identify how best to leverage existing standards and practices to provide the means for delivering individually adaptive web-based instruction. In the course of this investigation, we will undoubtedly encounter portions of the standards and practices that could be enhanced to optimize the efficacy of this instruction. Similarly, we anticipate identifying changes required to our existing technology to harmonize it with this environment. BENEFITS: Sonalysts believes that the commercialization potential of our approach is high. As evidence of this potential, we have secured letters of endorsement from both the DD(X) program and the Center for Surface Combat Systems and we intend to aggressively pursue the SBIR Fast Track option. Commercialization will be further enhanced to the extent that our approach is broadly acceptable to the community at large. To facilitate this, Sonalysts will accept as a design constraint the imperative to conceive of a solution path that will allow those who build shareable (adaptive) instructional objects and those building the learning management systems responsible for their delivery to add support for adaptive instruction in a manner that simply extends rather than replaces mechanisms and processes already in-use. Together with the development of adaptive training “success stories,” Sonalysts believes that this approach will overcome the cultural and political impediments to broad acceptance.