The Defense Education and Training Network Receives Innovation Award
The Defense Education and Training Network (DETN) is an instructional interactive television (ITV) network consisting of one-way satellite video uplinks reaching receive-only downlinks supported by two-way audio interaction. Due to current military budget constraints, exacerbated by military deployment requirements, the learning participants were not always located at a remote satellite downlink site. Consequently, the DETN researched for alternative solutions to deliver course content and other information sharing opportunities in supporting a distance learning strategy. The DETN pursued working with other federal government agencies for economical and efficient mediums to help reduce or eliminate existing training gaps. The DETN teamed with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to create the capability to stream content globally. This innovation solution created the opportunities for deployed military and Department of Defense (DOD) personnel receive the training heretofore unavailable to them.
The result was the ability to transmit conventional and wartime training content and information sharing events through DETN video streaming capabilities. Consequently, the DETN significantly reduced the pre-existing training gap and increased the readiness of our nation’s war fighters. Since this solution utilized existing technology and resources within the Federal Government, the additional student education and training hours resulted in a “zero” operational cost to the government. The streaming capability initiative allows the availability of the training to reach a larger audience in critical need of the training at a particular time at zero operational expense to the taxpayer.
Video streaming capability accomplishments:
- Drastically increased the video distance learning “anytime anywhere” concept within DOD
- Implemented existing technology within the Federal Government to deliver synchronous and asynchronous distance learning courses at “zero” operational cost
- Significantly multiplied the number of learning events’ participants
- Raised the number of education and training blended learning opportunities
- Established a viable distance learning medium alternative for individuals to meet their training requirements
- Allowed Federal Government Agencies the ability to meet training requirements that were previously stagnated by current mission requirements and geographic barriers
