Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Arizona State University

Mission The ASU ADL Partnership Lab’s primary focus will be on exploratory learning environments which are more task than content oriented. This includes learning that takes place in simulated environments, context-aware performance support, and just-in-time learning to support on-the-job performance of individuals and teams. The lab is looking to a future that moves beyond the traditional training “course." It is looking towards a new paradigm for learning that is lifelong and integrates with everything we do. Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) The ADL Initiative began as a DoD-wide program in the 1990s and continues to have defense personnel as core constituents. Today’s stakeholders are from a wider background that includes government, industry and academia. The mission of this US government program is to promote best practices for distributed learning that is of highest-quality training, informal learning, and just-in-time support for individual needs that are cost-effective for anytime anywhere learning. ADL research is focused on six general areas: e-Learning (web-based learning) Mobile learning and mobile performance support Learning analytics and performance modeling Learning theory Total Learning Architecture infrastructures (TLA) Web-based Virtual Worlds and simulation (VWs) Three areas of effort pursued by the ADL Initiative are: Thought leadership R&D innovation Outreach and transition Results of ADL’s efforts and collaboration can be found on their website. Leadership Nancy J. Cooke Cooke is a professor of Human Systems Engineering in the Polytechnic School, one of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU and is a Science Director of the Cognitive Engineering Research Institute in Mesa, AZ. She is also associate editor of Human Factors and immediate past president of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. She also recently chaired a study panel for the National Academies on Enhancing the Effectiveness of Team Science. Cooke was a member of the US Air Force Scientific Advisory Board from 2008-2012. Cooke’s research interests include the study of individual and team cognition and its application to the development of cognitive and knowledge engineering methodologies, cognitive task analysis, sensor operator threat detection, homeland security systems, remotely-operated vehicles, human-robot interaction, healthcare systems, and emergency response systems. In particular, Cooke specializes in the development, application, and evaluation of methodologies to elicit and assess individual and team cognition. Education: Ph.D., Psychology New Mexico State University. Nancy Cooke Scotty D. Craig Craig is an Associate Professor in the Human Systems Engineering Program within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU. His goal is to provide cutting-edge research at the intersection of human cognition, technology, and the learning sciences which provides solutions to real-world problems within education and training. His current research focuses on improving learning with higher-level cognition factors such as comprehension, discourse, and cognitive-affective states through the use of virtual humans within technological environments. Education: Ph.D., Experimental Psychology (Cognitive), The University of Memphis.