Interactive Multimedia Instruction for Training Self-Directed Learning Techniques

This report presents an interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) exemplar developed for the TRADOC Institute for Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Development (INCOPD) to train new NCOs on effective self-directed learning skills. Army NCOs must often learn new knowledge and skills on their own in the course of their duties, without the benefit of formal schoolhouse training. On this basis, being skilled in self-directed learning may facilitate NCOs long-term professional development. This IMI exemplar applies point of need tailored-training instructional designs derived from previous research (see Blankenbeckler, Graves, and Wampler, 2014; Graves, Blankenbeckler, Wampler, and Roberts, in press) to the acquisition and refinement of self-directed learning skills. Previous research by Graves, Rauchfuss, and Wisecarver (2012) documenting the strategies and techniques NCOs use to learn on their own across the span of their careers provided the subject content for this IMI exemplar. Additional research is planned for 2016-2017 to refine and validate the IMI research product described in this report with NCOs enrolled in Basic Leadership Courses and Advanced Leadership Courses. The IMI DVD is available in DTIC as ARI Research Product 2016-05.