Shrinking travel budgets, limited physical space and increased student throughput place heavy burdens on training providers to utilize alternative delivery approaches that are effective. The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) is addressing these issues by developing and implementing learning assets conducive to a non-classroom setting. This represents a paradigm shift from traditional methods to train the Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition workforce. The use of social media tools has been identified as a viable solution; however preparing instructor staff in the use of these tools is necessary. This paper examines the use of non-traditional course delivery systems to build immersive training experiences that promote student interaction and engagement while addressing the throughput problem. Two courses, each with their own unique learning outcome requirements, were developed. Both were piloted using delivery tools available to DAU specifically, Socialtext, Blackboard, and Defense Connect Online (DCO).

The delivery method selected for the specific courses allowed students to apply what was being learned in different ways depending on the intended student outcomes. One course design (primarily utilizing Blackboard and DCO as delivery structures) delivered at a synchronous pace, allowed for the immersive engagement of an authentic problem within a team structure so that instructors could monitor student engagement regardless of student physical location. The other course was delivered via Socialtext. This design provided immersive self-directed learning experiences such that learners could examine and utilize a variety of social media tools within the tools themselves at an individual pace and desired depth of understanding.

The authors present the considerations and methodology used to design the courses with appropriate student activities that allowed for transfer of learning within the capacities and constraints of the tools. Additionally, pilot results demonstrating the effectiveness of the courses from student and instructor perspectives and next steps for course revisions will be presented.