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Modernizing Learning - Building the Future Learning Ecosystem

April 30, 2019

A new book exploring the future learning ecosystem

The ADL Initiative recently released Modernizing Learning: Building the Future Learning Ecosystem. This open-access publication examines the shift needed to our systems and society to enable lifelong, experiential, interconnected learning journeys. The book outlines the vision for a learning ecosystem that spans technology, learning science, policy, and organizational factors.

“The progress we’ve made both in terms of new technologies as well as our understanding of human cognition have created new opportunities to improve the ways we learn,” said Sae Schatz, Ph.D., Director of the ADL Initiative and co-editor of the book, “The future learning ecosystem represents a dynamic contrast to the Industrial Age model of time-focused, one-size-fits-all learning.”

“Extensive learning and technological research have been conducted across the myriad disciplines and communities needed to develop this holistic maturation of the learning ecosystem,” said J.J. Walcutt, Ph.D. co-editor, “These advancements have created the opportunity for formal and informal learning experiences to be accessible anywhere, anytime, and to be personalized to individual needs.”

Modernizing Learning is the outcome of a multi-year study recently completed by the ADL Initiative, a DoD-sponsored program that conducts research, development, testing, evaluation, and policy stewardship to enhance distributed learning. More than 85 stakeholders from across communities contributed, bringing together perspectives from K–12 educators, military trainers, technology specialists, and government leaders.

Section 1: Foundations

Chapter 01 Modernizing Learning
  • J.J. Walcutt, Ph.D., Director of Innovation, ADL Initiative
  • Sae Schatz, Ph.D., Director, ADL Initiative, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Education and Training
Chapter 02 History of Distributed Learning
  • Arthur Graesser, Ph.D., Professor, The University of Memphis
  • Xiangen Hu, Ph.D., Professor, The University of Memphis
  • Steve Ritter, Ph.D., Co-Founder/Chief Product Architect, Carnegie Learning
Chapter 03 Distributed Learning Instructional Theories
Chapter 04 Lifelong Learning
  • J.J. Walcutt, Ph.D., Director of Innovation, ADL Initiative
  • Naomi Malone, Ph.D., Research Scientist (Contractor), ADL Initiative
Chapter 05 Learning Experience Design
  • Sae Schatz, Ph.D., Director, ADL Initiative


Section 2: Technology

Chapter 06 Interoperability
  • Brent Smith, R&D Principal (Contractor), ADL Initiative
  • Prasad Ram, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, Gooru
Chapter 07 Data Security
Chapter 08 Learner Privacy
Chapter 09 Analytics and Visualization
Chapter 10 Personalization


Section 3: Learning Science

Chapter 11 Assessment and Feedback
  • Debra Abbott, Ph.D., Metis Solutions contractor, Joint Special Operations University, U.S. Special Operations Command
Chapter 12 Instructional Strategies for the Future
Chapter 13 Competency-Based Learning
Chapter 14 Social Learning
Chapter 15 Personalization


Section 4: Organization

Chapter 16 Instructional Designers and Learning Engineers
Chapter 17 Governance for Learning Ecosystems
Chapter 18 Culture Change
Chapter 19 Strategic Planning
  • William Peratino, Ph.D., Deputy Director, USALearning, U.S. Office of Personnel Management
  • Mitchell Bonnett, Ph.D., Distributed Learning Research, Standards & Specifications, Directorate of Distributed Learning, Army University, U.S. Army Dale Carpenter, Superintendent (Acting), U.S. National Park Services
  • Yasir Saleem, Senior Solutions Consultant, Adobe
  • Van Brewer, Ph.D., External R&D Principal (Contractor), ADL Initiative

This publication, available for free at the Government Printing Office under a permissive Creative Commons license, outlines what we need to build for tomorrow to empower our children, workforce, society, and military personnel to achieve.

Modernizing Learning is available for download here in both English and French. More information is also available from the Government Publishing Office.