The
FBI Virtual Academy: Information and Agency Application
Introduction.......Training
Partners.......Virtual Academy Highlights.......Registering
for the FBIVA.......FAQs.......Agency
Application Information.......Agency
Application Form
Questions?
Introduction
The FBI has
unveiled the FBI Virtual Academy (FBIVA): a structured, efficient,
electronically delivered system of learning that adds value to the
forensic science, law enforcement, and judicial communities by providing
a single, comprehensive learning solution that offers a web-based
means of accessing and acquiring the essential knowledge, skills,
and competencies (through relevant and consistent training and materials)
needed to support the worldwide criminal justice community.
To fulfill
this mission, we have taken two important steps:
- Established
training partners to work together with us to standardize key
curricula and ensure the development of educationally sound practices
in developing both traditional classroom and interactive multimedia
instruction and
- Purchased
and customized a powerful but intuitive learning content management
system for the Virtual Academy's infrastructure.
Training
Partners
Collaborations
are valuable because they provide broader perspectives and help
in the standardization of training. The training partners will work
together under the guidance of the Technical Working Group for Educational
Development (TWGED) to:
- Develop
standard curriculum guidelines for classroom and self-paced continuing
professional development courses that will require:
- defined,
job-related instructional objectives
- pre-assessments
to identify current knowledge/competencies
- content
that supports the instructional objectives
- post-assessments
with defined pass/fail parameters
- Develop
and implement an instructor approval process
- Develop
a standard course/instructor evaluation tool
- Establish
a review process for all courses to ensure that:
- the
curriculum guidelines have been followed
- content
is based on valid and reliable and/or on generally accepted
principles
- Develop
course/instructor training materials for the training partners
to use
- Use self-paced
courses as prerequisites for classroom training (where appropriate)
- Offer an
integrated course catalog, searchable by keyword or topic
Virtual
Academy Highlights
The FBI Virtual
Academy has now "opened its doors" for user registration!
FBI Virtual Academy Campus
Map
The Virtual
Academy will do far more than just automate training registration
and tracking. It will provide opportunities for
- Expanding
training with distance learning (Learning
Center)
- Documenting
training and professional development through individual transcripts
(Administration)
- Supporting
the Scientific Working Groups (Teaming Center)
- Providing
access to powerful reference materials using a customized Dialog
search engine (Library)
- Establishing
collaboration with strategic Training Partners using a consolidated
course catalog and joint course review, approval, and evaluation
process (Conference Center)
- Sharing best
practices, experts, and other knowledge mining tools (Conference
and Student Centers)
- Offering
individual development plans for promoting the professional growth
of employees (Personal Room)
- Interacting
with fellow students (Student Center)
- Learning
about career opportunities (Student Center)
- Providing
input through surveys to improve training and other related programs
(Faculty Center)
- Seeing community
events at a glance (Site Calendar)
- And much
more
Registering
for the FBIVA
Agency applications
for the Virtual Academy are well underway. We have received more
than 1,000 law enforcement, forensic laboratory, and judicial system
agency applications since posting the online application in the
January 2002 issue of Forensic Science Communications (FSC).
Registering
for the Virtual Academy requires several steps. Agencies and their
employees must go through these steps before they can begin to use
the Virtual Academy. The following estimated timeline helps explain
this on-going process:
January
2002: Agencies began registering for the Virtual Academy using
the agency application form found below. Identifying a Training
Manager for the agency is a key part of this registration. Students
will not be able to use the Virtual Academy until their agencies
are registered.
March 2002:
The FBI Laboratory Training Unit began verifying agency application
information and approving agencies, which will allow its employees
to register and enroll in courses.
June 2002:
The Training Unit began verifying agencies with the Field Office
who will become their liaison for the course enrollment and approval
process.
September
2002: The FBI certification and accredition process continues
to ensure the security of the information in the Virtual Academy.
September/October
2002: Training Managers of approved agencies will receive
instructions on student registration and course enrollment procedures
by e-mail from the Training Unit.
September/October
2002: Students can register and begin using the Virtual Academy.
October
2002: New fiscal year for training begins.
FAQs
Question:
Is the FBI discontinuing its Quantico, Virginia, classes and offering
only Internet training?
Answer:
No. The FBI will continue to hold its classes at its physical
academy in Quantico. The Virtual Academy is simply a new vehicle
for registering students for those classes, revealing new kinds
of training, supplying information, and circulating collaboration
opportunities to the criminal justice community. Thus, once the
system is fully operational, registration for both traditional
classroom instruction and interactive multi-media instruction
will occur only through the Virtual Academy.
Question: What does it cost to use the Virtual Academy?
Answer:
Nothing. Use of the Virtual Academy is free. However, some of
the courses offered (e.g., those provided by one of our Training
Partners) may have fees associated with them. Such costs will
appear with the course information reached from the Course Catalog.
Question: When will the Administrative Advanced Latent Fingerprints
(or any other course) be offered?
Answer:
The Course Catalog lists all course offerings when they become
available. Courses having an active session display the date,
time, instructor, and location. Students cannot request enrollment
in courses without an active session listing. (NOTE: Please
do not call to inquire about when a particular class will be held;
it will be posted as soon as a session is approved.)
Question: I am having a problem getting my agency registered
through FSC. What can I do?
Answer:
Fax your application to 703-632-4657, and we will enter it manually.
Agency
Application Information
To become a
part of the FBI Virtual Academy community, please complete the application
found by clicking on the Agency Application Form link below. You
must submit this information before individuals from your agency
can register to begin using the Virtual Academy.
- Complete
one application for each separate entityforensic
laboratory, law enforcement, or judicial systemwithin
your agency. An agency may submit up to three agency applications,
based on the entities in their organizational structure.
- Identify
a Training Manager for each application.
It is vital to the effectiveness of your training program that
you select an appropriate person for this position. For guidance
with this decision, a brief description of the Training Manager's
responsibilities appear below.
NOTE:
If you are part of a laboratory system, please submit an application
and identify a Training Manager
for each individual/branch laboratory in the system.
TRAINING
MANAGER
- Responsible
for first-line course approval for your agency's employees
- Responsible
for verifying independent learning events (e.g., academic degrees,
training taken outside of the Virtual Academy) before they are
included in an employee's official transcript
- Responsible
for establishing individual development plans for your employees
(optional)
- Required
to have Internet connection to the Virtual Academy and e-mail
to carry out administrative responsibilities
When your agency
is registered, employees and students will be able to register for
the Virtual Academy themselves, or through the Training Manager.
Please submit your application(s) as soon as possible.
Please direct
any problems you have with this application to:
Debbie
Hauger
Training Unit
FBI Academy
Quantico, Virginia 22135-0001
dhauger@fbiacademy.edu
Fax: (703) 632-4657
Agency
Application Form
Questions?
Contact:
Jane M.
Homeyer
Training Unit Chief
FBI Academy
Quantico, Virginia 22135
Phone: (703) 632-4630
Fax: (703) 632-4657
E-mail: jhomeyer@fbiacademy.edu
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