Blended Learning Solutions

Protected Critical Infrastructure Information Program

Project Description

Booz Allen has provided learning strategy and hybrid learning program development for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP), an office within DHS’ Preparedness Directorate. The Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) Program allows private industry to voluntarily submit critical infrastructure information to DHS for safeguarding from public disclosure.  The PCII Program enables the owners and operators of critical infrastructure to enter into a public–private partnership for information sharing in support of the Government’s effort to reduce the nation’s vulnerability to a terrorist attack.  Within the program, Booz Allen is providing program and subject matter expertise, including the following:

Blended Training Design and Development. The training of PCII Officers and PCII authorized users is mandated by the DHS Procedures for Handling Critical Infrastructure Information, Interim Rule (Interim Rule). The training is critical to the success of IP in support of its mission to identify and assess current and future threats to the nation’s physical and informational infrastructure.  Booz Allen has designed and developed a blended/hybrid learning program that includes materials for instructor-led and web-based courseware with accompanying job aids for multiple audiences. It has enabled the PCII Program Office to provide awareness training to approximately 800 government employees and contractors.  The flagship course is the PCII Officer Training Course, which combines a self-paced pre-work solution provided to students via CD, followed by a 3-day instructor-led course.  This solution allows the Program Office to convey a large amount of program-related information in a time-efficient manner.  In-depth training modules were developed for individuals requiring a more thorough study of PCII procedures and guiding legislation. Other courses include a web-based “Authorized User” training that is supplemented, as required, by an instructor-led version. In addition, an “Ancillary User” instructor-led training course has been developed to educate those who will come into contact with PCII materials as a by-product of their jobs.

Overall Program Management and Support.  Booz Allen performs program management tasks, such as those related to policy and procedures development, which provide the basis for and guidance to PCII Program activities. We provide experienced program and task managers, as well as comprehensive reporting of contract hours, costs, and activities while controlling program management costs.

Strategic communications support. Booz Allen also helped create key sector awareness, develop important stakeholder relationships, and shape a long-term communications strategy for the PCII Program.  Booz Allen has created communications products, including fact sheets, overviews, talking points, speeches, and frequently asked questions.

Intended or Achieved Results

Awareness Training:  Booz Allen designed and developed materials for instructor-led and web-based courseware with accompanying job aids for multiple audiences.  They have enabled the Program Office to provide awareness training to approximately 800 government employees and contractors.  

PCII Officer Training:  This 3-day course for personnel responsible for managing the PCII Program within their entities prepares PCII Officers to establish and operate the program for their respective entities. Booz Allen has enabled 16 Officer candidates to complete the training and pass the certifications exam.  Consequently, several states and multiple federal agencies have initiated the accreditation process to ensure full compliance with PCII procedures, as required by the Critical Infrastructure Information Act of 2002, the Interim Rule, and the PCII Program Procedures Manual, Volumes I–III.

Web-Based Training and Learning Management System Selection:  Booz Allen has developed web-based training modules and scenario-based training.  A learning management system (LMS) was required to provide web-based training to PCII users.  Because DHS did not yet have a headquarters, Booz Allen coordinated with representatives from the 22 DHS entities.  We worked with the Secret Service and Office for Domestic Preparedness to acquire templates and reached an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deliver training via its LMS until a DHS LMS is implemented.

Additional Training Products: Booz Allen training has also provided additional training products and services to support the PCII Program in a variety of ways, including—

• PCII Program Training:  An “interactive” instructor-led training module was developed to support the need to reach out to various homeland security audiences who needed not only a basic understanding of the PCII Program Office but also a short lesson in the history of the conditions that created the need for the PCII Program Office.

• New Hire Guides:  Guides were developed to support new members of the PCII Program Office staff.

• Program Evaluations:  All training has been evaluated using reaction questionnaires (Kirkpatrick Level 1) and knowledge assessments (Kirkpatrick Level II).  These assessments are analyzed to provide insight for improvement.

Executive Development Program for School Principals

Project Description

For the National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) which is affiliated with the National Center on Education and the Economy, Booz Allen designed and developed a 5-week Executive Development Program for School Principals to help schools raise the level of achievement for every student.  Booz Allen worked with the client to develop a leadership program that addresses the challenge faced by school systems today—ensuring all students meet high academic standards.  The goal of this program is to assist school principals to accomplish their new mission, and in particular, formulate a vision that will allow them to inspire others, think strategically, be moral leaders, create professional development programs, lead the creation and implementation of standards-based instructional systems, build strong faculty teams, and manage for results—all to produce steady improvements in student achievement.

NISL’s primary product is its Executive Development Program.  Booz Allen’s participation has been essential in developing the course materials for that program—from the initial design, through curriculum development, to pilot testing and revisions. Booz Allen’s partnership has provided the means of making NISL’s vision a reality.

Booz Allen’s approach was a blended training solution that combined the best practices of classroom instruction and online training.  The course can be delivered either in two phases or modularly.  Between the two phases, two Institutes focus on coaching and facilitation.  For the 5-week classroom curriculum, Booz Allen designed and developed 13 units on the educational challenge, standards-based instruction systems, strategic thinking, school design, effective learning, excellence in literacy and math, professional development, instructional leadership, ethical leadership, team building, driving for change, and managing results.  The Institutes are 3-day workshops that help participants develop their coaching and facilitation skills.  Each workshop includes exercises that offer participants an opportunity to practice their skills.

The online curriculum was designed and developed as a supplementary component to the classroom instruction.  The SCORM-conformant online units address each of the 13 topics and include instructional resources, case-based scenarios, and collaborative activities.  In addition, two concluding simulations allow participants to practice putting together their knowledge and skills.

Booz Allen formed a team of nationally and internationally recognized subject matter experts (SME), instructional designers, programmers, and graphic artists to ensure accurate content and an effective training product. 

Booz Allen integrated the classroom-based training development with the online training to ensure a seamless curriculum.  Our blended Instructional Systems Design (ISD) solution used collaborative learning, group discussions, problem-solving scenarios, and online games and discussion forums.  Our team developed instructor’s guides and participant’s handbooks for each of the units, as well as slide presentations, handouts, and worksheets for practice.  We worked closely with a subcontractor/case study writer to develop an overarching case study based on a real principal in a middle school.  The case study was used to highlight issues facing principals in schools today and to provide a common point of discussion for all participants.  Two video cases studies formed an important part of the Ethical Leadership unit because they posed scenarios and challenged participants to form their own responses.  We developed two online simulations that require participants to answer questions and prioritize and make key decisions by using important course concepts.  Overall, the Booz Allen team developed a highly interactive program with built-in assessments, videos of benchmarked practices, and discussions on how to establish professional networks, study groups, and action projects. 

Booz Allen deliverables include Content Analysis Document, Content Design Plan, Initial Design Presentation, instructor’s guides, participant’s handbooks, slides, worksheets and handouts, supplemental readings, courseware web-based CD ROM, and simulation CD ROM.

Intended or Achieved Results

Booz Allen completed 5 weeks of blended learning curriculum with two culminating simulations, two stand-alone institutes, a Diversity Video Case Study, and a Leadership Profile Assessment.  Four district leadership teams (in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas) and three state Department of Education (DOE) teams (in Massachusetts, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania) have participated in the training to date and have begun offering it to principals.  The first county system that participated, Duval County in Florida, was subsequently named the most improved in the state.

The quality of the NISL curriculum is reflected in the decision of universities to use it as the core of their Ph.D. level programs for school administrators. Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is taking the lead in offering the program, which is now available across the United States. Also, the Governor of Massachusetts has endorsed the use of the NISL program for educators statewide.