E-Learning for Training Traffic Incident Responders and Managers (2014)

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APPENDIX C Incident Management Training Tool Comparison A comparison matrix of selected traffic incident management (TIM) programs with their corresponding applications, tools, audiences, and resources is presented here. The benefits of lessons learned on these projects were sought by comparing previous efforts to provide quality TIM training. Each training program was evaluated in terms of its management of events, content, assessment tools, learning environment, mobile apps (if any), social learning (if any), type of registration, security level, accessibility (508 compliance), e-mail notifications, and system specifications. In addition, an attempt was made to determine whether or not they met the perceived expectations of the stakeholders and the long-term viability of these tools and applications. A review of e-learning programs with similar topics showed that there are no existing incident responder training programs in an e-learning format with the depth and breadth of the SHRP 2 National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training, especially in terms of its multidisciplinary focus. The programs were diverse in their range of capabilities and curricula. On the leading edge was the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT’s) TIM training. The reviewers agreed that it was engaging and nicely presented in short segments, making it easy for presentation at roll call or during downtime. Reviewers were pleased with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)– based courses for the registration and the storing of the courses passed in a database showing certification at each level. Since the SHRP 2 program is striving to promote the traffic incident response management training to becoming a national certification for responders, this is a good method to follow for tracking the certifications. The Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI) courses include the ability to achieve continuing education credits upon course completion. This is a good way of enticing personnel from certain agencies to complete training courses, as they are required to obtain credits for promotions or to keep their current levels. This site also uses actual case studies, which help to add real-life situational awareness to the courses. Consortium for ITS Training and Education (CITE) courses were also popular with reviewers due to their combination of interactivity, use of real-life case studies, award of continuing education units (CEUs), and the offering of independent study, blended learning, and certificate programs. The detailed comparison matrix is presented on the following pages. (We suggest you magnify your screen to 150% to 200% to view the matrix.) C-1

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APPENDIX D LMS Evaluation Analysis The project team identified and analyzed a series of candidate learning management systems (LMSs) based on the functional requirements identified under Subtask 5A and technical requirements for software that were provided by the SHRP 2 project manager/Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). An examination of over 70 LMSs produced no candidates that were in full compliance. Many of the LMSs that were examined met the functional requirements from the Technical Expert Task Group (TETG). However, the project team determined that the full range of technical requirements for software could not be met among the pool of potential professional-grade open-source LMS applications. In addition, all hosted LMS solutions were rejected since they use proprietary codebases and do not provide source code. (The top three candidate LMSs appear in bold.) D-1

Candidate LMS Description URL Status Comments Accord LMS ASP.NET DotNetNuke- based solution. http://www.accordlms.com/ Rejected Fails server requirements. Meets some NET standards but does not provide full source code or entity framework and is not written in C#. AJ LMS Java- and Tomcat-based LMS. http://www.ajsquare.com/products/l ms/index.php Rejected Fails server requirements. Not NET based. Amvonet Moodle-based LMS. http://www.amvonet.com/ Rejected Fails server requirements. PHP/MySQL based. WebMentor LMS Windows/ColdFusion based. http://www.avilar.com Rejected Fails server requirements. ColdFusion based. Dokeos Well-known open- source and professional PHP–based LMS. http://www.dokeos.com/ Rejected Fails server requirements. SharePoint LMS MS SharePoint based. http://www.sharepointlms.com Rejected Fails server requirements. Requires SharePoint install. eFront LMS Robust LMS with many useful features. PHP/Apache based. http://www.efrontlearning.net Rejected Fails server requirements. PHP/Apache based. Joomla LMS Popular LMS built on Joomla CMS platform http://www.joomlalms.com/ Rejected Fails server requirements. PHP/MySQL based. CLIX Learning Suite Component-driven LMS. http://www.im- c.com/australia/en/start/ Rejected Fails server requirements. WebSphere/Java based. D-2

Candidate LMS Description URL Status Comments Canvas Feature-rich LMS used by several major universities. http://www.instructure.com/ Rejected Fails server requirements. Runs on Ruby and requires POSIX compliance operating system. WBT Manager Somewhat dated but ASP.NET-based application. http://www.ielearning.com Rejected Fails server requirements. Not MVC or Entity framework based. DotNetSCORM ASP.NET based. Project may no longer be active. http://dotnetscorm.codeplex.com Rejected Fails server requirements. Written in VB. ATutor Popular open-source LMS platform. http://atutor.ca/ Rejected Fails server requirements. Requires Apache and PHP. Caucus Open-source platform with optional commercial support. http://caucuscare.com Rejected Fails server requirements. Requires Apache and MySQL. Chamilo Open-source platform written by former members of Dokeos development team. http://www.chamilo.org Rejected Fails server requirements. Requires Linux-based environment. Moodle Very popular open- source LMS. https://moodle.org Rejected Fails server requirements. Requires PHP and MySQL. OLAT Open-source platform funded by the University of Zurich. http://www.olat.org Rejected Fails server requirements. Java based. Sakai Feature-rich LMS available in two http://www.sakaiproject.org Rejected Fails server requirements. Java based. D-3

Candidate LMS Description URL Status Comments versions. Open Elms Open-source ASP/JavaScript based. Restricted redistribution. http://www.openelms.org/ Rejected Fails server requirements. ASP and JavaScript based. Claroline Claroline is an open- source platform for collaborative e-learning and working online. http://www.claroline.net/?lang=en Rejected Fails server requirements. PHP based. Adobe Connect Robust LCMS from Adobe. http://www.adobe.com/products/ad obeconnect/elearning.edu.html Rejected Fails server requirements. Not NET based. D-4