UW Academic ADL Co-Lab joins worldwide effort against slavery

UW Academic ADL Co-Lab joins worldwide effort against slavery

MADISON — The U.S. Department of Defense has chosen a University of Wisconsin lab to create the electronic training programs that will underpin the federal government’s attempts to curb modern slavery worldwide.
President Bush signed a directive this February mandating zero tolerance toward trafficking in persons, a term that includes coercing people into either forced labor or sexual exploitation.
UW’s Academic Advanced Distributed Learning Co-Lab will create online training modules for military and other overseas personnel involved in the effort to stop human trafficking.
“Our ADL staff are deeply honored to be chosen by the nation’s Department of Defense to carry out this mission,” Co-Lab Director Judy Brown said. “We will be creating and developing education and training modules for about 500,000 persons each year, including all service members, civilian employees, indirect hires, and Defense contract personnel worldwide.”
According to Brown, module content will focus on the scope of the worldwide trafficking menace, U.S. policy on traffic king in persons, and the personal responsibilities consistent with military core values and Defense ethical standards. “The legal ramifications vary with each target audience and the modular approach allows us to tailor content to each specific group,” Brown said.
“The Academic ADL Co-Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a leader in developing quality e-learning content,” said Robert Wisher, director of the Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative within the Department of Defense. “The development of online modules to raise awareness of the worldwide problem of trafficking in persons is one opportunity to combat this phenomenon.”
Two sets of modules will be developed: a set of general modules aimed at all personnel (military, civilian, or contractor) traveling overseas, and a set of specific modules for officers, non-commissioned officers, and supervisors of civilians and contractors.
Each regional commander will have a module detailing local policies and instructions. All modules will have three methods of delivery, which include a classroom version, a Web-based version, and an online, interactive version with audio/video capabilities using existing Advanced Distributed Learning tools.
The Academic ADL Co-Lab, formed through an agreement between the U.S. Department of Defense, the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Technical College System in January 2000, is part of a national initiative. It is located at 222 W. Washington St., Suite 470, in Madison, Wisconsin.