Observations on Ways the Navy Can Improve Curricula Development for Initial Skill Training
NSIAD-85-33
Published: Dec 18, 1984. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 1984.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed selected Navy schools which provide initial skill training for entry-level sailors to determine whether the Navy's system for developing curricula adequately considers the diversity inherent in Navy occupations.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Navy | The Secretary of the Navy should, in developing new guidelines for curriculum development, ensure that there are provisions for specific use of data that identify the percentage of entry-level sailors in an occupation performing a task. |
Closed – Implemented
The Navy revised its instruction OPNAVINST 1550.8B on November 19, 1987. This instruction requires that the Navy's commands ensure that they design training materials to teach only that information which will be used by at least 30 percent of course graduates.
|
| Department of the Navy | The Secretary of the Navy should, in developing new guidelines for curriculum development, require identification of material in the curriculum that is needed by few sailors in an occupation and documentation of reasons for including that material. |
Closed – Implemented
The Navy revised its instruction OPNAVINST 1550.8B on November 19, 1987. This instruction requires specific reasons for including/retaining low-usage material in any training program shall be justified and documented to establish an audit trail.
|
| Department of the Navy | The Secretary of the Navy should, in developing new guidelines for curriculum development, consider the alternatives other than "A" school, such as on-the-job training and use of fleet training centers, for teaching skills that are not needed by most entry-level sailors. |
Closed – Implemented
The Navy revised its curriculum development process and the identification of environmental settings as a factor that is considered among others when developing instructional media.
|
| Department of the Navy | The Secretary of the Navy should, while the new curriculum development guidelines are being developed, review the current feedback system for "A" schools, called Level II surveys, to see if changes can be made in the timing of the questionnaires, and if stricter requirements can be set for action to be taken when deficiencies are noted. |
Closed – Implemented
The Navy issued instructions to tighten the controls on the assessment process.
|
| Department of the Navy | The Secretary of the Navy should, while the new curriculum development guidelines are being developed, delete the material not needed by most entry-level sailors in the four "A" schools studied so that training resources can be better spent. |
Closed – Implemented
The Navy reduced its "A" school training for 21 support skills, including 4 covered in the GAO review, by 25 percent or 477 man-years. This reduction included eliminating material not needed by most entry-level sailors.
|
| Department of the Navy | The Secretary of the Navy should, while new curriculum development guidelines are being developed, determine whether it is worthwhile to keep the ship serviceman "A" school since the core tasks are limited and are taught elsewhere in the Navy. |
Closed – Implemented
The Navy decided to keep the ship servicemen "A" school, but as part of its 25-percent reduction of support skill training. The Navy eliminated material not needed by most entry-level ship servicemen.
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