Jonathan Poltrack
202-616-2561 [email protected]
SUMMARY Jonathan Poltrack worked in the education industry, with online learning and for the DoD’s Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative since 1999. At the ADL Initiative, Jonathan was an early contributor to the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM), which became a de facto global e-learning specification. He contributed expertise and software development to many software projects including the SCORM Conformance Test Suite, the Sample Run-Time Environment, the ADL SCORM RELOAD Editor and a wide variety of content examples. In 2004, Jonathan joined Problem Solutions as a Partner and began contributing to the company as Vice President of Government Operations. Using Jonathan’s ADL experience, Problem Solutions joined the ADL team to help modernize the full suite of aging ADL technologies. Specifically, Jonathan began leading efforts aimed at transitioning SCORM while specifying a new learning platform based on modern technologies and software architectures including the Experience API (xAPI). Jonathan’s experience with online learning technologies provided the ideal context for him to provide the vision of a new specification effort to support emerging technologies used in learning, including smartphone apps, simulations, virtual worlds, sensors and games. Recently, Jonathan started Veracity Technology Consultants with several learning technology expert partners. Veracity focuses on standards-based learning technology services and products. Jonathan is passionate about learning, training and performance support and their intersection with technology. He strives to continue to improve global education initiatives by envisioning, managing and implementing technology solutions to challenging yet exciting problems.
EDUCATION University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, PA December 1999 Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Minor in Mathematics
EXPERIENCE Veracity Technology Consultants LLC 2018 – present Partner Problem Solutions (PS) LLC 2004 – present Vice President of Government Operations Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative R&D Principal, Director of Operations, Alexandria Co-Lab, & Technical Team Lead
Responsible for ADL Alexandria Co-Lab operations and staff management
Responsible for ADL Technical Team project management and strategic direction
Managed partnerships with international stakeholders including NATO
Managed activities to transition ADL’s Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) responsibilities
Organized technical community outreach to DoD, Services, Industry and Academia
Designed proof-of-concept prototypes to illustrate a modern communication framework capable of replacing the SCORM Run-Time Environment
Initiated the creation of a new learning architecture including the xAPI
Managed and contributed to the development of the RELOAD Editor SCORM content packaging and metadata creation application
Managed and contributed to the development of the Ilias, an open source learning management system used by NATO
Managed and contributed to the development of several content examples and JavaScript libraries for legacy content
Participated in spec and standardization bodies including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Learning-Education-Training Systems Interoperability (LETSI), and the Aviation Computer Based Training (CBT) Committee (AICC) to serve as a catalyst for a future learning architecture
Provided technical support to DoD stakeholders via the ADL Help Desk and ADL Workshops
Represented ADL at domestic and international learning conferences National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Materials Reference Laboratory (AMRL) Senior Software Architect/Senior Software Engineer
Worked with scientific staff to derive requirements for an automated statistical system based on Precision Estimates for AASHTO Test Method T308 and Test Methods for Performance-Graded Asphalt Binder in AASHTO Specification M320
Contributed to the management, design and implementation of networked statistical analysis software systems
Contributed to the design and implementation of software that managed the certification of thousands of construction laboratories world-wide
Managed and developed a series of process improvement projects to replace over 30 legacy database systems
Evermedia Biometrics Senior Software Architect/Senior Software Engineer
Contributed to the development of an iris scanning biometric algorithm with unmatched accuracy due to the use of two eyes simultaneously
Performed R&D on the possibility of iris capture from a long distance using high definition digital cameras
Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) 2000 - 2004 Associate Software Engineer Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative Associate Software Engineer
Contributed to ADL’s application profile of the IMS Global Learning Consortium content packaging specification for web-based learning content
Contributed to the IMS Global Learning Consortium simple sequencing specification that allows content to adapt based on a learner’s interaction with it
Contributed to ADL’s application profile of the IMS Global Learning Consortium shared state persistence data model to allow for shared, unstructured data
Contributed to ADL’s application profile of the Aviation Industry Computer Based Training (CBT) Committee (AICC) CMI Guidelines for Interoperability data model for use in the ADL environment
Contributed to ADL’s application profile of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards for e-learning data (data model) and the communication mechanism (API).
Contributing editor to SCORM 1.0, SCORM 1.1, SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004
Managed and developed ADL’s open-source example learning management system (LMS), the Sample Run-Time Environment (SRTE)
Contributed to the testing requirements and implementation of the ADL SCORM Conformance Test Suite (CTS)
Designed and managed a set of R&D projects that eased the burden of upgrading content from SCORM 1.2 to SCORM 2004
Responsible for community outreach, presentations, help desk and targeted 3rd party support
J7/Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Prototype Associate Software Engineer
Coordinated efforts with stakeholders to determine a learning path through the JPME learning outcomes
Principal developer on an R&D project to illustrate a system that provided a learning map for JPME students
Created a single sign-on Interface with several DoD and US Government systems containing learner profiles, learning content and documentation and integrate into the JPME learning map
CTC Internal Internal Quality Assurance Auditor and Configuration Management Lead
Served as an internal Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) auditor and managed a project that contributed to CTC’s CMMI level 3 certification
Served as program configuration management (CM) lead including Rational ClearCase (version control) administration, company-wide
Concurrent Technologies Corporation 1999-1999 Technical Intern
Developed the first Sharable Content Objects (SCOs) as proof of concepts
Created example learning object metadata (LOM) records
Contributed to the development of ADL’s sample learning management system (LMS)
PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS Poltrack, Jonathan, and Robby Robson. “Using Competencies to Map Performance Across Multiple Activities”, Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), Orlando FL, November 2017 Poltrack, Jonathan et al, “Experience API Overview Tutorial”, ADL iFest, Alexandria VA, August 2017 Poltrack, Jonathan, and Sae Schatz, “Experience API Technical Tutorial”, Bern Switzerland, February 2017 Poltrack, Jonathan, “What, Why xAPI Ignite”, Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), Orlando FL, November 2016 Poltrack, Jonathan, and Lou Wolford, “Experience API Overview Tutorial”, NATO E-Learning Forum, Suffolk VA, August 2016
Poltrack, Jonathan, “Experience API (xAPI) Update”, Content in Context EdTech Forum, Philadelphia PA, June 2016 Poltrack, Jonathan, and Tom Creighton, “Opening Legacy Data Silos: Using Experience Data for Educational Impact”, Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), Orlando FL, November 2015 Poltrack, Jonathan, “Learning Data Analytics and the Experience API (xAPI)”, Enterprise Learning Conference 2015, Manassas VA, June 2015 Poltrack, Jonathan, “xAPI: a User’s Perspective”, NORDEFO ADL Conference, Gol Norway, May 2015 Poltrack, Jonathan, “SCORM to xAPI Wrappers”, xAPI Camp, Orlando FL, March 2015 Poltrack, Jonathan, “ADL Technology Successes”, Military E-Learning & Smart Devices, London England, October 2014 Poltrack, Jonathan, “Converting SCORM to xAPI”, NATO E-Learning Forum, Suffolk VA, September 2014 Poltrack, Jonathan, “ADL Training & Learning Architecture”, ITEC, Cologne Germany, May 2014 Murray, Kristy, and Jonathan Poltrack, “Beyond SCORM: Experience API & More”, Learning 2013, Orlando FL, November 2013 Poltrack, Jonathan, “Modernizing Legacy Learning Platforms”, E-Learning Korea, Seoul S Korea, September 2013 Murray, Kristy, and Jonathan Poltrack, “ADL Initiative Update & the Experience API”, NORDEFCO ADL Conference, Gol Norway, May 2013 Gathany, Nancy, et al, “Innovative Application of ADL’s Experience API Specification within Public Health and Beyond”, Medbiquitous Annual Conference, Baltimore MD, April 2013 Haag, Jason, et al, “The Next Generation of SCORM: Innovation for the Global Force”, Interservice/Industry Training Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), Orlando FL, November 2012 Poltrack, Jonathan, “Next Generation SCORM Phase I – Experience API”, ADL iFest, Orlando FL, July 2012
Poltrack, Jonathan, “Next Generation SCORM Phase I – Tin Can API Overview”, mLearnCon Mobile Learning Conference & Expo, San Jose CA, June 2012 Poltrack, Jonathan, “Next Generation SCORM Phase I – Tin Can API Overview”, Army Distance Learning Conference, Newport News VA, June 2012 Poltrack, Jonathan, “Enabling Next Generation Learning with the Next Generation Learning Architecture”, eLearning and Software for Education (eLSE), Bucharest Romania, April 2012 Chadwick, Rob, and Jonathan Poltrack, “Serious Gaming Tools for Distance Learning”, Defense GameTech Users Conference, Orlando FL, March 2012 Krinock, Jeff, and Jonathan Poltrack, “Software Reliability and Advanced Distributed Learning”, Journal of Applied Learning Technology (JALT) Summer 2012 Volume 2 Number 3 Issue, 2012 Murray, Kristy, and Jonathan Poltrack, “The Next Generation Learning Environment: Phase I – Moving to a New Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM)”, The DL Star Issue 11 Vol. 6, May 2012 Archibald, Tom, and Jonathan Poltrack, “ADL: Creating Systems and Content Integration within the Next Generation Learning Environment”, Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), Orlando FL, November 2011 Poltrack, Jonathan, “The Next Generation Learning Environment”, e-Learning Korea, Seoul South Korea, September 2011 Poltrack, Jonathan, “SCORM Update”, ADL iFest, Orlando FL, August 2011 Chadwick, Rob, et al, “Next Generation Learning Environment”, ADL iFest, Orlando FL, August 2011 Khan, Badrul, et al, “Learning on Demand – ADL and the Future of e-Learning”, ISBN 978-0-578-05734-7, 2010 Perrin, Aaron, and Jonathan Poltrack, “Future Learning Experiences”, Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), Orlando FL, November 2010 Poltrack, Jonathan, “The Future of SCORM”, Interservice/Industry Training Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), Orlando FL, November 2010 Poltrack, Jonathan, “ADL SCORM 2004 Sample Run-Time Environment Demonstration”, ADL International PlugFest 1, ETH Zurich Switzerland, February 2004
Poltrack, Jonathan, “Conversion of Legacy Content to SCORM 2004”, ADL International PlugFest 1, ETH Zurich Switzerland, February 2004 Poltrack, Jonathan, “ADL SCORM Version 1.3 Sample Run-Time Environment Beta Overview”, ADL PlugFest 8, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA, October 2003 Poltrack, Jonathan, “ADL SCORM Version 1.2 Sample Run-Time Environment Demonstration”, ADL PlugFest 7, Orlando FL, December 2002 Poltrack, Jonathan, “ADL Test Suite Demonstration”, ADL PlugFest 5, Orlando FL, November 2001 Poltrack, Jonathan, “ADL SCORM Version 1.1 Sample LMS Architecture and Demonstration”, ADL PlugFest 5, Orlando FL, November 2001 Poltrack, Jonathan, “ADL SCORM Version 1.1 Sample LMS Architecture and Demonstration”, ADL PlugFest 4, Alexandria VA, June 2001 Poltrack, Jonathan, “ADL Sample Run-Time Environment Demonstration”, ADL PlugFest 3, Orlando FL, November 2000