The initial program using the PLATO system in report writing subject content was begun at the University of Illinois Police Training Institute in 1978. The article describes the development of PLATO and of PLATO Learning Management (PLM), an example of the learning technology using tailored feedback, required responses, and repetition. The article also describes the PLM systems and the PLM-controlled question bank which may be used as a self-study facility, as a means for self-initiated review, and as a way to administer evaluation activities. In addition, the results of a study are reported comparing the efficiency and effectiveness of machine teaching instruction with the conventional lecture-discussion method. PLATO can reduce instructional time through self-paced processes equally as effective as traditional classroom techniques. It can also reduce the impact upon instructional staff while freeing them for other priority tasks. It is suggested that PLATO will help solve problems of funding resource constraints by providing the options of student self-paced instruction and self-evaluation of learning. Footnotes are included.