ASTD's Learning Circuits Express - 19 October 2001

TrainingZone

ASTD’s Learning Circuits Express – 19 October 2001

By TrainingZone

Tags: Technology

Learning Circuits Express is a free information service provided by Learning Circuits, ASTD’s online magazine about e-learning (http://www.learningcircuits.org).

1. Accessibility: What You Should Know
2. Practice Makes Performance
3. The Importance of Context in E-Learning Design
4. Element K Snares Security E-Learning Contract
5. Pathlore Lands $10 Million in Funding
6. New Partnerships Unveiled

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1. ACCESSIBILITY: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Accessibility is a buzzword that's been on the lips of people involved with e-learning for many months now. But what is it exactly?

READ: http://www.learningcircuits.org/2001/oct2001/salopek.html

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2. PRACTICE MAKES PERFORMANCE

To support skill development and transfer of learning, second-generation e-learning will need to incorporate more practice and performance opportunities. Here's how.

READ: http://www.learningcircuits.org/2001/oct2001/sugrue.html

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3. THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT IN E-LEARNING DESIGN

The context in which an e-learning course is delivered should strongly affect all aspects of the course's design. Gathering information about the intended audience before designing and developing a course can greatly improve its chance for success.

READ: http://www.learningcircuits.org/2001/oct2001/elearn.html

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4. ELEMENT K SNARES SECURITY E-LEARNING CONTRACT

Ascendant Learning, a Chicago-based e-learning organization that focuses on security training, has tapped corporate e-learning company Element K to develop the content for a new Security Certified Program. The new program develops and validates skills of information security professionals. It' s a two-level, vendor-neutral security certification program that enables individuals to acquire skills and get certified as a Security Certified Network Professional (Level 1) or a Security Certified Network Architect (Level 2). The Element K courseware helps people prepare for the SCP exams, covering core skills and specific security technologies.

"The market demand for qualified security professionals continues to increase," says Paul Krause, executive vice president of development at Element K.

Uday O. Ali Pabrai, co-creator of SCP, says that as a result of business drivers like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), E-SIGN legislation, and enterprise e-business initiatives, many employers now treat security as a strategic area--one that affects suppliers, customers, and the entire enterprise. "This new focus is quickly creating a demand for security professionals and architects, which is exactly what SCP delivers to the individual and the employer," he says.

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5. PATHLORE LANDS $10 MILLION IN FUNDING

Pathlore has received $10 million in a first round of institutional funding from Seaport Capital. The funding will support the expansion of its sales force, product enhancements, and acquisitions. Pathlore, the Columbus, Ohio-based LMS provider, has annual revenue of approximately $25 million. It has more than 2,500 corporate customers and current investors include Computer Associates.

"By providing funding to a profitable, well-established company like Pathlore, Seaport Capital is underscoring its belief that Pathlore’s proven business model, senior management team, and learning management system will maintain the company’s position as the premier e-learning solutions provider," says Jim Collis, a Seaport Capital partner. Pathlore wouldn't disclose how much equity Seaport would gain for its cash infusion, but noted that Seaport will obtain two seats on its board. Regarding future rounds of investment, Steve Thomas, Pathlore CEO and president, says the next steps will be to position Pathlore for an IPO.

Pathlore’s services include custom content development, strategic and implementation consulting, training, and ASP hosting. It also has a Content Partner Network that includes more than 8,500 courses from such partners as Coastal Training Technologies, Element K, Instruction Set, MindLeaders, NETg, SkillSoft, and SmartForce. Customers include, PNC Bank, Raytheon, Corning, Union Pacific, Ford Motor Company, Southwest Airlines, United Technologies, Vodafone, Merck, State of Missouri, Illinois State Police, and the U.S. Department of Defense.

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6. NEW PARTNERSHIPS UNVEILED

Indeliq and Docent have partnered to integrate Indeliq’s business skills simulation content with Docent Enterprise, an integrated product suite for learning management and learning content development and delivery. The move will extend Indeliq's reach into the global marketplace through Docent’s customer base of corporate enterprises and educational and government institutions. "The addition of Indeliq’s simulation technology enables us to offer our customers a wider selection of high-quality, online business skills courses that are easy to use and provide immediate benefits," says Docent’s chieftain, Dave Ellett.

LCMS vendor Vitalect says it has been selected by InteQ Corporation, a management service provider, to power InteQ’s globally accredited IT service management training. InteQ's ITSM Best Practices Online is based on the best practices documented in the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), which has become a worldwide standard for IT training. The company was seeking a more scalable, cost-efficient training alternative to its classroom courses, says InteQ CEO Santhana Krishnan. "We chose Vitalect because their learning content management technology and instructional design solutions create a rich, interactive learning environment that we can easily evolve to educate our customers," she says.

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