Government Elearning!

T-Mobile Helps U.S. Department of Education Implement Mobile Learning

2012-05-02T21:47:42-04:00

T-Mobile’s CEO Philipp Humm announced that it has achieved several successful partnerships with U.S. public schools, and intends to continue the company’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Education. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S. Department of Education have encouraged U.S. schools to implement digital learning, in part to offset an estimated $8 billion in annual textbook costs. To support this effort, T-Mobile partnered with a handful of charter schools and programs targeting at-risk students. The schools leverage the T-Mobile’s high-speed network, affordable rate plans, and mobile broadband devices to deliver online tutoring and e-learning solutions, and to provide mobile Internet access in students’ homes. Humm wants to expand these efforts to impact more students. “Our work with the FCC and others to advance the Digital Learning initiative and put devices and connectivity in the hands of students will not only help them learn more effectively, but can positively impact our country’s future economic growth,” he said. Source: Business Wire http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120329005443/en/T-Mobile-Helping-Advance-Mobile-Learning-Digital-Education

iCohere Wins Contract with U.S. Government Printing Office

2012-05-02T21:43:58-04:00

The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) has awarded a contract to iCohere Inc. to develop e-learning solutions for the agency. iCohere will provide software to help support and train the GPO’s depositary librarians. GPO’s staff is responsible for publishing and distributing official government information products. The U.S. Congress, Federal agencies, and members of the general public use these documents. Source PR.Com http://www.pr.com/press-release/407645

Exinda Supports E-Learning Tools at Texas A&M University at Galveston

2012-05-02T21:41:33-04:00

Texas A&M University at Galveston will deploy Exinda’s wide area network (WAN) optimization solution to support the University’s social networking and e-learning programs. The university needed its network to support Skype and other videoconferencing tools, as well as video services like YouTube. Students had been complaining about slow connection speeds and difficulties getting online. Exinda’s WAN optimization solution monitors traffic, eliminates illegal file sharing, prioritizes specific applications, and optimizes Internet connection bandwidth usage. Source: Business Wire http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120409005250/en/Texas-Galveston-Deploys-Exinda-Optimize-Total-Student

SkillSoft Launches SkillPort 8

2012-05-02T21:29:37-04:00

SkillSoft released SkillPort 8, a cloud-based content management system. Traditional learning management systems resemble course-catalogs and can be difficult to navigate and search. SkillPort 8 organization allows users to easily retrieve formal, informal, social, and mobile learning elements. SkillPort 8 supports collaboration by allowing users to rate, recommend, and comment upon learning solution offerings. The system’s user interface is accessible from mobile devices. Source: Business Wire http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120501005528/en/SkillSoft-Introduces-SkillPort-8%C2%AE---Revolutionary-Learning

Adobe Releases Creative Cloud for Schools

2012-05-02T21:22:47-04:00

Adobe has just released the Adobe Creative Cloud Student and Teacher Edition, and the Adobe Creative Suite 6 Student and Teacher Edition. The new releases are content generation and sharing resources designed for both K-12 schools and higher education institutions. Students will be able to use Adobe Creative Suite 6 to create video, photos, and animations, which can be stored or shared with other students on the Adobe Creative Cloud. Teachers will be able to use the system to create and distribute e-learning programs and other digital educational content. Adobe Creative Cloud is also compatible with Adobe’s HTML5-based web design product, Adobe Muse. Source: Business Wire http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120422005100/en/Adobe-Creative-Cloud-Creative-Suite-6-Deliver

Second City Makes Sensitive Training Funny

2012-05-02T22:03:55-04:00

Chicago’s well-known Second City comedy-improv troupe’s communications arm is expanding its partnership with Corpedia to create innovative ethics and compliance training. RealBiz Shorts is a library of short funny videos addressing delicate topics such as security and sexual harassment. Subscribers can access training on a variety of topics including information security, fair employment, whistle blowing, privacy, political contributions, and using social media appropriately. RealBiz Shorts are made available to employees via multiple channels, including company intranets, mobile devices, and social media. RealBiz will address new topics that include sharing passwords, avoiding scams, working remotely, using mobile devices appropriately, and using confidential information in public places. They will also cover traditional and non-traditional harassment issues, and workplace bullying. Source: Business Wire http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120411006022/en/City-Communications-Corpedia-Expand-RealBiz-Shorts-Compliance

USDLA Presents its 2012 Awards

2012-05-02T22:17:48-04:00

The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), a non-profit association that supports distance learning professionals, presented its 2012 awards in St. Louis, Missouri. USDLA gives awards both to organizations and to individuals engaged in the development of distance learning programs. The association presented awards in these five categories:

21st Century Best Practices
Best Practices for Distance Learning Programming
Best Practices for Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching
Outstanding Leadership by an Individual
Hall of Fame

The NASA Digital Learning Network won the Platinum Award for Best Practices for Distance Learning Programming. Piper Nilsson, head of the web design department at Sessions College of Professional Design, won the Platinum Award in Best Practices for Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching. Source: USDLA http://www.usdla.org

DARPA Seeks Game Designers

2012-05-02T21:15:48-04:00

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will submit a call for proposals from designers of game-based training solutions. DARPA intends to create medical training mobile apps for first responders. Emergency service personnel need solutions that they can access on the job. DARPA’s training professionals also want the training to be engaging and available for classroom use. The agency needs the program to be customizable for Navy corpsmen, medics, and paramedics. The call for proposals will officially begin on May 24. The deadline for proposals is June 26. Source: NextGov http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2012/04/darpa-seeks-game-developers-build-medical-training-app/55450/

Controversial Cyber Security Bill Passes the House

2012-05-02T22:13:04-04:00

The controversial Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. CISPA is a proposed amendment to the National Security Act of 1947 that defines cybercrime as a national security threat, and facilitates information sharing between private companies and the government in the event of an actual or potential cyber-attack. CISPA originally applied to hacking, but the version passed by the House included amendments expanding its scope to include any computer-based crime, including crimes involving the exploitation of minors. Next, the U.S. Senate will vote on CISPA. The Obama Administration has threatened to veto the bill. Critics of the law say that it does not protect individuals whose information may be shared with military agencies without a warrant or appropriate oversight. Most technology and telecommunications companies support the proposed law. Mozilla’s representatives recently stated that the company is opposed to CISPA, citing privacy concerns. The Information Daily http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/49814 Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/05/01/mozilla-slams-cispa-breaking-silicon-valleys-silence-on-cybersecurity-bill/

Meet Bina-48 At Enterprise Learning! Conference & Expo September 2012

2012-05-02T12:28:11-04:00

Corona, CA, May 01, 2012 — Today, the Enterprise Learning! Conference & Expo announced the opening day keynote speaker, Bina-48. Three year old Bina-48 is the most advanced social robot in existence, and learning executives will be evaluating her abilities as both a teacher and tutor at ELCE. Could this humanoid be the teacher of the future? “In the world of Web 3.0 and Android Smartphones, we seek to showcase real technology advancements in learning practices at ELCE. Bina-48 is a culmination of advancements in artificial intelligence, search and computer sciences. She could be your next tutor or mentor,” reports Joe DiDonato, ELCE conference chair. Bina-48 is the creation of The LifeNaut Project based in Vermont. She is a humanoid robot with the ability to communicate and interact with humans. Bina-48’s interaction capabilities are based on a mindfile, which is created from a person’s characteristics and personality traits. This highly sophisticated robot is then transformed into a digital clone of the person, and allowed to advance on her own accord, using sophisticated artificial intelligence. In her current state of development, she is imaged after Bina Rothblatt, the co-founder of the Terasem Movement Foundation. Joining Bina-48 at the ELCE keynote is Bruce Duncan, Managing Director of the Terasem Movement Foundation. Together, they will demonstrate Bina-48’s abilities as speaker, teacher and host. Attendees will interact with Bina-48, pose questions and even network after the session in a Meet and Greet. Bruce’s background is in education and filmmaking and he is one of the creators of Bina-48. “ELCE attendees will have the extraordinary opportunity to dialogue, query and socialize with Bina-48. After a few minutes, you’ll realize your interactions are those you would expect to have with any interesting, intelligent being,” says DiDonato. The LifeNaut Project continues to grow and welcomes users to visit their website and create their own mindfile, in order to become part of this growing research project and movement. Yes, you may have a Bina-48 in your own likeness sometime in the near future. IMAGINE.INSPIRE.INNOVATE at the Enterprise Learning! Conference & Expo ELCE 2012 is hosted at the Hyatt Irvine, in Irvine, CA on September 25th – 27th, 2012. Join Bina-48, as well as executives from the Learning! 100 top learning organizations, who will share how their organization Imagine. Inspire. Innovate. In its 10th edition, ELCE helps executives IMAGINE.INSPIRE.INNOVATE to become top performing organizations. Executives can access more than 50 educational sessions focused on learning and workplace technology solutions and best practices. Home of the Best of Elearning! awards, attendees can also see, share and compare best-in-class solutions. ELCE is the exclusive learning and workplace technology showcase serving private and public sector executives. ELCE registration opens May 20th with Super Early Bird rates saving attendees up to $500.To learn more about attending ELCE, visit www.elceshow.com. For sponsorship or exhibitor information, contact sales@2elearning.com or call 888-201-2841 x845. ##End## About Enterprise Learning! Events and Elearning! Media Group Enterprise Learning! Events are owned by B2B Media Group LLC and a brand of the Elearning! Media Group. Elearning! Media Group serves the $160 billion e-learning market. The portfolio consists of twelve media products including: Elearning! Magazine, Government Elearning! Magazine, eMagazines, e-mail newsletters, Alerts, web sites, web seminars, the Enterprise Learning! Summit and Enterprise Learning! Conference & Expo. Follow us: online at www.2elearning.com, http://gov.2elearning.com, on twitter: 2elearning or #ELSummit via facebook: Elearning!-Magazine or LinkedIn: Elearning! Magazine Network or Elearning! Summit.

Elearning! Media Group Honored For Excellence by Western Publication Association

2012-04-24T13:44:51-04:00

Elearning! Media Group announced the nomination of Elearning! Magazine for excellence by the Western Publications Association (WPA.) Elearning! Magazine is nominated for Best Computers, Software, Education & Programming Trade Magazine as well as Best Web Publication Blog for Trade & Consumer. These honors combine with eleven previous awards earned by Elearning! Magazine.

"We are excited that the Elearning! Blog, one of our newest media developments launched in 2010, has been nominated for excellence as Best Web Publication Blog, by the WPA. We are proud to see our magazine readership both online and offline, have embraced the community we've built around enterprise learning, " reports Catherine Upton, Group Publisher and CEO, Elearning! Media Group.

By earning these distinctions, Elearning! magazine matches up with some very tough competition from Oracle Magazine, COTS Journal, EE Times, and others. Elearning! Blog is competing against Bryan on Scouting, Mother Jones/Tom Philpott: Food for Thought, Qmed MPMN Medtech Pulse Blog, and Reason: Hit & Run. The WPA nominations bring the total to thirteen excellence awards for Elearning! magazine’s editorial staff.

The magazine addresses technology-enabled learning management at an executive level. Each issue features real-world case studies, techniques and strategies, plus the market trends and analysis against which to benchmark. “We focus on practical solutions for real enterprises, highlighting the latest trends, tips and techniques to help our audience to build smarter companies and adapt to a fast-changing business environment,” adds Angeli Primlani, Executive Editor, Elearning! and Government Elearning! magazines.

Because Elearning! magazine serves an audience of senior executives from the USA’s largest private and public enterprises, each needs to capture the attention of the most discerning readers. "The honors from the Western Publishing Association and positive responses from our readership community prove we are meeting the needs of this important industry," concludes Upton.

Elearning! magazine is part of the family of eleven media products serving the $160 billion e-learning market: eMagazines, web sites, e-mail newsletters, the Elearning! Summit and the Enterprise Learning! Conference & Expo. In combination, these brands reach over 2 million executives, practitioners and professionals all evaluating, deploying or implementing e-learning solutions across their organizations each year.

Enterprise Learning! Conference & Expo Announces Call for Papers

2012-04-16T16:13:30-04:00

Elearning! Media Group, hosts of Enterprise Learning! Events formerly the Elearning! Summit, announced a call for papers for the Enterprise Learning! Conference & Expo (ELCE). ELCE call for paper submissions will be accepted until May 1^st, 2012. ELCE programming is singularly focused on helping executives build smarter organizations by leveraging learning and workplace technologies to IMAGINE, INSPIRE and INNOVATE. The Enterprise Learning! Conference & Expo will take place September 25-27, 2012 at the Hyatt in Irvine, California. To learn more about ELCE and to submit a session proposal, visit www.elceshow.com. The Enterprise Learning! Conference and Expo conference advisory committee is looking for innovative, creative, solutions oriented sessions that drive imagination, inspiration and innovation. Each session will be 45 minutes long and presented to a live, and possibly, virtual audience. We encourage session leaders to submit proposals regardless of format: case study, panel, or untraditional format.

Attendees are executive level decision-makers charged with building smarter organizations with learning & workplace technologies. They manage budgets up to $14 million annually, and have active learning initiatives. All proposals must aligned with ELCE theme and provide actionable content for real world buyers. Note: All Vendor sales pitches will be excluded from consideration.

Potential topics may include:

The 21st Century Business Leader
Web 3.0 at Work
Social Learners: The Untapped Authorities
Learning Management Systems 3.0
Globalizing Talent Strategies
Big Data: Implications for Enterprise 2020
The Power of Games in Learning
The Secrets of Successful Virtual Learning Environments
Rapid & Good Authoring Solutions
Engaging Learners After the Lesson
Enterprise 2020: Driving Performance from NextGen Learners
Mobilizing Learning
Strategies to Build the Talent Pipeline
The Learning Technology Buying Team
How to Budget for Learning & Workplace Technologies
Lights! Camera! Action! Your Low Cost Video Production for Learning

Registration & Travel Information

All session leaders are able to register for ELCE at a reduced cost of $495 and are responsible for all their related travel expenses.

Session Leader Expectations

All accepted session leaders are expected to meet ALL posted dates and deadlines. We reserve the right to make adjustments to any session that does not meet deadlines OR approved topic guidelines.

Selection Process

Submit a session proposal on or before May 1st, 2012. Each submission will be reviewed by the conference advisory committee and staff. All abstract proposals will be notified after May 15th on the status of their submission.

Social Media Becoming Popular Tool — Especially For Marketing

2012-04-09T04:29:29-04:00

Social media marketing usage among the Inc. 500 — the 500 fastest-growing private companies — indicates they are continuing to increase their usage of some social media tools, while pulling back from others. Facebook usage was up in 2011, along with usage of Twitter and foursquare. Nearly three-quarters of the companies studied were using LinkedIn in 2011, and almost half had adopted YouTube. Compared to 2009–2010, the usage of blogs, online video in social media, message/bulletin boards, podcasting and Myspace were all down. There was also a 50 percent decrease from 2010 in Inc. 500 companies who said they used no social media marketing tools. But some of the abandoned marketing tools are still reported to be highly effective for companies that continue to use them. Message and bulletin boards, along with blogging, got the highest success ratings of any tools, among companies that use them for marketing. While a strong majority of respondents indicated they were having success with Twitter (86%) and Facebook (82%), this was lower than several other, less-popular services.

Recognition Breeds Engagement

2012-04-09T04:19:31-04:00

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number one reason people leave their jobs is lack of appreciation. >> 54% of organizations involuntarily lost high-performing employees during the first half of 2010. >> 88% of employees surveyed cite lack of acknowledgement as their top work issue. These figures speak to the challenge of talent retention and employee engagement, illustrating that a troubling percentage of employees who feel undervalued move on to what they hope will be greener pastures. But what of the productivity of those that remain Discretionary effort is directly linked to feeling valued. If you believe that your efforts matter, then you will be less likely to leave and more likely to invest greater effort into the job. Companies with above-average employee commitment exhibit above-average revenue growth 71% of the time. —Source: TemboSocial and HumanResourcesiQ.com whitepaper can be downloaded at www.humanresourcesiq.com/talent-management/white-papers/social-recognition-programs-why-they-matter/

Andy Wooler to lead Kineo's Totara LMS Consultancy Projects

2012-04-09T04:13:27-04:00

Andy Wooler has been appointed as a senior learning technology consultant to lead Kineo’s Totara LMS consultancy projects. He joins Kineo from Legal and General where he was HR Technology manager. He has more than 12 years experience in implementing LMS systems in large corporations, including Royal and Sun Alliance, and Legal and General.