Industry News

iNACOL - The International Association for Online K-12 Learning recently released a new report entitled 'State of the Nation: K-12 Online Learning in Canada.  The report can be viewed and downloaded here. 

In our interconnected, globalized economy, information is critical. Get a solid grasp on our new knowledge economy with a three-day workshop at the Banff Centre. Join Digital Alberta and the Banff New Media Institute to explore technology-enhanced learning as a valuable economic resource.

This workshop is designed specifically for professionals working in elearning, education, human resources and knowledge-based digital media. Stimulate learning opportunities and expand your knowledge in this dynamic field.
From open source platforms to game-based learning, you will be exposed to capturing, retaining and transferring knowledge in a digital medium. So if knowledge and information is part of your responsibility, this workshop is for you.

The workshop features:

• Lance Dublin, Dublin Consulting - Keynote
• Katrin Becker, PhD Instructor, Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Engineering, Mount Royal University
  of Interactive Arts and Technology
• Dan Rickard, Okaki Health - Open source eLearning
• Lou Russell - eLearning Project Management and SMEs
• Kevin McNulty, Coole Immersive - Game-based learning
• Dr. Jim Parker - Game-based learning
• Martha Burkle, Cisco Chair of e-Learning – Training in virtual worlds

The workshop will be presented at The Banff Centre on December 3 – 6, 2009.

For more information on how to register, please visit http://www.digitalalberta.com/inside-e-learning-banff-workshop-0

SYNOPSIS: Sparks By Desire2Learn offers quick to start, affordable solutions for K-12 environments

Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, November 16, 2009 – Desire2Learn Incorporated (Desire2Learn),a leading provider of mission-critical enterprise eLearning solutions, today announced the launch of its new K-12 brand, Sparks By Desire2Learn™ (Sparks).

By working closely with leading K-12 organizations, Desire2Learn understands what matters most to educators. Sparks offers solutions to provide:

• Flexible and affordable technology to engage all learners
• Access for all
• Personalized learning
• Student engagement, monitoring and retention
• Standards-based learning and assessment
• Academic continuity
• Intuitive, accessible products

Desire2Learn understands the needs and requirements of schools, having been associated with K-12 environments since the company's inception. Desire2Learn products and services offer affordable solutions to support 21st century teaching and learning – for today and for the future.

“We're dedicated to building successful relationships with schools and local education authorities worldwide," states John Baker, President & CEO, Desire2Learn. “Sparks By Desire2Learn offers everything schools need to establish and grow a leadership role in eLearning. Having Sparks in place enables timely and cost-effective responses by schools to student engagement and retention as well as to maintaining academic continuity when faced with a school closure due to events such as H1N1."

Sparks brings eLearning opportunities to all sizes of schools and ages of students. For any size budget, Sparks makes it easy to start or expand:

• eLearning programs
• Online professional development
• Digital resources for the classroom
• Blended or hybrid online courses
• Credit recovery
• Academic continuity services
• Communication between homes, schools and communities

Sparks will be available for implementation as of November 15, 2009. Visit www.Desire2Learn.com/Sparks, call 1.888.772.0325 or email SparksInfo@Desire2Learn.com for further information.

Stop by the Desire2Learn booth (#16) at the iNACOL Virtual School Symposium (VSS), November 15 - 17 to speak with a Desire2Learn representative and learn more. Staff will be wearing distinctive Sparks t-shirts. Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to win great prizes, including a Netbook® and a BlackBerry®, by completing the Sparks word search to be found in their VSS conference bag and dropping it off at the Desire2Learn booth (#16).

About Desire2Learn

Desire2Learn comprises Desire2Learn Incorporated and its subsidiaries. Desire2Learn is a world-leading provider of enterprise eLearning solutions that enable institutions and other organizations to create teaching and learning environments that reflect their vision, values, goals, pedagogical approaches and branding. Founded in 1999, Desire2Learn has offices and personnel located in North America, the U.K. and Australia. Desire2Learn supports more than five million learners worldwide and clients include higher education, K-12, as well as associations, government and other leading organizations. For more information, visit: www.Desire2Learn.com, call 1.519.772.0325 or toll-free 1.888.772.0325 (within North America), 0808.234.6744 (U.K.) and +61 412 067 308 (Australia).

###

John McLeod
Director of Marketing
Desire2Learn Incorporated
519.772.0325 ext. 378
PR@Desire2Learn.com

SYNOPSIS: Desire2Learn Analytics leverages institutional data to provide decision makers with key information to resolve critical business issues

Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, and Denver, CO, November 3, 2009 – Desire2Learn Incorporated (Desire2Learn®), a leading provider of mission-critical enterprise eLearning solutions, continues to offer educational institutions a competitive edge by transforming data into relevant knowledge that will assist them in making informed decisions in order to achieve their institutional objectives.

Desire2Learn® Analytics, a business intelligence solution which provides transparency to the various datasets that make up the Desire2Learn Learning Environment - all in a quick, easy and customizable format, is being demonstrated at EDUCAUSE 2009, the premier global IT event in Higher Education, November 3 - 5, 2009.

Through the implementation of Desire2Learn Analytics, users can bring reports, critical metrics and business data together in a meaningful way to support decisions and efficiently meet academic challenges. By gaining a detailed understanding of student activities and performance, decisions can be made on how best to advance the online environment to meet the goals of students, faculty, administration and schools in general.

The typical institution generates terabytes of learning management system (LMS) data on an annual basis. When combined with data extracted from other sources such as network or security devices, operating systems and complimentary application systems such as SIS, ERP or HR solutions, the sheer volume of information is crippling.

Desire2Learn Analytics enables institutions to cut through the mountains of data enabling educators to quickly target the information most relevant to each area of their organization which in-turn supports timely decisions that have positive economic, efficiency and competitive implications.

"Institutions must analyze and monitor various data, tapping into information in their existing systems on demand, quickly and in ways that enable them to make fast, accurate decisions,” says John Baker, President & CEO, Desire2Learn. "With Desire2Learn Analytics, clients have the ability to execute complex queries with an easy to use interface. They can integrate work from non-Desire2Learn platforms, perform true business analysis and, through the use of logical layers, transform data, enabling them to do much more than simple reporting."

Core features of Desire2Learn Analytics include:

• Secure, web-based business intelligence for Desire2Learn applications
• Integration with Desire2Learn Learning Environment
• Centralized collection of pre-defined reports with drill down and user driven filtering
• Drag-and-drop custom report creation with conditional filtering, themes, and sharing capabilities
• User defined custom dashboards
• Full extensibility and ability to consume data from other (non-Desire2Learn) sources allowing for holistic reporting functionality
• Full scheduling and automation capabilities: set it and forget it reporting
• Export to html, csv, and xls
• Custom branding capability

Sessions on Desire2Learn Analytics are being presented in the Desire2Learn booth (#632) in the Colorado Convention Center during EDUCAUSE 2009 as follows:

A full listing of the presentation schedule can be found at www.Desire2Learn.com/Educause.

Demonstrations are also available at the Desire2Learn booth (#632).

Visit www.Desire2Learn.com/Analytics, call 1.888.772.0325 or email Info@Desire2Learn.com for further details on this invaluable reporting tool.

About Desire2Learn Incorporated

Desire2Learn Incorporated is a world-leading provider of enterprise eLearning solutions that enable institutions and other organizations to create teaching and learning environments that reflect their vision, values, goals, pedagogical approaches and branding. Desire2Learn and its subsidiaries support more than five million learners worldwide and clients include higher education, K-12, as well as associations, government and other leading organizations. Founded in 1999, Desire2Learn is headquartered in Kitchener, ON, Canada with personnel located in North America, the U.K. and Australia. For more information, visit: www.Desire2Learn.com, call 1.519.772.0325 or toll-free 1.888.772.0325 (within North America), 0808.234.6744 (for the U.K.) and +61 412 067 308 (for Australia).

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John McLeod
Director of Marketing
Desire2Learn Incorporated
519.772.0325 ext. 378
PR@Desire2Learn.com

If your company is based in Alberta, you may be interested in the following opportunity offered by L. Brown Consulting ...

_______________________________________________________ 

As you may know, the Government of Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology branch is conducting a research project on the Interactive Industries. The project is seeking to understand the opportunities and challenges companies, like yours, face in becoming global leaders. 

The consultants that have been hired for this project, L. Brown Consulting, are conducting short phone interviews with companies who would like to confidentially contribute to this research. The interviews are 15 minutes in length and provide the opportunity to have your feedback, ideas and concerns shared with government. The consultants have some interview slots available this week and would like to hear from you. 

Please contact lars@lyndabrown.ca to participate.

                                           
SOCIAL MEDIA SEMINAR SERIES
http://AACE.org/GlobalU/seminars/socialmedia/

AACE Global U is pleased to announce the next seminar in its already successful series, "Social Media: Trends and Implications for Learning." The seminar series, led by George Siemens and David Cormier, is without fee and will include live interactive sessions, in addition to discussions with guest speakers and participants. All sessions are co-sponsored by and archived in the Education & Information Technology Library (http://EdITLib.org )

Social media and emerging technologies are gaining increased attention for use in education. The list of tools grows daily. Examples: blogs, wikis, Ning, podcasts, Facebook, Twitter, Second Life, cloud computing, surface computing, mobile learning, and so on. "Social Media" seminars explore the impact of new technologies, research, and related projects. Finding coherence in the midst of rapid changes is increasingly difficult.

This monthly session will create a forum for educators to gather, present, and discuss the future impact of today's trends.
_______________________________________________
http://AACE.org/GlobalU/seminars/socialmedia/

Friday, October 30, 2009: 9:00 PM Eastern USA

(World Clock Calculator: http://url.aace.org/ft/200910302100)

Faculty:

George Siemens - Learning Technologies Centre, Univ. of Manitoba, Canada
David Cormier - Univ. of Prince Edward Island, Canada

To receive event updates, signup at: http://AACE.org/GlobalU/seminars/socialmedia/
Seminar Recordings: http://EdITLib.org/GlobalU/
Seminar Community: http://www.AACEConnect.org/group/socialmedia

OMDC is seeking applications from qualified industry professionals to assist with the review of applications for the OMDC Interactive Digital Media (IDM) Fund.

1. Specialist industry advisors with knowledge and insight into a specific niche of IDM content will review elements of a selection of applications. They will prepare written answers to questions around the feasibility, market potential and creative strength of specific projects which will be taken into account by the jury in making their final recommendations to OMDC. Specialist industry advisors should have expertise with respect to a specific genre, delivery platform or content category.
2. Jurors with general industry knowledge will review the entire submission (with the exception of specific confidential information) for all eligible and complete applications received at a particular deadline along with the written assessments prepared by the specialist industry advisors. Based on this information the jury will make final recommendations to OMDC regarding which projects to fund using the IDM Fund decision criteria.

1. Review the program documentation and ensure a thorough understanding of program requirements.
2. Participate in a conference call to discuss roles and responsibilities and the review process (jurors only).
3. Sign an agreement with OMDC outlining roles and responsibilities and the review process.
4. Individually review all applications provided by OMDC.
5. Assess each application based on specific program criteria and prepare a written assessment and/or assign a numerical score accordingly based on the forms provided by OMDC.

1. Attend a one to two day meeting to jointly review the applications and make final recommendations (jurors only).
2. Participate in follow up conference calls as required to respond to any project updates received after recommendations are made (jurors only).

1. Specialist industry advisors – It is estimated that the reviewing process may take from 1-2 hours per project spread over a 6 week period between December 2009 and January 2010. The specific number of projects to be reviewed by each specialist industry advisor is flexible.
2. Jurors - It is estimated that the reviewing process may take from 15 to 20 working days, spread over an 8 week period between December 2009 and February 2010.

1. Knowledge and expertise required to review and assess the types of projects that are typically submitted to the OMDC IDM Fund.
2. Wide range of experience in a senior position(s) in IDM content industry.
3. Thorough knowledge of the process of financing, developing, creating, distributing, publishing, commercializing and/or marketing IDM content projects.
4. Specialist industry advisors – Specific insight and expertise with respect to the creation and commercialization of content projects from a particular genre, delivery platform or content category in the IDM industry.
5. Jurors - General understanding of IDM content creation industry and current trends and developments across a range of subsectors within this industry such as video games, websites, convergent content, etc.

1. Maintain in strict confidence your role as juror until after the announcement of funding decisions.
2. Maintain in strict confidence all Confidential Information and take reasonable precautions against accidental disclosure of same.
3. Not directly or indirectly use the Confidential Information for any purpose, except in the performance of your duties for the OMDC.
4. Not directly or indirectly disclose the Confidential Information to any person, firm or corporation, except with the prior written consent of the OMDC or as required by applicable law.
5. Declare any conflicts of interest that may arise and / or indicate if you are associated in any way with any applicant company or principals of a company that is eligible to submit to the OMDC IDM Fund.

"Confidential Information" means all information (whether oral, written, in computer readable format or otherwise), data and material acquired by the juror from the OMDC or in connection with the performance of their duties for the OMDC. To receive further information on OMDC programs please contact the Coordinator, Industry Initiatives: 175 Bloor Street East, South Tower, Suite 501 Toronto, Ontario M4W 3R8 T: 416-314-6858 F: 416-314-6876 programs@omdc.on.ca www.omdc.on.ca

1. All IDM Fund application material is to be returned to OMDC upon completion of the review process.
2. The specialist industry advisors and jurors will not have access to an applicant’s corporate financial statements.
3. Specialist industry advisor and juror comments may be relayed to the applicant.
4. Evaluation forms and comments may be available through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).
5. Juror names may be released once OMDC decisions have been confirmed.

OMDC is grateful for your interest in participating in this important process. It is anticipated that a substantial number of industry professionals will respond to this request. In light of this, only those individuals selected to participate in the review of applications received at the upcoming OMDC IDM Fund deadline will be contacted.

ONLINE EDUCA BERLIN is the largest global e-learning conference for the corporate and public service sectors in education and training. The annual event offers a forum for e-learning experts, experienced users, and apprentices from all over the world to exchange ideas and make contacts. Over 2000 delegates from more than 90 countries attend the conference, making ONLINE EDUCA BERLIN the most comprehensive annual meeting place for e- learning and distance education professionals. Participants of the conference are high-level decision makers from education, business and government sectors, the three areas driving e-learning adoption and innovation. The accompanying exhibition gives international providers the opportunity to demonstrate their products, tools and services.

15th International Conference on Technology Supported Learning and Training

When: December 2 - 4, 2009

Where: Hotel InterContinental Berlin, Budapester Str. 2, D-10787 Berlin, Germany

Organiser: ICWE GmbH, Leibnizstr. 32, D-10625 Berlin, Germany,

Tel.: +49 (0)30 310 18 18-0 , Fax: +49 (0)30 324 98 33 http://www.online-educa.com

-The Search is on for Canada’s Most Tech Savvy Educators-- Over $50,000 in Prizes! -

Mississauga, Ontario: Wednesday, October 7, 2009: The MindShare Learning ReportundefinedCanada’s, Leading, Learning & Technology eMagazine and title sponsor Microsoft Canada Co., are set to officially launch the Microsoft - MindShare Learning Report™ 21^st Century Digital Classroom Challenge.

In its second year running, this event aims to inspire teachers, along with their students from across Canada to share their successful classroom practices using technology. Teachers from publicly funded schools can qualify to win one of three technology prize packs valued at over $15,000 for their school.

Read more

SYNOPSIS: Desire2Learn mobile learning application enables MBA students to stay connected. Anytime. Anywhere.

Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, Canada, October 1, 2009 – Desire2Learn Incorporated (Desire2Learn), a leading provider of mission-critical enterprise eLearning solutions, today officially announced the implementation of Desire2Learn® 2GO into the Laurier School of Business & Economics MBA curriculum.

Beginning in the Fall 2009 term, more than 100 incoming students enrolled in the full-time MBA program on the Waterloo campus began using BlackBerry® smartphones as part of their program. Desire2Learn 2GO enables students to have mobile access to a variety of functions including:

• viewing course details
• communicating with classmates
• signing up for study groups
• checking their grades

"As students are increasingly attuned to mobile technology, Desire2Learn 2GO is improving our students' productivity and organization," said Hugh Munro, MBA Director, Laurier School of Business & Economics. "We believe the platform not only contributes positively to students' autonomy and motivation, but also provides for increased interaction and communication channels between students as well as between the students and their instructors."

Illustrations of Desire2Learn 2GO applications on the BlackBerry® smartphones

The close integration with core BlackBerry smartphone features, functionality and communication tools provides students with secure mobile access 24/7. Greater student engagement and more effective collaboration for peer groups, students and instructors are provided through this convenient mobile learning solution.

"This partnership is providing Laurier students with a significant advantage," said John Baker, President & CEO, Desire2Learn. "Mobile education provides busy professionals the ability to connect to their eLearning program amongst their classmates, with their instructors and around the globe whenever and wherever they choose. Desire2Learn 2GO not only encourages enhanced use of innovative technology for a wide range of circumstances, it also supports rich social practices to augment traditional curriculum delivery."

John Baker, President & CEO, Desire2Learn with Ginny Dybenko, Laurier’s Dean of Business & Economics at
the Laurier MBA mobile eLearning official launch October 20, 2009

To learn more about Desire2Learn 2GO, visit the Desire2Learn website.

About the Laurier MBA Program

Founded by the largest English-speaking business school in Canada, the Laurier MBA program has a long-standing reputation for excellence. Laurier MBA graduates are sought-after in the marketplace for their in-depth quantitative and qualitative training and versatility, as demonstrated by their outstanding performance in both case competitions and in accounting exams. Laurier graduates currently have the distinction of holding the highest qualifying average in the Chartered Accountancy Qualification (CA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exams, the prestigious CA Gold Medal awarded for the highest overall mark across Canada, and the highest mark ever received on the CMA exam. To learn more, visit: www.wlu.ca/sbe.

About Desire2Learn Incorporated

Desire2Learn Incorporated is a world-leading provider of enterprise eLearning solutions that enable institutions and other organizations to create teaching and learning environments that reflect their vision, values, goals, pedagogical approaches and branding. Desire2Learn and its subsidiaries support more than five million learners worldwide and clients include higher education, K-12, as well as associations, government and other leading organizations. Founded in 1999, Desire2Learn is headquartered in Kitchener, ON, Canada with personnel located in North America, the U.K. and Australia. For more information, visit: www.Desire2Learn.com, call 1.519.772.0325 or toll-free 1.888.772.0325 (within North America), 0808.234.6744 (for the U.K.) and +61 412 067 308 (for Australia).

###

John McLeod
Director of Marketing
Desire2Learn Incorporated
519.772.0325 ext. 378
PR@Desire2Learn.com