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Learning Portals Revisited


© Audrey Choden

Jun 22, 2001


On June 22, 2000, I published "A Hitchhiker's Guide to Learning Portals" at this site. The purpose of this article was to examine six popular learning portals from the consumer's point of view.

As you may recall, a learning portal is gateway to a collection of off-the-shelf courses from different vendors. Individual learners can sign up, pay for and take a variety of courses at a single site.

Recently, I went back to the same sites with two questions in mind:

  • Are these learning portals still around?
  • Have they changed in any way?

    I found that these sites survived the wave of dot-com failures. Some of them changed from a learning portal to a learning application service provider (ASP). The learning ASP hosts computer-based training courses for organizations that prefer not to buy, implement and maintain a system themselves. (This would be a good time to read my article "Learning Portal or ASP: What's the Difference?" because I'm going to discuss both of them in this article.)

    Let's take a look at each one.

    Click2Learn.com http://www.click2learn.com

    Click2Learn now focuses on the corporate buyer and offers an e-learning platform that integrates content development, delivery, and management solutions.

    The key components of the e-learning platform are:

  • ReDS - a rapid e-learning development system
  • ToolBook - a standards-based course authoring package
  • iX - a combination of personalized learning experiences, knowledge exchange and expert-led community. It includes granular learning object tracking and reporting for evaluation.
  • (eLN)- a Web-based, ASP-hosted e-Learning Network delivers online courses to employees and customers.
  • The Ingenium Learning Management System (LMS) manages blended learning resources.

    In addition, Click2Learn offers product training for ToolBook Instructor, Ingenium, ToolBook Assistant as well as a course on e-Learning Design. Qualified corporate buyers can obtain a free trial CD of Ingenium and Toolbook through a sales representative.

    Click2Learn.com just launched a next-generation e-learning platform (nicknamed Aspen) that delivers a complete e-learning platform with e-learning standards (AIC, SCORM, LRN) across all components.

    The company also offers Professional Services (analysis and planning, custom content development, application and evaluation) and Placement Services that provides e-Learning contractors on a contract or permanent basis.

    Is Click2Learn still a learning portal? Not according to my definition.

    HeadLight.com

    Headlight.com is no longer in business. According to E-Learning Research News and Notes from brandon-hall.com, "Headlight.com is turning out the lights. CyberU will provide Headlight's former customers with continued service."

    CyberU.com http://www.training.cyberu.com

    CyberU claims to be the leading provider of e-learning for individuals and small businesses. It offers a Small Business Training Center for continuing online education needs in the following disciplines:

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    Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
    2.   Jul 28, 2001 7:58 AM
    Thanks for the tip, Chris.

    Be sure to read "Who Learns from Computer-Based Training" published here at Suite101.com Training and Development.

    Audrey ...

    -- posted by achoden
    1.   Jul 14, 2001 9:32 PM
    Try www.careerzone.com At the for the moment, (and for about the past 6 or more months) they provide free (careerzone registration required) skillsoft courses. For other thoughts on online learning st ...

    -- posted by chris_saeger



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