News

SYNOPSIS: Desire2Learn releases feature enhancements to its Learning Environment and Learning Repository based on extensive client input for greater collaboration, ease of use, customization, and full-enterprise scalability and reliability

Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, March 13, 2008 – Desire2Learn Inc. today launches the latest version of its mission-critical Enterprise eLearning Suite with new releases of Desire2Learn Learning Environment and Desire2Learn Learning Repository. With the new releases, Desire2Learn provides solutions for clients that are intuitive yet full of features accessible to all users, flexible for clients to customize and reflect their own eLearning style, and scalable to support the largest eLearning programs. The innovative architecture is the culmination of extensive client-guided research and development over the past few years. Key additions and enhancements include the user progress tool, schedule tool, and classlist. In addition, the HTML editor and chat tool have undergone extensive accessibility improvements.

"Nottingham Trent University is delighted to see the significant developments in accessibility provided by Desire2Learn Learning Environment 8.3. We have been working with Desire2Learn and its Research and Development team to make sure that Desire2Learn Learning Environment is the leading product in the market for accessibility compliance," said Sue McKnight, Director of Libraries and Knowledge Resources, Nottingham Trent University. "We have also significantly influenced the functionality of Desire2Learn's new ePortfolio and its integration with Learning Environment 8.3. We look forward to implementing the complete learning solution within our institution."

Desire2Learn Learning Environment 8.3 provides the following key benefits:

• Flexible Functionality
  This powerful yet flexible system is easy to use for novice to power users and offers extensive customization, including individualized learning paths, advanced course migration options, and powerful import tools.
• Enriched Collaboration
  The Learning Environment facilitates interaction and collaboration through group management integrated into a range of advanced learning tools. Group discussion areas enable group members to share knowledge and insight; group lockers provide a shared workspace; group dropbox folders make it easy for submitting and receiving feedback on group assignments.
• Powerful Toolset
  The extensive functionality enables institutions to decide to what extent users will be assessed and monitored, and the seamless integration between the tools ensures that time and resources are optimized.
• Robust Assessment Capability
  The Learning Environment 8.3 includes an unparalleled suite of measurement and assessment tools including Desire2Learn's industry-leading competencies and rubrics tools. Learning objectives can be evaluated and institutions can perform formative and summative evaluations of the effectiveness of instructional programs.

The new Desire2Learn Learning Repository 3.9.5 offers the following:

• Effective Content and Delivery Management
  The Learning Repository facilitates the management of content by efficiently sharing and reusing resources with advanced metadata capabilities while supporting the improvement of overall course study. The Desire2Learn Learning Repository metadata can be exposed so that it can be harvested by other repositories to facilitate collaboration within and among institutions.
• Time Savings
  Realize dramatic time savings in course development utilizing powerful search capability, in addition to eliminating duplication by drawing upon the consolidated pool of learning objects.
• Ease of Integration
  Integrate the Learning Repository seamlessly with the Learning Environment for an end-to-end learning management system with the power, flexibility, and scalability to meet the needs of hundreds to hundreds of thousands of users. The Learning Repository also supports the integration of other external repositories that share support for common open communication standards to help with the aggregation of objects from other systems and not just Desire2Learn.
• Cost Savings
  Save significant training and support costs, compared to third party learning repository products, as a result of the seamless integration and common interface with the Desire2Learn Learning Environment.

"The release of this enhanced eLearning suite represents a significant milestone in the evolution of learning management systems. Our clients have been instrumental in contributing to the development of these new releases," stated John Baker, Desire2Learn President & CEO. "These enhancements demonstrate our commitment to leading the way to meet user and institutional requirements."

For additional information please visit www.Desire2Learn.com/products, contact Info@Desire2Learn.com or call 1-888-772-0325.

About Desire2Learn Inc.

Desire2Learn Inc. 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 supports over 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 or call 1.888.772.0325.