Centra introduces the first Web-based live virtual classroom for online corporate training delivery

Business Wire, Feb 10, 1997

LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 1997--

New Symposium(tm) online training delivery application

reshapes Web-based distance learning and gains broad-based

industry support for its live instructor-led training

capabilities and self-paced learning in one integrated

browser-based delivery environment

Centra Software Inc., today announced Symposium, a Java-based enterprise application for the delivery of live instructor-led training and self-paced learning via corporate intranets and the Internet. Symposium represents the industry's first Web-centric business application that aims to replace and extend the physical corporate classroom, eliminating costly travel by leveraging existing corporate communications infrastructure, the openness of the Web, and the universal reach of the Internet.

"Symposium represents breakthrough technology that builds on industry standards and component Web technologies to meet the training requirements of global corporations," said Leon Navickas, Centra's president and CEO. "It is the first and only enterprise-class Java application that addresses the problem of delivering time-sensitive, mission-critical information and training to a geographically dispersed workforce. Symposium shifts the $35 billion spent today on corporate classrooms -- including transportation and lodging to fly employees to corporate training centers -- to an effective online training delivery environment that enables corporate professionals to learn at their desks, mobilizing skills that keep businesses competitive."

Growing Demand for Technology-Assisted Corporate Training Solutions

Research shows that nearly 93% of all organizations today invest in ongoing internal and external training of employees, business partners, and customers. As the cost of training geographically dispersed audiences increases, companies are quickly turning to technology -- the Internet in particular -- to assist with the delivery of corporate training and education.

"With rapidly changing products and services, large corporations have placed an increased emphasis on disseminating timely information and training to their remote workforce. As a result, companies are spending more on employee education than ever before," said Ellen Julian, research manager at International Data Corporation in Framingham, MA. "Live Web-based, instructor-led capabilities combined with real-time audio and self-paced learning creates an entirely new category of distance learning delivery that addresses the needs of these global corporations."

Symposium Combines Effective Learning Delivery Methods in One Integrated Online Environment

Written entirely in Java programming language, Symposium's defining feature is the ability to deliver a complete range of learning methods in one integrated browser-based environment. In addition to providing live instructor-led training and real-time group collaboration, Symposium offers self-paced, computer-based training (CBT) and asynchronous threaded discussion groups. This unique combination of learning formats creates a comprehensive and continuous learning environment on the desktop.

Symposium's online delivery environment simulates a live classroom experience with functions for synchronized viewing of multimedia content, integrated real-time audio streaming, text chat and shared whiteboard. Body Language(tm) lets participants raise their hands, respond yes or no, and provide instant feedback to the group on the pace and comprehension of the material being presented. Symposium also provides features for online breakout sessions and role-play, auto-graded quizzing with statistical feedback on overall class performance, and the ability to conduct Web Safaris, allowing instructors to guide participants to relevant content on the World Wide Web during group discussions.

"Training products on the market today are viewed as enhancements to traditional learning methodologies. Symposium, with its Web-based, instructor-led training capabilities, creates a new standard and goes beyond the static classroom by taking advantage of the Internet's openness and functionality," said Ida Zecco, distance learning manager at BBN Planet in Cambridge, MA. "Symposium is a real-time virtual classroom environment. In order for training to be truly effective and help create that competitive edge, it has to be available to anyone wherever they are. Symposium offers that advantage."

Timely Delivery of Mission-Critical Training and Information

Symposium is designed for large global organizations who invest heavily in corporate classroom training to stay competitive in an environment of rapidly changing organizational processes, products and services. It is an ideal delivery system for mission-critical applications such as sales and marketing, systems and information technology, human resources, quality programs, and customer services.

"Companies today are challenged by the need to mobilize skills across their organization in the face of increasing costs," said Genni Combes, research analyst at Hambrecht & Quist in San Francisco. "Centra's solution enables global organizations to deliver important training and information to remote employees today using their existing corporate intranet."