2002 guide to e-learning vendors

University Business, April, 2002 by Angela Chnapko

100-plus companies you need to know now

CISCO SYSTEMS CEO JOHN CHAMBERS ONCE SAID THAT E-LEARNING "will serve as one of the great equalizers. It will change the way we work, live, play, and learn." While we may not have reached that stage yet, there is little doubt that e-learning has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in higher education. Even after thousands of "dot-coms" became "not-coms" in the last two years, e-learning companies survived. Some even prospered as colleges and universities, beset by budget woes, began exploring cost-effective ways to reach more students. But the e-learning market is a confusing one. That's why we're pleased to offer the 2002 Guide to e-Learning Vendors--those firms that design courseware, produce software, and provide marketing, delivery, and support services. Our user-friendly icons can help you quickly find the vendors you need, while the glossary on page 37 is helpful (especially if you don't know your ASP from your elbow).

a key to the icons

[hosting]
[electronic library/publisher]
[instructional design]
[administrative information/management system]
[portal]
[course aggregator]
[learning management/authoring tool]
[services]

The directory lists more than 100 companies providing e-learning services. We cannot claim that the guide is all-inclusive, and it does not include a number of OEMs, large software makers, end others for whom e-learning is not a primary focus. Inclusion should not be construed as endorsement. In-formation was provided by the companies end was not independently verified. Please send any comments, corrections, or additions to editorial@ universitybusiness.com.

3GB GROUP
1750 North Research Park Way, Suite 104
North Logan, UT 84341
T 435/797-4674
WWW.3GB.com

[learning management/authoring tool]
[services]
[hosting]
[instructional design]

3GB's Syllabase platform provides a scalable infrastructure for posting text and media files, Web links, assessments, sharing files, etc. Company states that this spring it is launching a new database-driven intranet system based on ASP model, plus a new product called Magic Box; a more flexible course platform. Services offered include instructional design, IT consultation, hosting, installation, integration, tech support.

ACADEMIC SYSTEMS CORP
444 Castro Street, Suite 1100
Mountain View, CA 94041
T 800/694-6850
F 650/694-6830
WWW.ACADEMICSYSTEMS.COM

[electronic library/publisher]
[hosting]

Academic Systems creates interactive course materials in basic subjects including writing, mathematics, business and economics, and biology and chemistry. The company--the higher education division of Lightspan--has been offering self-paced online courses in math and writing, designed to be offered either in the classroom or at a distance under the supervision of a course facilitator. More recently, Academic Systems has announced the availability of 430 learning objects to he used as supplementary course materials. Also offered: course building tools, a course management platform (in partnership with Blackboard), faculty training. The company has added support for Macintosh computers and states that its course materials can be used with a number of commercial CMSs (including Blackboard and WebCT).

ACTIVEWORLDS CORP
95 Parker Street, Newburyport, MA 01950
T 978/499-0222
F 978/499-0221
WWW.ACTIVEWORLDS.COM

[learning management/authoring tool]
[hosting]

Activeworlds provides software and online hosting for 3-D virtual worlds. The company says its software comes with a set of standard objects including buildings, animated "avatars" (online figures that stand in for users), music, etc., which fit together like Legos for the purpose of building large, complex objects and virtual environments. The software is said to be simple to use for consumers. Activeworlds, however, will custom design 3-D environments for clients. (A typical educational application might be a virtual campus tour.) The company has more than 80 participants in its Active Worlds Educational Universe, some hosting classes in 3-D online classrooms. The company offers educational discounts, hosting, tech support, and training.

AKIVA
1901 Camino Vida Roble, Suite 115
Carlsbad, CA 92008
T 760/710-3200
F 760/710-3299
WWW.WEBBOARD.COM

[learning management/authoring tool]
[hosting]

Akiva, launched in mid-February and the result of a merger between LMS MindCruiser and conferencing software company ChatSpace, develops the WebBoard online message-posting product. Suited to augment campus-based instruction, WebBoard enables the creation of categorized online discussion groups for collaborative work and posting of graphics files. The company says that the software allows administrators to set up and manage an unlimited number of chat rooms and message boards, each with its own look. Users can mark discussion topics of interest and receive e-mail notices each time a discussion forum is updated. WebBoard pages may be archived online.

ALTIRIS INC
588 W. 400 S., Lindon, UT 84042
T 801/226-8500
F 801/226-8506
WWW.ALTIRIS.COM

[services]