Elearning! Magazine: Building Smarter Companies via Learning & Workplace Technologies.
News HTML5 Set to Become
the New Standard HTML has long been the programming language that supported most of the content on the Internet. Currently, developers of online solutions would have to completely rework their programs into dif- ferent mobile versions for different devices. An app designed to run on an iPad will not currently run on an Android and vice versa. Widespread adoption of HTML5 stands to change all that. HTML5 will allow programs to run through a web browser instead of a particular operating system. Consumers will be able to access the same online content from a device by any manu- facturer. The same program will run on the tablet, PC, smart- phone, and laptop even if all these devices run incompatible operating systems.
HTML5 does this by allowing content to run through the brows- er complete with multimedia and editing functions that currently require plug-ins or other workarounds, or that cannot be done at all. It essentially turns the browser into a single platform. It also allows users to use cloud-based storage. E-learning solutions will be cheaper and easier to develop and far easier for learners to access. Organizations will be able to pur- chase fewer devices. Mobile learn- ing will be easier to cre- ate and easier to utilize.
Blackboard Reaches Out to Open Source Fans
Blackboard Inc. has just launched the Blackboard Education Open Source Services. This will allow the company to help support users of open source LMS platforms like Moodle and Sakai. Many of Blackboard's existing clients
use a combination of the low-cost open source software such as Moodle and Blackboard's non-open source options, including Blackboard Learn, ANGEL, and Edline. Blackboard is developing its open source expertise to support these users, but it also wants to reach out to those who prefer to use the open source solutions.
In line with this strategy, Blackboard acquired Moodlerooms and NetSpot, both of which will continue to operate as sepa- rate companies. Executives of all three companies signed a Statement of
Principles stating that they would con- tinue to make code available to the open source community, financially support the Moodle Trust, and facili- tate community gatherings such as Moodlemoots.
People on the Move
oversee the overall promotion of Meridian's brand. Before taking this position, Leh was Meridian's national sales manager, a position he has held since 2007.
Pathbrite, creators of the ePortfolio platform, has three new additions to its manage- ment team. DEREK GORDON, will be the compa- ny's Chief Marketing and Sales Officer. CHRISTOPHER GRAY is Pathbrite's new Chief Product Officer. The company's
10 May / June 2012 Elearning!
new Vice President of Sales is REGAN CARUTHERS.
Meridian Global LMS has pro- moted JOHN LEH to its senior management team. Leh will be the new vice president of sales and marketing. He will be respon- sible for the sales team and will
KIRK BODICK is joining Akadémos Inc., as its new Vice President of Sales. Bodick will be responsible for driving the enhanced adoption of Akadémos' integrated online bookstore and marketplace solutions in the higher educa- tion market. Bodick was most recently a Vice President of Institutional Sales at Pearson Learning Solutions and has extensive experience in the higher education market.
FirstNet Learning has just added TIM SAMP to its Instructional Design team. The former Technical Training Coordinator for Avaya will bring a wealth of technical experi- ence and a deep understanding of blended learning to the com- pany's learning solution clients.
STEVE SINGH, CEO of Concur Technologies Inc. has been appointed to Cornerstone OnDemand's board of directors. Cornerstone executives say they look forward to having Singh bring his extensive experience in cloud computing, information technology and senior manage- ment to their board.