To further strengthen its position in the distance learning arena, Lotus Development SA will bring the latest release of its Domino server-driven LearningSpace to market this month.
The new version adheres to the product`s original aim of providing companies and academic institutions with an instructor-led, Web-based collaborative education environment.
Course content is written by the institution, stored in the LearningSpace application on the Lotus Domino server and accessed by students over the Internet or intranet using a browser or a Notes client.
Projects can be collaborated on, feedback offered and tests taken, all while students are on-line. If using Lotus Notes, the students can also work off line.
Cindy Richards, manager at Lotus Education SA, says the new release aims to meet three traditional learning objectives via an electronic medium: information transfer (as with lectures), skills acquisition (practical training) and mental model change (interaction and discussion).
"Significant enhancements have been made to the new release to simplify the process of creating and delivering training and education through the Web. LearningSpace 2.5 is more scalable than the previous version - it can handle a heavier student-to-instructor load. It also makes developing course content easier, offers better integration with multimedia elements and has an intuitive Web-based user interface.
"The greatest enhancements are within the assessment manager database - it is much more flexible. The new version also caters to users running Web browsers or Notes with another messaging platform."
LearningSpace 2.5 can also be used with Lotus` show `n tell tool, ScreenCam, which allows students to view a `movie` on the correct ways of performing tasks on their PC. Lotus also has a Web-based server option called StreamCam - there is no downloading of files, the video streams to the browser as it plays.
One central management tool and five course database modules make up the LearningSpace 2.5 foundation. These modules link seamlessly together and users are able to find the information they need quickly an easily. The modules include:
- Schedule - Essentially a roadmap to the course - it links to the other areas for assignments, assessments and discussions;
- MediaCentre - Knowledge base of all electronic-based course content;
- CourseRoom - Interactive discussion database for collaborative team learning, instructor facilitation and students seeking assistance;
- Profiles - A repository for student profiles (personal Web pages) and individual portfolios containing their graded assessments; and
- Assessment Manager - One of most enhanced databases, the Assessment Manager is used to create and review quizzes, self-assessments, surveys and examinations. It also provides performance feedback.
These developments are in line with Lotus` drive to provide products that facilitate knowledge management.
"The LearningSpace modules allow students to engage in problem-solving activities, debates, discussions and learning exercises. This creates knowledge which can be stored, accessed and managed within the Notes and Domino environment," says Richards.
To help institutions capitalise on existing on-line courses, LearningSpace 2.5 offers a CoursePack feature that condenses course content into a form that can be easily transported and launched at other sites.
In addition to corporates, more than 40 colleges and universities worldwide have adopted LearningSpace to provide educational programmes via the Internet. Locally the University of South Africa`s School of Business Leadership is involved in such a project.
"Despite the solid academic uptake of LearningSpace, the product is not just geared towards technical and computer-based training. In South Africa there are implementations where business-type learning is being facilitated," says Richards.
Standard Bank SA`s internal audit division will utilise LearningSpace 2.5 to train staff on the new audit automation system it will be deploying this year.
To support deployment of distributed learning solutions, Lotus has developed the LearningSpace Specialty Programme. Lotus business partners with LearningSpace skills are provided with the software, collateral and marketing support. To qualify for the programme, partners must complete a two day course on selling and implementing LearningSpace. For more information please contact Lotus Education SA.
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