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PRESS INFORMATION ISSUED ON BEHALF OF:
Learning Light Ltd
Sheffield Technology Parks, Suite 21, Cooper Buildings, Sheffield S1
2NS, UK
Telephone: 0114 307 2357/2368; Web
www.learninglight.com
16th December 2014
Learning Light publishes its top ten Innovation Index for 2014
Learning Light, the UK-based market analyst specialising in the
online learning technologies and educational technology (edtech)
sectors, has published an Innovation Index. This Index sets out a
list of developments over the past 12 months that the Learning Light
team has found 'particularly interesting and exciting'.
According to Learning Light's director, David Patterson: 'This
Innovation Index highlights the developments which we found
particularly significant in the world of edtech and e-learning in
2014. Innovation is a widely used and often abused term and so, in
the context of innovation, we're considering both smart technical
developments and disruptive business models.
'We're looking back in order to understand the present and to
predict the future,' he added. 'These themes and products are what
we see as being on-trend for 2015.
'The Innovation Index isn't ranked,' said David. 'Instead, it's
organised by theme. And, since we're looking back, the list is in
reverse alphabetical order.'
Details of the Learning Light Innovation index is at:
http://learninglight.com/innovation-index The 2014 Learning
Light Innovation Index is:
1. XML and learning content creation and management from Nimble
author
While this is an engaging and effective learning management system (LMS),
with a disruptive business model, Nimble author innovates in the way
that content is created and handled by using XML. The Nimble author
business model also has much to recommend it, since it's a true 'use
before you buy' model. This product has a simple and elegant
interface, an easy way to create content and its holistic approach
to creating and delivering learning is pleasing.
2. Vocational Open Online Courses (VOOCs) from Virtual College
The concept of VOOCs has been developed by Virtual College, one of
the UK's most successful e-learning pioneers. MOOCs may be entering
the 'down slide' of the hype cycle but VOOCs continue to have huge
potential. Among the VOOC's attributes is that it delivers an honest
appreciation of a specific career path. It's not linear but
exploratory and engaging.
3. Video - the next generation from thePeleton and ThinkZoom
Video has been 'hot' in e-learning for several years but,
traditionally, it comes with limited learner interactions. This is
being changed by the London-based video content company, thePeleton.
It's using both HTML5 and Flash to embed interactivity into videos.
The resulting tool should appear next year (brand to be finalised).
In addition, ej4 has a different view on managing video and making
it available on-demand. Its ThinkZoom tool allows individuals in
companies to record, capture and publish, as well as assign and
track, learning through the desktop. This tool offers both curation
and knowledge management. Tools like this could create in-company 'learnscapes'.
4. Serious games from Totem learning and e-learning studios
Totem learning, with its sister company e-learning studios, is a
serious games developer in the UK (see Learning Light's conversation
with Totem's Helen Routledge). Serious games are likely to go
'mainstream' in 2015 - and offer more than just gamification.
5. Learning record stores (LRS) from Learning Locker
The LRS has become a key topic in recent years as project Tin Can
(or the xAPI) has progressed. The open source project, Learning
Locker, is the UK's e-learning industry response - led by Ben Betts
of HT2, with participants including Webanywhere, Leo, Kineo and
Brightwave. While Tin Can deployments have, so far, been few,
Learning Light expects to see Learning Locker emerge as a major
player in the LRS market in the UK and beyond.
6. Disruptive LMSs from LearnUpon and aNewspring
Named in Learning Light's recently published top LMS list, these two
LMS vendors are exemplars at employing differentiation or
disruption. Dublin-based LearnUpon's LMS moves the LMS into the
Native Apps market (Apple's iOS). Its ease of use for an
administrator should help to convert face-to-face trainers to
promote e-learning. The Dutch LMS vendor, aNewspring, offers a
feature-rich LMS aimed at enhancing the learner experience by
tightly embedding social and adaptive learning. It supports trainers
in engaging with learners. It also provides for content creation
within a learning content management function, allowing trainers to
use assets more than once and ensure that materials, when updated,
are updated across all courses.
7. Corporate MOOCs, learning beyond the LMS from Webanywhere
Webanywhere has taken learning beyond the LMS, using Drupal to
create action learning platforms using user interfaces (UIs) similar
to MOOCs and the Totara LMS to track learners to create a MOOC-style
environment for both clients and employees to use.
8. Badging, Micro-credentials and next generation certification
from Accredible, as well as Mozilla Open Badges
Accredible is one of the new generation of badging,
micro-credentialing and certification platforms, but with a number
of additional innovations. It offers next generation digital
certification (with Mozilla Open Badges) and actual learning records
from an LMS embedded by an API, or Integration from the LMS. It also
allows learners to exhibit learning activities and achievements of
their choice from the LMS into the digital certificate. Accredible
also offers identity management and proctoring services.
9. Authoring Tools from Jackdaw
Jackdaw is one of the most intuitive authoring tools currently
available. This cloud-hosted solution supports content creation and
continues to improve. This is an interesting market, with both GoMo
and the open source Adapt tool being impressive.
10. Adaptive learning from Tugaru
Developments in adaptive learning have been led by Knewton,
desire2learn (now known as Brightspace) and Smartsparrow. However,
the game changer scheduled to appear on the market early next year
is Tugaru Adapt. This delivers levels of automation and interactions
that are built up as workflow (learn flow) producing granular data
designed to enhance, support and deliver the adaptive learner
journey.
End
About Learning Light Ltd
Sheffield-based Learning Light, founded, in 2005, provides advice
and help to organisations using e-learning and learning technologies
to improve their business performance. It's one of the few
organisations in Europe that publishes regular research on the
e-learning market – notably publishing in-depth reports on the UK
and European e-learning markets, encompassing market size, growth
projections and technology trends.
Learning Light's research has been used widely by Governments to
inform economic policy; by universities and education
establishments; by journalists; by investors evaluating new
opportunities and by other research organisations.
Learning Light provides support for clients at all stages of an
e-learning project and also offers ready-developed e-learning
courses in a variety of topics, as well as a range of courses for
the engineering, manufacturing, waste management and recycling
sectors. It is a WAMITAB Approved Centre to deliver qualifications.
Further information from:
David Patterson/ Gill Broadhead, Learning Light, +44 (0)114 307
2357/2368
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, +44 (0)1727 860405
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