Our definition of accessibility

The term « accessibility » is commonly used to designate standards favoring access to the Web by people suffering from handicaps or diverse deficiencies. We extend this definition to the easiness of access for all learners, starting from the principle that any individual has to manage his/her own capabilities as well as his/her own environmental constraints.

Usability

All learners are not equally familiar with computer environments. One of the major barriers to the success of e-Learning initiatives is therefore the complexity of the digital environments. Some vendors have clearly understood it and have concentrated their efforts on developing user-friendly products.

Some LMS were very (too?) complete on the functional level and, therefore, too complex to use. (…) We therefore decided to launch the development of Knowledge Place while ascribing ourselves with strict objectives: a solution both simple and complete, rich Internet ergonomics for a better and friendlier user’s experience (…). —–Eric Malalel, Lynx Online

When we edited the first version of elearning manager in 2002, this was effectively our primary goal: the provision of a simple and affordable product. This concept of a friendly LMS was completely different from what existed on the market at this time, that is to say very IT solutions with little pedagogy. Our positioning resulted in a rapid success with numerous accounts and notably with multinational companies. —–Jérôme Bruet, e-Doceo

According to our customers, adopting OnlineManager is quite simple, rapid and friendly. Effectively, we pay particular attention to ergonomics and graphical interface, which helps to forget the computing environment. —–Michèle Guerrin, OnlineFormapro

The LMS is developed and focused on the user and admin experience by providing a simple, clean and modernized user interface. We provide the tools and functions that the specific client will actually use and do not “overkill” the product. —–Jeff Armant, Cogentis

The clear and simple CLIX 2010 interface helps the learner determine their current stage of learning, locate the next tasks at a glance and quickly retrace their learning history. —–Marco Kelting, IMC

disconnected mode

The initial principle of a full-web e-Learning aimed at making training accessible anywhere and anytime. But this was forgetful of the numerous situations for which no web connection is available: secured environments, mobile learners, unfitted areas, etc. Nowadays, a large number of vendors fill-in this gap by providing a disconnected mode.

We started very early with the disconnected mode. MOS Solo for the e-learning content developers and MOS Player for the learners. A software to download and play the courses locally before synchronizing them via a click as soon as a connection is available again with MOS Chorus. —–Elodie Primo, MindOnSite

Our customers’ request in this matter mainly relies on mobile learners. We have therefore proposed an AICC/SCORM-compliant player Off Line, thus allowing the downloading of contents on the learner’s player, consultation in disconnected mode and automatic synchronisation. —–Pierre-Henry Amalric, XPERTeam

Towards mobility

Mobile phones, SmartPhones, tablets… These new devices have entered our daily lives and meet the workers’ need for mobility. They extend the access capabilities to e-Learning: anytime and anywhere. However, LMS vendors have to face specific issues related to limited display size and bandwidth. New practices, typical of mobile, tend to develop.

Mobility is a really important vector in nowadays learning. It is essential for a learner to get access to information anywhere and anytime so as to remain involved in the learning process. —–Emmanuel Clemot, Blackboard

Mobile Learning is not intended, for the present time, to replace the online learning on a PC but it enables to very easily deliver small contents or quizzes and, hence, to learn in a few minutes anywhere! As an example, one of our customers, specialized in phone operations, proposes this method to his shop salers, which enables to get information rapidly without monopolizing a computer station. —–Elodie Primo, MindOnSite

What we are seeing is that organizations want to take advantage of mobile and are doing so be getting started with controllable but important projects.  They are learning that mobile learning isn’t a replacement for eLearning but a great augment to provide short, convenient learning and to support larger learning initiatives. —–Bas Kramer, Outstart

There are some challenges with this of course. Vendors will have bandwidth issues to overcome. They will be required to provide an intelligent way to synchronise data between the source system and the mobile device. They will have to format content to different screen sizes. They will need to ensure that navigating the content is as easy as possible. And, critically, they must ensure that they support seamless communication with the corporate system. —–Erik Finch, SumTotal

They will use them as performance support devices to find, call and message experts they value. They will access the internet on their phones to answer questions. They will use social networking and other community resources to find shared knowledge pools inside work and outside. —–Maria van Vlodrop, CertPoint

Mobile learning can do much to enrich the learning experience. It is widely believed that mobile learning could be a huge factor in getting disaffected young adults to engage in learning, where more traditional methods have failed. (…) And always have in mind: In many remote areas the mobile infrastructure is the main access point for Internet communication. —–Marco Kelting, IMC

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