Presented at Online Learning 2001
e-Learning for the Enterprise:
Why Learning Content
Management Matters Most
Bryan Chapman
e-Learning Analyst
Brandon-hall.com
Traditional e-learning model
© 2001 brandon-hall.com
Online University
Custom e-learning
e-assessment
“Off-the-Shelf”
e-learning
Learning Management
System
Live, Virtual
Classrooms
Classroom
Emerging Technology - LCMS
© 2001 brandon-hall.com
Online University
Classroom
Live, Virtual
Classrooms
Learning Management
System
• Convergence of Knowledge
Management and traditional elearning
• Based on learning object
model, reusability, and team
development
LCMS
Learning Content
Management System
Definition
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LCMS (èl-see-em-ess):
1) A multi-user environment where
learning developers can create,
store, reuse, manage and deliver
digital learning content from a
central object repository.
2) Acronym for Learning Content
Management System.
LCMS vs. LMS
© 2001 brandon-hall.com
Primary Target Users
Provides primary management
of…
LMS
LCMS
Training Managers,
Instructors, Administrators
Content Developers,
Instructional Designers,
Project Managers
Learners
Learning Content
Primary
Secondary
Management of Classroom,
Instructor-led Training
Performance Reporting of
Training Results
Learner Collaboration
Keeping Learner Profile Data
Sharing learner data with an ERP
system
Event Scheduling
LCMS vs. LMS (cont)
© 2001 brandon-hall.com
LMS
Competency Mapping – Skill Gap
Analysis
Content Creation Capabilities
Organizing reusable content
Creation of Test Questions and
test administration
Dynamic pretesting and adaptive
learning
Workflow tools to manage the
content development process
Deliver content by providing
navigational controls and look &
feel
LCMS
LCMS - Significant Event Timeline
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 Circa November 2000 – Formation of the LCMS Vendor Council
 Circa February 2001 - The acronym LCMS begins appearing on
literature and trade show booths at Training 2001
 April 12, 2001 - Centra acquires MindLever, rebrands the LCMS as
“Centra Knowledge Server”
 June 4, 2001 – Docent significantly increases its internal content
management system functionality and releases it with Docent
version 5.0
 June 27, 2001 – Saba acquires Ultris, rebrands as “Saba Content”
 July 16, 2001 – KnowledgePlanet acquires Peer3, rebrands as
“KnowledgePlanet Content”
 September 6, 2001 – Click2Learn releases Aspen Enterprise
Learning Platform – converting in-house tool “REDS” to Aspen
Content Development Server and acquired Intelliprep to Aspen
Learning Experience Server
 September 24, 2001 – ThinQ announces that they will “deeply
integrate” with Outstart
Interoperability with 3rd Party LMS
© 2001 brandon-hall.com
2
10
5
4
Learning Management
System
2
3
2
3
2
2
LCMS
Learning Content
Management System
29 LCMS Systems
Review of LCMS products
* Members of the LCMS Vendor Council in blue
•
Adaptive Learning Framework (ibtraining.com)
•
Adaptive Tutoring System (Adaptive Tutoring)
•
Aspen Content Development Server (Click2Learn)
•
Aspen Content Delivery Server (Click2Learn)
•
Centra Knowledge Server (Centra)
•
Docent Outliner/Content Delivery Server (Docent)
•
ePath Learning (ePath Learning)
•
Evolution (Outstart)
•
f(2) (Interactive Media)
•
iAuthor (NYUOnline)
•
LEAP Learning Development System (Intellinex)
•
iPerformance (Online Courseware Factory)
•
IPRESS/KBRIDGE (KnowledgeXtensions)
•
Jupiter (Avaltus)
•
Knowledge Mechanics Studio (Knowledge Mechanics)
•
Knowledge Pathways (Global Knowledge)
•
Knowledge Producer (IBM Mindspan Solutions)
•
Knowledgelinx 2000 (Knowledgelinx)
•
KnowledgePlanet Content (KnowledgePlanet)
•
KnowledgeOne Content Manager (LeadingWay
Knowledge Systems)
•
Lightspeed Omnisite (Lightspeed Interactive)
•
LogicBuilder (LogicBay)
•
Nogginware (Handshaw, inc.)
•
SmartBuilder (Suddenly Smart)
•
SWIFT (Gemini Learning Systems)
•
Theorix (Theorix)
•
TopClass (WBT Systems)
•
Total Knowledge Management (TKM) System (Generation21)
•
Vitalect (Vitalect)
•
VuePoint Learning System (VuePoint)
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“Points of Pain”
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•
Can’t keep pace with the volume of content needed
•
Inefficiencies of developing content on the desktop
•
Lack of macro-management of overall development
process
•
Previously created content is difficult to find and use
•
Need for re-purposing content (multiple, derivative
versions)
•
Content created for one delivery format is not usable in
another format
•
Difficulties of creating adaptive learning using traditional
authoring tools
•
Inconsistencies in delivery standards
•
Difficulties of frequently changing content
•
Problems with manually attaching authored content to an
LMS
Characteristics of an LCMS
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 Based on a Learning Object Model
 Content is reusable across courses, curricula or across the entire
enterprise
 Content is not tightly bound to a specific template and can be redeployed in a variety of formats such as e-learning, CD-ROM, printbased learning, PALM, EPSS, etc.
 Navigational controls are not hard coded at the content (or page)
level
 There is a complete separation of content and presentation logic
 Content is stored in a central database repository
 Content can be represented as XML or is stored as XML
 Content can be tagged for advanced searchability (both at the media
and the topic level)
Characteristics of an LCMS (con’t)
© 2001 brandon-hall.com
 Pre-tests and Post-tests can be automatically aggregated from test
questions written for the primary instruction. In addition, the system
can delivery the test and prescribe learning based on performance
 The system manages the development process by providing some
level of workflow tools to manage a multi-developer, team
environment.
 Version controls and archiving capabilities to store previous versions
of content
 Advanced searching capabilities across all objects in the repository
 Interoperable with 3rd party learning management systems
 Includes a delivery engine for serving up content, automatically adding
navigation controls, collaboration tools, utilities, and look & feel (skins)
Anatomy of an LCMS
© 2001 brandon-hall.com
Content Creation
Interfaces
Content Assembly
Interface
Database Storage
(course hierarchy)
Microsoft
Word
PowerPoint
Built-in
Authoring Utilities
(Browser-Based or
Locally Installed Application)
Flash
(and other 3rd party
Authoring tools)
HTML
Editor
Embedded or external
M
I
D
D
L
E
W
A
R
E
Publish Learning
Output Formats
(add navigation controls, etc.)
Learning Object
Repository
C:\Media
\graphics
\animations
\audio
\video
D
E
L
I
V
E
R
Y
E
N
G
I
N
E
Assemble at runtime
e-Learning
Pre-compile
CD-ROM
Output
Type?
Print-based
PALM
(and other mobile
devices)
EPSS