Elearning! Magazine: Building Smarter Companies via Learning & Workplace Technologies.
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News Google Launches Learning Platform Google has created CloudCourse, an open-source learning plat- form that runs under AppEngine, the company's cloud-based envi- ronment. The company developed the new platform to provide a course scheduling system that's fully integrated with Google services (including Google Calendar) and to demonstrate what it takes to build an application using Google's App Engine. Avatar Commands the Room Dr. Bob Childs, senior director of the iCollege at the Defense Acquisition University, took on a dual personality last month when he agreed to become an avatar to kick off the Third Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds (FCVW) Conference. Sitting behind the stage with a microphone, the "real" Dr. Childs talked through his avatar before coming out to address the audience in person. Virtual worlds is more than gaming, Dr. Childs said — it is about education, innovation, and about changing business. He said there are five actions you need to take to be an innovative government organization: 1 Capture the imagination and abilities of young people. 2 Constantly provide ways for employees to innovate. 3 Explore how people learn and use the best practices you uncover. 4 Consider virtual worlds to collaborate across agencies 5 "Be out in the world." and to bring people together. It also features approval processes, wait-list management, and room and user profile information. It can be further customized to sync the data with other internal systems. However, CloudCourse does not yet contain all the functionality that would make it an alternative to the other learning manage- ment systems available. It potentially can evolve as developers experiment and extend its functionality. CloudCourse has been developed in Python, using the Django Web application framework and the Closure Javascript library. Deploying CloudCourse on App Engine can take less than five minutes. CloudCourse is available for download at http://code.google.com/p/cloudcourse/downloads/list. People on the Move new role, Paul will be respon- sible for developing and lead- ing content IT outsourcing engagements. RAJIV PAUL is the new vice president of content IT out- sourcing for Aptara, Inc.. Paul is a 15-year veteran of Accenture. Prior to that, he held a number of roles in the consulting and outsourcing areas focused on building, transitioning and managing client IT offshore teams across a network of global centers in locations as diverse as Delhi, Bangalore and Manila. In his 10 Annual 2010 CourseAvenue has added SUE PEARSON to its client service and project management team. Her prior experience includes e-learning needs assessment, course design and development, as well as content creation and editing. Pearson assumes her new responsibilities immediately and will be based at CourseAvenueʼs U.S. head- quarters in Warrenville, Ill. MICHELLE O'CONNOR, sen- ior vice president of learning strategy and innovation for CMR Institute, has been appointed to The Center for Instructional Technology Solutions in Industry and Education (CITSIE) advisory board at Virginia Tech. CITSIE is a research and develop- ment center focused on pro- viding instructional technology research and outreach in cooperation with primary and higher educational institutions, community health settings, government agencies, and the private sector. Expertus has appointed JIM HANLIN vice president of con- tent strategies and solutions. In his role, Hanlin is charged with bringing to market a fresh approach to content services. Before joining Expertus, Hanlin served as chief operating offi- cer for Training Industry, Inc. Expertus also named JOHN SCHNEBLE product director of technology solutions. He will lead the marketing of Expertusʼ flagship product suite, oversee- ing market research, position- ing, pricing and proposals relat- ed to Web 2.0 learning and other technology products. Childs also reminded the audience about the vGov Project (http://www.ocio. usda.gov/vgov/index.html), a federal government virtual world project. Hosted by the USDA and the NDU iCollege, vGov will provide a space for government employees to share content and collaborate without walls. Vastpark, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, created the virtual Dr. Childs. Elearning!