Global Knowledge Launches Community Learning Portal To Its Corporate Clients; Portal Powered By UpsideLMS
Global Knowledge has launched an innovative technology platform called the ‘Community Learning Portal’ to deliver blended learning programs to large corporate customers. This platform, adapted from UpsideLMS, stimulates and transforms learning programs into ‘learning environments’ through active facilitation, multimedia content and online collaboration.
Global Knowledge, a worldwide leader in IT and business skills training, has worked with many organizations to provide effective learning solutions and flexible delivery methods. Their latest initiative is the Community Learning Portal, a web-based application platform that provides access to a range of tools and resources that underpin and enable learning programs whilst creating communities of practice and learners. Knowledge is captured and shared across the organization, making best practices (applicable to the specific organization) available and instantly accessible. This platform stimulates and transforms learning programs into ‘learning environments’ through active facilitation, multimedia content and online collaboration.
Global Knowledge believes that flexibility, especially in the delivery method, is now a key requirement for customers and increasing responsibilities means users and organizations are looking for engaging ways to build skill-sets and bring together disparate teams. Despite facing limited resources and budgets, organizations still need to deliver consistent skills and Global Knowledge recognizes that often existing LMSs are functional for deploying content but too often are complex and do not offer some of the increasingly important ‘social’ functionality required to make learning participative, engaging, and with an organizational context.
Global Knowledge’s Community Learning Portal is an adaptation of UpsideLMS, the multi award-winning, best value Learning Management System from Upside Learning. The Social Learning framework embedded within UpsideLMS consists of an internal micro-blogging module, ‘friends’ concept, content sharing – photos and videos – and rating, discussion forums, communities concept, media wiki, integration with live twitter, an integrated blog engine, RSS feeds and chat, all of which were identified to be important elements when crafting the Community Learning Portal.
A separate portal has been created using UpsideLMS’ 3-tier architecture (aka multi-tenant) to support Global Knowledge’s worldwide business. It supports many regions, providing multi-lingual support as part of the Community Learning Portal. This allows learners and administrators to access the system in their preferred language.
Peter Howell, EMEA Operations Director at Global Knowledge, said, “Whilst IT training is often a necessity, we’ve shown that it can be turned into a far richer experience with flexible delivery mechanisms, tools and appropriate support. Our vision is to help learners using collaborative environments through which they can learn for themselves and from each other with and without assistance from our trainers. Upside Learning has helped us achieve this vision.”
Amit Garg, Director of Custom Solutions at Upside Learning, commented, “In this dynamically changing training world, we strive hard to keep evolving our products to support our customers. Today, UpsideLMS is one of the few LMS systems in the world that can truly boast of social and collaborative features as standard.” Talking about Upside Learning’s association with Global Knowledge, he said, “We are very pleased to be involved in crafting this innovative product along with Global Knowledge.”
UpsideLMS has been a winner of 9 Brandon Hall Excellence in Technology Awards for 3 consecutive years (2011, 2010 and 2009), out of which 3 have been won for its Social Learning Module.
About Global Knowledge
Global Knowledge is the worldwide leader in IT and business skills training, with more than 1200 courses spanning foundational and specialized training and certifications. Its core training is focused on Cisco, Microsoft, VMware, Red Hat, business process improvement, and leadership development. It delivers via training centers, private facilities and the internet, enabling customers to choose when, where and how they want to receive training programmes and learning services.
Founded in 1995, Global Knowledge employs more than 1300 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located in Cary (USA), Canadian headquarters are in Toronto and EMEA headquarters are in London. The company is owned by New York-based investment firm MidOcean Partners.
For more information please visit www.globalknowledge.net