ADL Plugfest 4 Proves e-Learning Specifications Work.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2001

225 Vendors and Content Developers Gather to Successfully Test and

Demonstrate Interoperability Using IMS and SCORM(TM) Specifications

Representatives of 128 organizations from around the world gathered at the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative's Plugfest 4, May 29 - June 1, to test their learning software for compatibility using the latest specifications from ADL and the IMS Global Learning Consortium (IMS).

Independently developed software and learning content was combined, connected and demonstrated in real time at the ADL Co-Laboratory in Alexandria, VA. Eighteen different Learning Management System (LMS) providers, 23 learning content providers, and 6 authoring tool providers participated in the event.

Daniel R. Rehak, a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and Technical Director, Learning Systems Architecture Lab at Carnegie Mellon Research Institutes Information Technology Development Center, described the Plugfest as a unique "event using real code, in real time, with real products, with real standards, with real competitors, with real-time tools to develop interoperable content."

Plugfest 4 provided an extraordinary environment where vendors and developers collaborated to test the interoperability of LMSs and learning content. Learning objects were created live, conforming with ADL's new Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM(TM)) and combined with pre-authored objects. These objects were then loaded and demonstrated in multiple competing LMS products - an industry first.

"This event proves that we can accelerate the adoption of industry standards," said Philip Dodds, ADL's Chief Architect. "These folks did a fantastic job; this stuff really works!" Tyde Richards, an e-learning interoperability researcher working with IBM Mindspan Solutions, described the ADL work as a "point of stability" in the evolving world of technical e-learning standards.

Plugfest 4 focused on testing the recently released IMS Content Packaging specifications (www.imsproject.org) and ADL's Version 1.1 of the SCORM(TM) (www.adlnet.org). These specifications prescribe how to wrap and move learning content to provide compatibility across competing products.

"We are forming the basis for a real e-learning economy," said Paul Jesukiewicz, Director of the ADL Co-Laboratory. "Using these specifications, content can be stored in learning repositories to be reused and shared across multiple products and environments."

CAPT Sherry Newton, from the U.S. Department of Defense, said "the unprecedented collaboration of government, academia and industry to accelerate and implement international standards, that was evident during Plugfest 4, is invaluable. SCORM and its goal of interoperability across products will ensure efficient, adaptable, reusable training delivered to (U.S.) forces throughout the globe, and will greatly facilitate the U.S. Department of Defense's goal to provide the highest quality education and training, tailored to individual and organizational needs, whenever and wherever it is required."

IMS kicked off the event with tutorial sessions on its Meta-data, Content Packaging and Question and Test Interoperability specifications, together with a discussion of IMS specification and ADL SCORM relationships. All IMS specifications can be accessed by the public at www.imsproject.org, and SCORM releases are available at www.adlnet.org.

IMS Workshops and Developer "Kitchens" are scheduled monthly beginning this July.

The IMS Global Learning Consortium is a world-wide consortium supported by more than 40 Contributing Members. IMS in Europe supports IMS activities throughout Europe. The Consortium hosts a Developers Network with more than 200 subscribers. Any organization with a significant interest in distributed learning can apply to join IMS or subscribe to the Developers Network.

For more information visit www.imsproject.org.

The ADL Initiative is a collaborative effort between government, academia and the private sector to establish a common framework that permits the interoperability of learning tools and content on a global scale.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Department of Labor, and the National Guard have established the ADL Co-Laboratory as a forum for cooperative research, development and assessment of new learning technology prototypes, guidelines and specifications. ADL released Version 1.0 of the SCORM in January 2000. Version 1.1 of the SCORM was released in January 2001.

Over the past year, ADL has conducted a series of Plugfests with industry, academia, government and international standards groups to assess the viability of SCORM specifications as they grow to incorporate a broader range of e-learning considerations.

Plugfest 4 Participants:

18 Learning Management Systems Providers: Avilar Technologies, Blackboard Inc., Centra Software Inc., Click2Learn Inc., Docent Inc., General Dynamics CS, Global Learning Systems, KnowledgePlanet Inc., Meridian KSI, Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Pathlore Software, Prometheus, Saba Software, TASC, THINQ, WBT Systems, WebCT.

6 Authoring Tool Providers: Macromedia, MaxIT Corporation, NS Software Services, Trivantis, Click2Learn, Saba.

24 Content Providers: Academic ADL Co-Lab, Boeing, Computer Sciences Corporation, Defense Acquisition University, Department of National Defence (Canada), EER Systems, ElementK, Jardon and Howard Technologies, Learning Objects Network, Inc., LSI Inc., Mantech, Mentergy, U.S. National Guard Bureau, U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD), NETg, U.S. Naval Education & Training Professional Development & Technology Center (NETPDTC), Smartforce, NYUonline Inc., Online-learning.com, OpenVes, Platinum EDU Ltd., Stewart Consulting, TutorTek.com, XanEdu.

For additional information about the Advanced Distributed Learning initiative, contact the Secretariat, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Readiness, Readiness and Training, at [e-mail], or Fax: [phone].

For information about the ADL Co-Lab Plugfests or if you have technical questions relating to the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM(TM)), please contact the ADL Technical Team through the Help Desk at www.adlnet.org. For more information about IMS visit www.imsproject.org.