IMS Leads Collaborative Delivery of Learning Technology
Burlington, Mass. - May 16, 2005 - Participants in the IMS Global Learning Consortium (IMS/GLC) have configured their international organization to accelerate the adoption of innovative online learning technology and techniques in the education and training industry.
Following a 6-month strategic planning effort that involved meetings with industry leaders and a survey of key decision makers in the IMS membership, the Board and staff of the Consortium have realigned the eight-year-old organization. Efforts to consolidate software and content interoperability, develop metrics to validate the economic and social impact of learning technology, and increase overall acceptance of technology-based learning are being added to an industry leading role in developing and maintaining technology standards.
David Ernst, Chief Information Officer of the California State Universities and Chair of the IMS/GLC Board said, "We have charted a course for IMS which will realize its full potential as the clearinghouse and facilitator of international, cross industry collaboration for effective use of learning technology. We will build on our success at bringing suppliers and consumers of learning technology together to create the technical foundation of the education and training industry. IMS will also turn significant attention to removing the technical barriers to delivering and using 21st century learning on a global basis."
In addition to conducting face to face and virtual meetings of its Project Groups and inaugurating alt-i-lab, an annual workshop where decision makers evaluate technology and develop strategy for products and programs, IMS/GLC has released 15 technical specifications that are in wide use across the industry. Profiles of IMS specifications constitute the content description and sequencing component of SCORM 2004 and underlie UKLeaP, the forthcoming British Standards Institute standard for describing learner information.
IMS/GLC Dr. Robert Wisher, Director of the Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative, and member of the IMS/GLC Board said, "The influence of its specifications for describing and packaging content in SCORM 2004 demonstrates the impact of the work done by the members and staff of IMS/GLC. The ADL Co-Laboratory and IMS/GLC together have been instrumental in enabling what used to be called Computer Based Training to enter the Internet age. The need to facilitate implementation becomes an increasing priority as IMS matures as a global organization."
As part of the strategy to focus more resources on delivering technology while continuing to create the foundation from which it is derived, Edward Walker, the Chief Executive Officer of IMS/GLC since 1999 will leave that position and devote his time to fostering relationships between IMS/GLC and the many existing and yet to be formed organizations in the industry. Recruitment of a new CEO will begin immediately.
Ray Henderson, General Manager for Digital Media at Pearson Education and
IMS/GLC Board Member added, "Under Ed's leadership IMS removed many stones
from the path of elearning industry development. We're prepared for
transition, and well poised for a new CEO to extend the work and
partnerships of IMS and further accelerate the growth of the elearning
marketplace."
"We need to find a creative leader to manage and develop the organization as it pursues this exciting new mission," said Alun Hughes, representing the UK's Joint Information Systems Committee and member of the search committee. "The Chief Executive of IMS/GLC is the primary evangelist for the organization and its lead person interfacing with policy makers throughout the world, as well as the overall director of day to day activity."
Fabrizio Cardinali, CEO of Giunti Labs and co-chair of the IMS Technical Advisory Board added that, "The members of IMS have set the standard for international collaboration to advance elearning technology. We see the impact of their work not only in the technology used in our own products, but also in the business contacts we've made and the opportunities we've discovered while participating in activities organized by IMS/GLC. Our new CEO will be able to build on a substantial base of accomplishments."
"IMS/GLC plays a key role by bringing vendors and their customers
together to promote the development and delivery of interoperable
learning technology," said David Driftmier, Worldwide General Manager
for Education at Microsoft and IMS Board member. "IMS/GLC specifications
and their use in reference models like SCORM 2004 and national
frameworks like the Electronic Government Interoperability Framework in
the UK have helped to create a growing world-wide market for education
and training related products and services."
Robert Todd, Practice Lead, Convergys Learning Solutions added, "The industry and IMS/GLC have grown up together. Now both are faced with the challenges of sustaining and evolving the world they've created. If IMS/GLC didn't already exist, we'd be creating it."
IMS/GLC is a non-profit organization supported by member contributions. Information about IMS is available on the IMS website at http://www.imsglobal.org. To join IMS/GLC and participate in the delivery of learning to learners worldwide, visit http://www.imsglobal.org/membership.html.
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For more information contact
Marketing, marketing@imsglobal.org
http://www.imsglobal.org
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