Echelon brings centralised e-publishing of distance learning to Online Info 2007
A model for the central design and publishing of online qualification-based university and professional learning materials within the UK Government’s ‘Pathway to Professions’ initiative is one of the learning design themes of Echelon Learning’s stand (662) at December’s Online Information exhibition and conference.
Web-based ‘Urban Design Skills’ (UDS) learning has been commissioned from Echelon by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) to act as a central resource for universities and institutes participating in the government sponsored Pathway to Professions initiative.
The major cost in developing blended or distance learning courses for CPD, Diploma, Certificate or Masters qualifications lies in development and editing of the content. Origination costs for UDS learning are split eight ways between the universities and institutes involved, with editing handled centrally via a content management system and distribution centralised via the web.
Echelon has commissioned and published the learning so that it is consistent, attractive to use and easy to access.
Publishing is via a proprietary content management system offering a capability for interactive questions and hidden feedback. Distribution is via a ‘lite’ learning management system which allows for storage, search and usage tracking capabilities via the web.
Echelon specialises in developing and publishing a blend of proprietary and generic content for qualification, CPD and online performance support.
Clients include organisations ranging from institutes such as the RTPI, CIPS and the IIA, business schools and universities (Ashridge, Southbank University, Westminster Kingsway College) and corporate clients including BUPA, Moat, and Vodafone. Echelon’s virtual resource of 2,000 generic business and management modules can be accessed at learningmatters.com
The company sees the Urban Design Skills distance learning project as an important model for broader future application.
"It brings a centralised, easily edited and updated resource of professionally published material at a cost which can be reduced commensurately by the number of bodies sharing it," says director David Hill.
The world's leading event for online content and information management solutions, Online Information 2007 takes place from December 4-6th at Olympia, Grand Hall, London
Echelon, Angles House, 210 Sheen Lane, London SW14 8LB; 020 8274 9965