Q. Who uses Learningworks?
Q. We want to use Learningworks to build our online corporate university. We anticipate that our audience and course catalog will grow rapidly. How will Learningworks meet the demand?
Q. Do you charge user fees?
Q. Do you offer hosting services?
Q. What platform does Learningworks use? What technologies does it employ?
Q. Is Learningworks SCORM compliant?
Q. How does Learningworks manage blended learning?
Q. We're new to learning management. How much time will an LMS administrator need to spend on administration in Learningworks?
Q. How many standard reports come with Learningworks?

Q. Who uses Learningworks?

The organizations selecting Learningworks LMS™ for their learning
management system represent a wide cross-section of business types and
sizes. Some look to Prospero's LMS as the cornerstone of a full custom learning solution that might include learning strategy, instructional design and custom e-Learning development. Others do not have the budget or time to implement an enterprise LMS/LCMS. Organizations without the information technology (IT) departments to manage their learning management systems also turn to Prospero and Learningworks. Finally, the inherent flexibility of Learningworks appeals to those who need to react quickly to the ever-changing needs of businesses. It is a great value proposition and can be easily configured to a customer's specifications.

Learningworks can grow as you grow. Prospero guarantees scalability in two directions:

1. Upwards by upgrading server hardware with more memory, faster and/or multiple CPUs, or greater storage space.
2. Outwards by setting up a cluster of servers and/or databases and using techniques like "session sticky load balancing".

We do not charge user fees or seat fees. Prospero's pricing for Learningworks LMST is based primarily on an annual license fee and maintenance subscription. The growth of your user base or high turnover will not impact your license fees. Please contact us for more information.

Yes. We can provide hosting services for your learning management system, its data, and your e-Learning and documentation. We typically set up and configure a pair of test and production environments on a dedicated or shared server that we manage. Our management services include ongoing, pre-emptive operating system security patches and updates, and a port monitoring system to ensure constant uptime. We also perform database maintenance, including nightly backups of the LMS database.

Learningworks LMS is a Microsoft-based solution that uses ASP, server-side VBScript and JavaScript technology. The server types supported are Windows 2000, Windows 2003, and Windows XP.

The recommended database is Microsoft SQL Server 2005. We can also accommodate a Linux application server running Apache with an ASP plug-in and Oracle Database Enterprise Edition 10 or higher.

Learningworks is also SCORM compliant for e-Learning and can be integrated with HRIS and Sharepoint environments.

A Learningworks environment uses two portals: one for learners only and one for all other types of users (administrators, managers, instructors, etc.) Technically-speaking, these portals are "thin client interfaces" incorporating HTML and ASP. The content, including the operational language of the GUI, is entirely data-driven. No plug-ins or Active X controls are required.

The portals are accessed from a browser. We recommend Internet Explorer versions 5.5 and higher. The LMS can also be viewed with Firefox and Safari.

Our system conforms to the SCORM 1.2 RTE2 standard and supports all core elements. Prospero is currently completing work on SCORM 2004 compliance so that we can support both standards simultaneously and all fields. Learner transcripts reflect SCORM 2004 values when reporting course progress and completion status.

Learningworks also supports a mixed API environment whereby a client may opt to use its own custom communication fields along with SCORM to track participation and performance at a level of detail that SCORM does not (e.g., specific questions, modules, topics). Prospero also offers courseware integration services and the testing of third-party content for SCORM compliance.

Blended learning is accomplished through a personal "to-do" list of learning activities that may reflect the individual's learning path, group membership, or self-enrollment choices. Individual "blended" courses may also be created by combining different types of content (instructor-led training, e-learning, pre- and post-tests, surveys and evaluations, forums, and resource documents) and listing them in a single course outline for review and launching. Learningworks standard reports track blended courses and the individual learning components that comprise them.

Every organization's situation is different.

If you have complex training schedules, rapidly changing content, frequent organizational restructuring, and high employee turnover, you may need to assign a dedicated administrator to manage them. If the opposite conditions prevail and you take advantage of options such as self-registration and self- enrollment, you may let the LMS run on "auto-pilot".

What you are using Learningworks for will also determine the level of effort required for administration. If you are delivering a set of e-Learning courses, there will be little to do once the courses are live. If you are delivering instructor-led training, you may find yourself setting up new class sessions, building enrollment lists, approving registrations, taking attendance, and grading learners on a frequent basis.

Some clients choose to centralize all of their learning management tasks, whereas others delegate administration to managers, making them responsible for their own learners and the content that they see. Still others opt for decentralization, letting employees self-register for accounts, search for available courses, and enrollment themselves without requiring head office or manager approvals.

Learningworks Lite itself requires less effort to administer than the full edition of Learningworks LMS. Learningworks Lite is a streamlined edition with fewer features and options. It concentrates on the management of either e-Learning or instructor-led training initiatives.

Don't know where to begin? Prospero's professional LMS consulting services can help you plan and strategize for every aspect of your learning management system, from implementation and communications to creation and change management. We can also provide dedicated administrative services for your LMS.

Learningworks offers over 50 standard reports related to groups, courses, learners, quizzes, forums, and resource documents. Each report offers a variety of options for selecting, searching, and sorting. A Custom Report Generator also enables you to create, save and share unique reports that reflect your preferences for content, scope and layout.

For more information and to arrange a guided demonstration of Learningworks LMST, contact Prospero at moc.gninraelorepsorp@ofni or call toll free: 877-485-8366.