Partner Best PracticesPartner Best Practices

Stephanie Pyle, Stephanie Pyle, Director of Product Marketing, SkillSoftDirector of Product Marketing, SkillSoft

Gary Hartman, Gary Hartman, Partner Alliance Manager, SkillSoftPartner Alliance Manager, SkillSoft

Spencer Thornton,Spencer Thornton, Senior Product Manager, Geolearning, Inc. Senior Product Manager, Geolearning, Inc.

Learning: Re-Imagined

AgendaAgendaAgendaAgenda

• SkillPort 7.0 Updates• What’s new?

• OLSA• What is it?• How does it work?

• Partner use of OLSA• Geolearning, Inc.

• Getting the most from your SkillSoft partnership

• Q&A

Content DeliveryContent DeliveryContent DeliveryContent Delivery

• SkillSoft Technology Infrastructure

• Software as a Service (SaaS) delivering learning to over 10 million learners worldwide

• 99.97% Average Uptime for 2008

• Custom Hosting Services

• Easy-to-manage, searchable repository for ALL your learning content

• Deployment Options

• SkillPort LMS: reliable, secure, scalable, proven

• Open Learning Services Architecture (OLSA): delivering learning - to other LMSs

•SkillSoft Hosting Services

SkillSoft Courses

VideosBooks

CustomCourses

SkillPort OLSA

Learners Learners

LMS or ?

Proving Value for Over 2,000 Customers Proving Value for Over 2,000 Customers Proving Value for Over 2,000 Customers Proving Value for Over 2,000 Customers

• A reliable, scalable SaaS LMS that’s capable of delivering learning to large, global audiences• SaaS approach maximizes flexibility and minimizes burden on

internal IT resources• Supports a variety of learning assets: self-study courses, virtual

classes, books, simulations, videos and mentoring for formal or informal learning

• Learners can quickly pinpoint relevant content using Search & Learn™ or the catalog

• Localized interfaces available in 10 languages

• Native support for offlineplay of courses and results synchronization for SkillSoft courses

SkillPort 7.0

SkillPort Version 7.0SkillPort Version 7.0SkillPort Version 7.0SkillPort Version 7.0

• A major redesign of the User Interface.

• Goals of the project• Update the overall UI• Consolidate Common Functions• Simplifying Everyday Tasks• Reduce the number of clicks to accomplish common tasks• Focus on Workflow and Usability

The Login PageThe Login PageThe Login PageThe Login Page

Customize the login page

Add your logo, change colors, graphics and welcome text.

The Home PageThe Home PageThe Home PageThe Home Page

Incorporate your branding on the Home Page and throughout SkillPort

Colors Logo Image Home Page Text

NavigationNavigationNavigationNavigation

Buttons, Shortcuts and Top Links

• My Favorites and My Enrollments now part of My Plan

• My Reports is now My Progress

• Custom shortcuts below main navigation

• Expandable, drop-down menus

• Books 24x7, Admin, My Profile, Help as top links

SkillPort 7.0SkillPort 7.0SkillPort 7.0SkillPort 7.0

• SkillPort 7 is Released and Available

• Service Release 1 planned for – Q3 2009• Updates to My Progress and My Plan for Learners• Redesign of additional Administrative Features

OLSA – Open Learning Services ArchitectureOLSA – Open Learning Services ArchitectureOLSA – Open Learning Services ArchitectureOLSA – Open Learning Services Architecture

• Gary HartmanPartner Alliances Mgr.

SkillPort

Learners

OLSA

TPLMS or ?

SkillSoft Hosting Services

SkillSoft courses

custom learning

videos

Books24x7

Learners

What is OLSA?What is OLSA?What is OLSA?What is OLSA?

• Web Services API that simplifies access to SkillSoft Content and Content-related Services hosted by SkillSoft

• Targeted applications:• Learning Management Systems

(LMS)• Talent Management Platforms• Portals• Other web-applications

SkillPort

Learners

OLSA

TPLMS or ?

SkillSoft Hosting Services

SkillSoft courses

custom learning

videos

Books24x7

Learners

Why did SkillSoft Create OLSA?Why did SkillSoft Create OLSA?Why did SkillSoft Create OLSA?Why did SkillSoft Create OLSA?

Traditional Learning Landscape

Simple Content loaded into an LMS But…

Content trends have added stress to the existing model

• Accelerating content inventory growth

• Increasing variety of content types

• More dynamic, frequently changing content

• Interdependent relationships among content objects and content–related servicesexample: mentoring services

There are no standards for integrating today’s richer content into a TPLMS

(Third Party LMS)

Current Customer ChallengesCurrent Customer ChallengesCurrent Customer ChallengesCurrent Customer Challenges

• Catalog Management

• Finding Desired Assets

• Player Technology Maintenance

• Limited Access to certain SkillSoft Assets from within the LMS

• Trouble-shooting issues with Content and Players

• Maintaining the LMS as the System of Record while still enabling all SkillSoft entitled assets

OLSA for Hosting ContentOLSA for Hosting ContentOLSA for Hosting ContentOLSA for Hosting Content

• Implementation• SkillSoft manages installation and maintenance of courses

on OLSA Content Server• Customer loads AICC files for all entitled assets into the LMS• Users launch content from within the LMS• No customization required• Support for SkillSoft Advanced Content

OLSA

OLSA AdministratorOLSA AdministratorOLSA AdministratorOLSA Administrator

Learning Administrator

ContentContentContent-Content-Related Related Learning Learning ServicesServices

Open Learning ServicesOpen Learning Services

TPLMS

Perform Various

Functions

OLSA AdministratorOLSA AdministratorOLSA AdministratorOLSA Administrator

Download Asset MetadataAICC, SCORM or CSV

Download Catalog

Hierarchies

Run Reports

Perform Management Functions

OLSA Web Services APIOLSA Web Services APIOLSA Web Services APIOLSA Web Services API

• Standards-based• Web Services, SCORM, AICC

• Core services• Asset Integration• Catalog Synchronization• Search across all content and services• On-demand Communication

• Tools to get started• Growing developer community• Online Knowledge Base• Code samples, documentation, etc.

What can you do with OLSA?What can you do with OLSA?What can you do with OLSA?What can you do with OLSA?

• Automate Catalog Management

• Automatically keep course catalogs up to date(OLSA Asset Integration)

• Organize SkillSoft assets according to the SkillSoft defined curricula (OLSA Catalog Synch)

• Integrate SkillSoft Search Capabilities Present a single view of ALL available resources within the LMS

• Supports direct launch of topics, SkillBriefs, Job Aids, books, and videos (Leadership Development Channel) (OLSA Search)

What can you do with OLSA?What can you do with OLSA?What can you do with OLSA?What can you do with OLSA?

• Provide direct access to additional assets from within the LMS

• Books, SkillBriefs, Job Aids, Mentoring Services, etc. (OLSA Search)

• Manipulate more SkillSoft assets within the LMS Catalog

• Can add Books, Mentored Assets, etc. to a user’s Learning Plan(OLSA Search, then Asset Integration)

• Support SkillSoft Advanced Content Structures

• KnowledgeCenters, Learning Programs, Offline Play of Courses(OLSA On-demand Communication)

• Support access to SkillSoft content from outside the LMS while still maintaining system of record for data (OLSA On-demand Communication)

OLSA Addresses Key Pain PointsOLSA Addresses Key Pain PointsOLSA Addresses Key Pain PointsOLSA Addresses Key Pain Points

Initial bulk load, periodic updating of LMS catalog

Launch & track any type of content: static, dynamic, or advanced

Backwards compatible to AICC and SCORM standards

Course Structure and Communication data model neutral

Allow for additional independent services

Address cross-domain problem. LMS does not need to be visible on public Internet.

Leverages Content-As-A-Service trend

Suitable security & authentication

Provide for better Customer Support

Key Points to remember!Key Points to remember!Key Points to remember!Key Points to remember!

• All content is hosted by SkillSoft

• Each client should have their own OLSA Content Server

• Course Libraries are automatically updated

• Players automatically updated

• Results for courses launched from TPLMS can be directed to LMS or OLSA Server

• Results for Advanced Learning Structures (KnowledgeCenters or offline play) must return to OLSA Server

About GeoLearningAbout GeoLearningAbout GeoLearningAbout GeoLearning• Established in 1997

• Market leader – SaaS LMS Suite

• Over 500 customers / ~250 employees

• Fast growth - Inc. 500/5000 since 2004

• High client retention (over 90%)

• Signature corporate client base

• Established public sector business

• Headquarters in Des Moines, IA

• Bersin Enterprise LMS Customer Satisfaction Leader (both times)

• SkillSoft partner since 2007 (NETg since 2000)

• Over 300 joint customers

Flagship Customer BaseFlagship Customer BaseFlagship Customer BaseFlagship Customer Base

Corporate

• Dell

• Edward Jones

• Google

• Adecco

• Palm

• Miller Brewing

Public Sector

• States of:

• WA/NJ/ND/SC/AZ

• US Office of Personnel Management

• US Dept of the Interior

• US Dept of Education

• United Nations

• FEMA

GeoLearning and OLSAGeoLearning and OLSAGeoLearning and OLSAGeoLearning and OLSA

• The Past• Internally hosted• CD’s…thousands of them • E-delivery site• SkillSoft installer

• The Present (OLSA)• Externally hosted• Real time content updates• New content downloads…no installer• 2 fewer clicks, mentoring

• The Future (OLSA phase 2)• Asset integration

Creativity….The Key to SuccessCreativity….The Key to SuccessCreativity….The Key to SuccessCreativity….The Key to Success

• Bundle Products

• Leverage SkillSoft talent• United Technologies example

• Keep up on SkillSoft product offerings

• SkillSoft resources• Partner community• Partner consultant• Monthly webinars/newsletter