Blackboard Wins Round in E-Learning Case
A federal jury in Texas has sided with e-learning company Blackboard Inc. in a patent case against rival Desire2Learn that pitted two leading education software developers in a dispute closely watched by campus IT officers. Washington, D.C.-based Blackboard argued Desire2Learn had infringed on patents that cover some of the basic designs used in software for running online courses and “hybrid” classes, which mix online and face-to-face components. — The Associated Press
Archive for March, 2008
Analysts: Proposed EA, Take-Two Merger Will Spark More Consolidation
News that Electronic Arts wants to buy game developer Take-Two Interactive should be the beginning of even more mergers and acquisitions in the video game publishing business. With the production cost of a major video game soaring, and competition increasing between video game consoles and the computer gaming market, industry analysts said consolidation in the video game publishing industry is sorely needed. — Fox Business
Conspiracy Entertainment Signs Publishing Agreement with Engine Software to Bring ‘StateShift’ Handheld Game to the Americas
Conspiracy Entertainment Holdings Inc. , a developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment software in North America and Western Europe, announced that it has a publishing deal with Engine Software, a game developer based in the Netherlands, regarding the release of its “StateShift” video game title in the American territories, including North and South America, and Mexico. — Fox Business
SkillSoft Survey Shows Companies Should Do More On-The-Job Training
SkillSoft PLC, a leading SaaS provider of on-demand e-learning and performance support solutions for global enterprises, government, education and small- to medium-sized businesses, announced a SkillSoft-commissioned survey indicated that eight out of ten employees would have higher job satisfaction levels if they received more on-the-job training. — Centre Daily Times
On-the-Job Training New Stress Factor
According to a survey by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) released Tuesday, 92 percent of employers said they have to take systemized training programs. The business lobby group explained that more major firms are stressing the value of career development because they realize that their people must keep up with the competition. The business group’s survey showed that Korean companies invest a similar amount on employee’s career development compared to top U.S. firms, which contradicts the common belief that domestic firms ignore workers’ advancement. — Korea Times
Recent Poll Concludes Adult Learners Are the Most Challenging Demographic for Postsecondary Education Marketers to Reach
CourseAdvisor, an established marketing and lead generation company operating one of the top online education directories, and Eduventures, the leader in shared-cost, data-driven research and consulting for higher education, today announced results from an online poll of executives representing more than 120 postsecondary educational institutions. The poll found that more than 53 percent of respondents agree that adult learners are the most challenging group to reach and retain. — MarketWire
GetEducated Ranks Top 30 Best Online and Distance Learning MBAs
AACSB GetEducated.com, LLC, America’s consumer-oriented, online degree clearinghouse, has released the results of their biennial nationwide survey of tuition costs at accredited, distance-learning and online MBA degree programs. The survey included 168 distance MBA options: 62 of these offered by graduate business schools accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). — PR Web
BBC bids to revive web education service
The BBC has proposed replacing its axed digital education offering BBC Jam by “enhancing” its existing portfolio of services with new skills-based online educational initiatives. BBC Jam was closed in March last year by the BBC Trust with the loss of 200 jobs following concerns raised by the European Commission about its commercial impact. — Guardian Unlimited, UK
Cyprus Education Fair opens on Thursday
With the participation of universities, technological education institutions and colleges from 18 countries, the 15th International Education Fair will take place between Thursday, February 28 and Sunday, March 2. Education and Culture Minister Akis Cleanthous said some of the issues on which the Fair will focus are innovations introduced in the education of Cyprus, Europe and abroad, the work done in the educational institutions of Cyprus and the potentials for studies in Cyprus, Greece and other countries. — Financial Mirror
News Briefs
Kensington Publishing has acquired most of the publishing assets of Holloway House Publishing in Los Angeles. S&S Children’s Publishing president Rick Richter announced a restructuring, creating three units that will handle both hardcover and paperback editions. Egmont USA has made its first hire under its new VP and publisher, Elizabeth Law: Regina Griffin has been named executive editor. Former Houghton Mifflin VP and publisher Janet Silver has joined Random House’s Nan Talese imprint as editor-at-large. — Publishers Weekly
Scio publishing company acquires Indiana business
Scio Township-based National Archive Publishing Co. acquired an Indiana college coursepack printing and publishing company, NAPC announced Friday. The company - Tichenor Publishing and Printing - will be combined with NAPC’s XanEdu Custom Publishing, which has a digital archive and also publishes coursepacks and custom textbooks. — MLive.com
NetExpress Selected as a Finalist for CODiE Awards
Cengage Learning, a leading provider of lifelong learning products and services for the health care, technology and trades, and career education markets, is proud to announce that NetLearning’s NetExpress has been recognized by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) as a finalist for the 2008 CODiE Awards in the Best Medical and Health Information Product category. — Earth Times
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