PeakSkills Learning Systems launches eLearning initiative to cut content development costs. PeakSkills Learning Systems | Melville, NY| 15 Sep-2005.

After completing a three year Research and Development program, PeakSkills Learning Systems has launched a unique eLearning product suite. Targeted at trainers, subject matter experts and teachers, this initiative makes ‘blended’ learning an affordable and realistic option for every organization.

“Excellent system. Best of both worlds – clean and intuitive for the instructor/author and for the learner.” Michael Uttendorder, Ed.D., Director, Center for Teaching and Learning With Technology, New York Institute of Technology

Diane Kramer, Ph.D., PeakSkills' CEO, explained PeakSkills’ background: "Since the mid 1990's, eLearning has consistently under-achieved its predicted success. In January of 2002, our strategic business team identified three main reasons behind the disappointing 'first wave' of e-Learning. Cost of entry was too high. Trainers had been left out of the medium. Most of the budget was going to the technology and not the content."

Richard Close, VP of Marketing and Sales: "We were convinced of the substantial benefits that effective online learning can deliver as a business tool for growing a business. By bringing training online for sales and product training, employee training, channel partner and client training, and customer service, an expanding business can experience substantial cost savings and efficiencies while increasing leads generation and customer satisfaction.

The key component was to develop an extremely easy-to-use web tool, usable by all trainers, teachers and subject matter experts, without any previous online experience. It had to empower them to develop a range of eLearning methods and types. It had to be so user friendly that the first time they sat down at the computer they could develop sample content within minutes of use. It had to be accessible online as an ASP-hosted product. It had to let the trainer schedule and register learners for self-paced eLearning, stand up training and virtual classroom training, to make the promise of 'blended' learning a reality. It had to facilitate learning that drives business results, through instructor/coach access and action plans.

The challenges were immense but we met the design requirements and launched in September, 2004. The first PeakSkills Certified Developer launched her own university, Synergy Solutions International, www.synergysolutionsint.com, this summer with 25 courses. A host of other PeakSkills Certified Developers are developing courses including one of the largest leadership training companies in the country. PeakSkills is appropriate for trainers, training companies and small to medium businesses."

Dr. Kramer commented; "From the start we realized that, to engage trainers, teachers and subject matter experts, we needed to offer them more than just a software tool. Instructional design for online delivery of learning and training requires new skills of trainers, teachers and subject matter experts; this need is often overlooked. At PeakSkills, having designed and developed custom eLearning programs since 1992 (for GE, San Francisco Airport, Barnes and Noble and many others), we were in a unique position to develop a training program to turn trainers, teachers and subject matter experts into eLearning developers.”