Wolters Kluwer Education and IBM are working together to respond to the demand from customers in the education sector for complete e-learning solutions. A shortage of teachers, changing teaching methods and new structures in education are creating a demand for integrated content and tools. Blended learning schemes (traditional classroom, print, CD-ROM, distance and online learning) are being developed to enable teachers and students to improve and personalize the teaching-learning experience.
Wolters Kluwer Education and IBM have initiated two e-learning projects, which will come to fruition in 2003. Wolters-Noordhoff, a Wolters Kluwer Education company in the Netherlands, will offer 'I-Modules' which will form part of the new Mix Media Methods (blended learning schemes) for all Dutch Secondary education subjects. I-Modules will eventually offer 850,000 students the opportunity to access interactive online content. IBM will host this content through its e-Business hosting services.
Moorhouse Black, a Wolters Kluwer Education company based in the United Kingdom, part of Nelson Thornes, delivers distance learning using video conferencing to schools across the country. From September 2003 onwards, this service will include a virtual learning environment, developed in collaboration with IBM, to facilitate communication between tutors and students, and to support the delivery of online course material. IBM will again host the service through its e-Business hosting service in addition to providing its Lotus collaborative and learning technology.
Wolters Kluwer Education's market research - undertaken in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom - has indicated that these offerings will address the needs of both teachers and students. As a Director of a large Secondary School in the Netherlands commented: "This is exactly the solution we were waiting for!" Market research has shown that over 90% of the surveyed Secondary Education teachers intend to work with the new I-modules. The I-module is recognized by a majority of the teachers as attractive to students. The teachers are also highly appreciative of the usability of the sites.
In the United Kingdom the Moorhouse Black Internet portal will allow students to collaborate with each other and with their tutors and to share ideas. The potential of the Internet to support learning gives an enormous advantage.
"Given the huge number of students and our leading market position in educational publishing in Europe, we require a robust and scalable environment to deliver our content and services to our customers anytime, anyplace. IBM's e-learning technologies have proven to be among the best in the world, and we are delighted at this opportunity to combine their strengths in this area with our experience in education content and services", says Harry Sterk, the CEO of Wolters Kluwer Education.
Richard Straub, Director of Learning Solutions, IBM EMEA commented, "The challenge facing general education must be addressed through innovative solutions. We believe that e-learning for use by learners and teachers has a key contribution to make to the sustainable increase in learning outcomes. The key to success is the intelligent combination of proven traditional methods with technology-enabled innovations of the learning and teaching process. These products are steps in this direction."
For more information on the two e-learning products from Wolters-Noordhoff and Moorhouse Black: http://casco.wolters.nl/mmmdemo/ and http://www.moorhouseblack.com/education.htm
About Wolters Kluwer Education
Wolters Kluwer is Europe's largest Education publisher, and sets the standard in teaching and learning in the European educational world. Our brands are well established and are seen as a hallmark of quality and reliability. Many Europeans were and still are educated with the products of Wolters-Noordhoff (the Netherlands), Liber (Sweden), Nelson Thornes (United Kingdom), Bildungsverlag EINS (Germany), Wolters Plantyn (Belgium). Wolters Kluwer Education has annual revenues (2002) of EUR 300 million, and employs approximately 1,500 people.
Wolters Kluwer is a multinational information services company with annual revenues (2002) of more than EUR 3.9 billion, employing almost 20,000 people in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific. The company's core activities are Legal, Tax & Business, Health and Education. Wolters Kluwer's shares are quoted on the Euronext Amsterdam and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Internet: www.wolterskluwer.com
For more information, please contact: Caroline Wouters, tel. +31 20 6070 335
e-mail: press@wolterskluwer.com (press)
About IBM
IBM is the leading provider of learning solutions, helping businesses and education providers improve the learning outcomes from the teaching and learning process. IBM draws on its world-class portfolio of e-learning software, hardware, education and information technology services, research and award-winning experience to help customers realize the full potential of e-learning. For more information, http://www.ibm.com/learning.
For more information, please contact: Gillian Kenny, IBM (EMEA), tel. +44 20 72026264
e-mail: KENNYG@uk.ibm.com