Perspectives 2008 Canadian The Future of Connected Learning: SkillSoft Strategy John Ambrose November 6, 2008

Speed of Change

Project Management Customer Service Leadership Development Compliance Six Sigma Connected Learning

Three Market Shifts

Shift 1: Learning Portability Shift 1: Learning Portability

The Mobility Paradox 10% of this year’s 1.2B handsets will be web-ready smart phones Will grow to 30% by 2011

The Mobility Paradox “In 2007, portable media was expected to grow very quickly – driven by the perceived need for disconnected learning” “In 2008, however, the expected growth has declined as a result of an increased focus on the appropriateness of delivery modality.” - IDC eLearning Report, June 2008

Learning Delivery Trends

Mobile Devices Mobile Challenges Multiple platforms Shifting standards Slow networks Rapid obsolescence Economics

Mobile ‘Truths’ Supplements, but does not replace traditional e-learning Component of the corporate “learning ecosystem” Appropriate content, appropriate device, appropriate time Tracking and reporting is key Should not be device dependent SkillSoft platforms continue to evolve to offer increasing mobile capabilities Must be simple

Mobile is an Extension of the eLearning Ecosystem Online Offline Watch or listen to downloaded video or MP3 Search a database for urgent snippet Select from many modes Take a course or read a chapter on an airplane

Offline Courses

Offline Chapters

SkillSoft’s Years of Mobile Expertise pda.books24x7.com Compatible with: PDAs, Smartphones, Palm Blackberry, Windows Mobile Pocket PCs, iPhone Available to Books24x7 corporate customers at no additional charge*

New Mobile Enhancements Visual Indicator Above Search button Appears on Every Page

Innovation Lab Preview

SkillSoft Strategy: Continues to be an R&D priority Mobility is an extension, not replacement Focus on “In-between” learning Web/ delivery Trackability is key

Shift 2: Learning Ubiquity Key is Overcoming Obscurity

SkillSoft Portlets liberate learning SkillSoft Learning Programs Search-and-LearnSearch-and-Learn My Plan BooklistBooklist FavoritesFavorites

Passive Generic Static

Active Personal Dynamic

How Can These Drive Learning Ubiquity? Web 2.0 and Social Learning Web 2.0 and Social Learning

User-Generated Recommendations

User-Generate Tags (Coming Soon)

User-Shared Annotations (Coming Soon)

SkillSoft and the Collaborative Web SkillSoft Ubiquity Strategy: Leverage Portals and Web 2.0 Technologies Must Add Incremental Value to Learning Drives Ubiquity Trackable and Reportable

SHIFT #3 The War for Talent SHIFT #3 The War for Talent

New Segment Emerging Talent Management

New Segment Emerges Common Thread

Focus today is on automating existing processes

“Simply can not automate your way out of a global skills shortage”

Example: How Learning and Talent Management Integrate

AutomatingIntegratingMeasuring Changing Behavior Sustainable Business Value Learning Drives Behavior Change

SkillSoft and Talent Management Our Strategy: Very Early Market “Swiss” with TM vendors Leverage OLSA Listen to clients Learning as the ‘Killer Talent App’

THANK YOU! John Ambrose