Pathlore proudly unveils the new Pathlore Learning Management System (LMS) Release 6.0 filled with new features and enhancements to better manage both classroom and online learning.
No matter which Pathlore solution you use, Pathlore LMS Enterprise, Pathlore LMS Classroom or Pathlore LMS Registrar®, you'll discover these powerful new features awaiting you. Click on a topic below to learn more:
BLENDED COURSES [LMS ENTERPRISE ONLY]
6.0 includes new features to support Blended Learning events. These events combine aspects of online and face-to-face instruction, self-paced online with instructor-led training, or scheduled events with non-scheduled events. LMS 6 offers:
Instructor-led Content Objects Now Available
You can now create a content object that references an instructor-led class. The class can be a traditional one that is conducted entirely in a classroom, or it can be a class that uses virtual classroom technology. You can then use the Administration Center to combine the content object with content objects of other types to create a course that has both instructor-led and self-paced (online) elements.
Courses Can Now Have Multiple Content Objects
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Courses can now contain multiple content objects (previously each course could have only one content object). Also, the content objects can be instructor-led and/or self-paced (online). Previously you could only combine these different modes of instruction by adding different types of courses to a curriculum.
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Online Content Objects Can Now Be Scheduled
You can now optionally schedule when students must take their online training or an online assessment by creating a class, defining a session for it, and linking the corresponding content object to the session.
Content Objects Now Support Multiple Layers
Content objects (online organization and instructor-led training types only) can now have an unlimited number of layers below them. That is, object 1 can contain object 2, and object 2 can contain object 3, and so on.
Courses Can Now Have Pre-tests
With LMS 6.0, you can now define a content object that has been directly added to a course as a "pre-test." Students who master the pre-test do not need to register in a corresponding class in order to satisfy the requirements of the course. You cannot only define an online assessment (which you can develop from within the Content Center) as a pre-test, but also any online training content object (which you can purchase).
Reusable Content Object Library
LMS 6.0 includes a "Reusable Content Object Library" with the following data element changes:
- Online Assessment - this content object was called "Assessment" in LMS 5.5.
- Online Training - the LMS 5.5 content objects called "Startable Content Object", "Startable Topic", and "Scoring Topic" are now "Online Training" objects in 6.0. The functionality of a scoring topic can now be accomplished by adding scoring items to an "online training" content object.
- Online Resource - this content object was called "Other Resource" in LMS 5.5. This is now an "online resource" content object, and you can now add it to a course and other content objects, rather than only link it to a skill.
- Online Organization - this content object was called "Container Content Object" in LMS 5.5.
- Instructor-Led Training - This new content object can also contain other content objects.
New Content Object Properties
The following new properties are now available for content objects in LMS 6:
- Detail Page Label
- Keywords
- Language
- Status
- Version
- Display Content to Students (online organization and instructor-led training only)
- Launch Style (online training and online resources only)
- Track Student Activity (online resources only)
- Required Points (online training only)
New Content Object Properties - When Adding To Another
These new properties are now available when you add a content object to another content object or a course:
- Override Mastery Settings
- Score Multiplier
New Content Object Properties - Define When Adding to Another
To enable users to more readily reuse content objects for different purposes, you now define these properties when you add a content object to another content object or a course:
- Act as Pre-Test
- Completion Requirement
- Include in Parent Score
- Maximum Attempts
- Maximum Time
ADVANCED CONTENT MANAGEMENT [LMS ENTERPRISE ONLY]
LMS 6.0 builds on the existing power in LMS content management. New Content Center features and enhancements for users of LMS Enterprise include:
Content Objects Now Have a Status
You can now assign a "development," "production," or "archive" status to any content object to assist you when searching for a particular content object.
Improved Search for Content Objects
With LMS 6.0 users can search for a content object based on its name, ID, and keywords. You can also search for a content object based on its launch style, type, communication standard, and status. Finally, you can limit the search to only those content objects that are directly linked to a course!
Increase Maximum Attempts Replaces Resetting Course Statistics
Now with LMS 6.0, users are no longer allowed to use the Content folder to reset student data (reset attempts and time or delete student scores) for an online course. However, you can now increase the number of maximum attempts allowed instead, and you can do so selectively by student and/or class.
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Content Objects Now Have Launch Styles
Save time with launch styles. 6.0 delivers the ability to define launch styles that you assign to content objects so that if the location of your content changes, you only need to update the launch style rather than numerous content objects. For example, if the location of your start page changes because you had to move your content to a different server, using a launch style can reduce the time required to update content object properties.
SCORM 1.2 Certified
All data elements in the SCORM 1.2 data model are supported in LMS 6.0.
New Content Import Function
You can now use the Import function directly within the Content Center, rather than a separate Pathlore Curriculum Import Utility (PCIU.EXE), to import information about NETg and SkillSoft content.
Content Export Function Enhanced
The Export function has moved from the Content Objects>Options list to the Content Object menu
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that appears when you open a particular content object. Furthermore, the Export function has been enhanced so that you can not only use it to export information about AICC-compliant content to standard AU, CRS, CST, and DES files, but also to export information about any content object, whether it is AICC-compliant or not, to an XML file.
INTEGRATED WEB-BASED MAIL
Administrators gain all the power of managing and distributing LMS mail via the web in 6.0. Featuring:
Windows-based Mail Functionality Migrated to Web
6.0 delivers all the mail functionality once offered only through the Windows-based Administration Center. Now migrated to the web, you can put the versatility of the Web-based Administration Center to send these types of mail:
- Template-based mail that is e-mailed by using SMTP.
- Word-based mail that is e-mailed, faxed, or printed by using MS Word and MAPI.
The mail-related tasks you can perform include:
- Design form letters or e-mail templates for use when sending mail.
- Specify whether and when letters or e-mail are to be automatically sent.
- Manually send form letters or e-mail to people based on a particular class, roster, or registration.
- View a list of submitted mail requests, delete mail requests, and resend mail.
- View student requests for information, select a form letter to use when responding to a request, and respond to a request by sending a letter.
SMTP Mail Support
No longer are you restricted to sending only MS Word/MAPI-type mail. 6.0 delivers complete support for SMTP mail.
E-mail Notification Templates
Administrators are provided with over 18 sample templates to develop and customize your own Web-based e-mail notifications.
Text or HTML
You gain the flexibility of sending your mail in either Text or HTML format.
File Attachments
The enhanced mail functionality in LMS 6.0 includes the ability to send file attachments.
Creating Word Documents with Word Letters Utility
Using this new Windows program, rather than the former Windows-based Administration Center, you can create and maintain Word-based mail documents.
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WEB-BASED CALENDARS
LMS 6.0 moves the power and convenience of Calendars to the web! Delivering:
Calendar and Calendar Designer Moved to Web
Now with increased functionality! The Calendar
and Calendar Design functionality once offered in the previous Windows-based Administration Center have been moved to the web in 6.0. Using the Web-based Administration Center you can generate calendars that graphically show details about all classes that have been scheduled for a certain day, week, or month.
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Design Graphical Calendars
Design and customize your calendars to graphically show details of upcoming training and learning events.
Calendar Import Utility
No need to start from scratch. Reuse your Windows-based calendar templates/definitions and import them to the Web-based interface.
INTEGRATED MICROSOFT OUTLOOK CALENDARS
By popular demand the new 6.0 delivers:
Microsoft Outlook Calendar Integration
It's Here. You can now use the System Center to configure your LMS to automatically send a customized e-mail to students whenever they are registered (enrolled) in a scheduled class. Students can then click a hyperlink in the e-mail to access a prepared MS Outlook Appointment window that they can use to quickly update their calendar. When schedule changes for a class occur, the system can be configured to send another e-mail so that registered students can easily update their calendar.
ENHANCED REGISTRATION AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION
6.0 showcases new enhancements allowing administrators to perform routine tasks more easily. The intuitive, web-based, Administration Center provides greater flexibility, easier access to data and system navigation for administrators - ultimately saving you time. New features include:
Viewing "Long" Lists Improved
When the system needs to display lists that contain many records, such as a training transcript, class roster, or all the questions in a question bank, the system no longer attempts to display the entire list at once. Instead, the system now displays a smaller number of records at a time as determined by a new system setting. Next and Previous buttons are provided to navigate to additional records in the list. This can greatly reduce the time that you must wait for the browser to display pages that contain many records.
Time Conflict Checking Now Includes Sessions
You can now cause the system to review session information for time conflicts during registration.
Verifying Class Start and End Dates on Save
When you attempt to save a class, the system now verifies that the start date is the same as or earlier than the end date. If the start date is later than the end date, an error message is displayed and you cannot save the class.
Session End Date
When working with course and class sessions, you can now specify an End Date so that a single session can occur across multiple days.
APPROVAL MANAGEMENT
Administrators Rejoice! LMS 6.0 delivers complete Approval Management support for your learning activities. Allow managers or administrators to approve students/employees enrollment to learning activities from within the LMS. Featuring:
Registration Approvals
With LMS 6.0 you can now use the Administration Center to specify:
- Who needs (or doesn't need) their registrations in a class to be approved.
- Who is to be the approver for a particular person's registrations.
- Which courses and classes require registration approval.
- Whether the approval requirement for a particular registration should be ignored.
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Approval Mail
When a registration requiring approval is needed, the system automatically e-mails the approver. The approver can then use the Student Center to approve the registration. When approval has been granted or denied an email is generated and sent to the student.
EXPANDED SUPPORT FOR GROUPS AND CURRICULUMS
LMS 6 now extends the power and functionality of Groups and Curriculums with these new enhancements:
Eligibility Checking Now Support Groups
You can now specify a group in an eligibility table so that administrators can restrict class registrations to just those students who are members of a particular group.
Prerequisite Checking Now Includes Dynamic Groups
You can now use the Administration Center to apply a course prerequisite to a dynamic group. You can also exempt a dynamic group from the prerequisite. Prior to 6.0, you could not specify dynamic groups when using this type of registration screening.
Group Partitioning Supports Dynamic Groups
If a security profile includes a Group Partition table, you can now partition by specifying a dynamic group. Previously you could partition by specifying a static group only.
Setting Course-Curriculum Properties on Add
With 6.0 you can now define course-curriculum properties, as you add a course to a curriculum. Previously, you had to add a course to a curriculum before you could define any curriculum-specific properties.
Curriculum Statuses Changed
To better communicate whether a curriculum has been assigned to a student and, if so, whether the curriculum was assigned by an administrator or the student, new terms have been applied to describe the status of a curriculum:
- Assigned - Formerly statused as "Auto-Assign", this new status indicates that an administrator directly assigned the curriculum to the student or assigned the curriculum to a group to which the student belongs.
- Available - Formerly statused as "Self-Assign", this new status indicates that an administrator made the curriculum available to the student (either directly or via a group to which the student belongs) and that the student can assign the curriculum to himself but has not done so yet.
- Self-Assigned - Indicates that an administrator made the curriculum available to the student and that the student has already assigned the curriculum to himself.
Curriculums Associated with a "Source"
Now with 6.0 each curriculum is associated with a "source" so that, if an administrator assigned the curriculum to a group rather than directly to the student, you can easily determine to which group the curriculum was assigned.
NEW REPORTING AND GAP ANALYSIS TOOLS
New Crystal Reports Templates
New report templates shipped with LMS 6.0 expand the power of your reporting capabilities to include:
- Audit Trail Report - If the "audit trail" security feature is enabled in System Manager, you can use this template to create a report of the audit trail data for a particular date or person.
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- Registration Approvers Report - If using the new "registration approvals" features, you can use this template to create a report of all the approvers and whose registrations they can approve.
- Approvals Report - If using the new "registration approvals" feature, you can use this template to create a report of all registration approvals that are needed, denied, or approved.
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Improved Headers, Footers, Fonts
6.0 features additional enhancements made to headers, footers, and fonts used in the sample reporting templates (Crystal Reports version 9.0 only) to improve readability.
New 'Student Questions Report' View
New report view in 6.0 allows the user to create a report that lists an online assessment, the question banks in the assessment, the questions in each question bank, and the student's answers to each question. Only questions that have been answered by at least one student are listed when using this view; questions that have not been answered are not listed.
Dynamic Groups Now Appear on Reports
The following sample reports, which previously only listed static groups, have been expanded to now list dynamic groups as well:
- Curriculum Group/Student Summary
- Group Student Details
- Group Student Summary
TGA Report Import Utility for Importing TGA Report Definitions to GA
If you used TGA Report Writer in a previous release and want to continue to use your report definitions in Gap Analyzer (GA), you can import them to the Pathlore database by using the TGA Report Import Utility.
TGA Maintenance Import Utility for Importing Requirements Files and Tables
If you used TGA Maintenance in a previous release and want to continue to use your requirements files and tables in LMS 6.0 and Gap Analyzer, you can now import them into the Pathlore database by using the TGA Maintenance Import Utility.
IMPROVED SECURITY AND PASSWORD MANAGEMENT
Several powerful new features are now available in LMS 6.0 that can be optionally used to make your system more secure. These features take regulatory compliance to a new level and include:
FDA 21 CFR Part 11
LMS 6.0 is designed in accordance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11.
Audit Trails
You can cause the system to automatically record certain user actions (such as saves, updates, and deletes) so that you can later create audit reports. When performing these actions, you can also require the user to enter a change control number, a comment, and data such as their user ID. You can specify that certain people are never to be deleted so that their corresponding audit trail data is always retained in the database.
Electronic Signatures
When using the audit trail feature, you can cause the system to prompt users to enter data such as a user ID, password, and change control number to verify that the user is authorized to use the system. Based on system settings, you can control when users are prompted and what data they must enter.
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Logon Security and Password Management
LMS 6.0 delivers a new system setting that you can use to require all users to enter a password when logging on. If this feature is enabled, you can also define rules for how passwords must be used. For example, you can specify:
- Minimum password length system-wide.
- How often people should be prompted to reset their passwords.
- Types of characters (i.e. the number of digits and/or mixed case characters) that each password must contain.
- Number of previous passwords that the system must remember for each person (to prevent people from setting their new password to a previously-used password).
- Number of unsuccessful logon attempts each person can have before being locked out.
- Whether the system will require a person, after an administrator has reset an existing password or created a new person record, to change their password when they next log on, and whether the system should automatically enforce this requirement or whether administrators can manually enforce it.
- Amount of time a person can be idle before being automatically logged off.
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Windows Authentication Now Supported
Now with 6.0 you can include parameters in the URL for the web-based administrative centers so that when a person attempts to access Pathlore LMS, the system uses their authenticated Windows login name, rather than their LMS user ID, to connect them to the Pathlore database. This feature permits users who have already logged on to the network to bypass the LMS Connect page when accessing Pathlore LMS.
ENHANCED SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
System Managers rejoice! New features have been added to the Pathlore LMS that provide more flexibility, timesavings and control:
Non-Exclusive Operating Mode Enhanced
You can now use most functions and change most settings while running System Manager in Non-Exclusive mode (without logging off everyone) rather than having to run in Exclusive mode.
New Registration Approvals Settings
New system settings allow you to:
- Define what registration statuses the system is to assign to registrations that need approval and/or to registrations for which approval has been granted and denied.
- Define how registrations in a class must be approved, to assign approvers to groups of people, and to exempt groups of people from needing their registrations approved.
Online Registration Months Setting Added
New Online Registration Months setting added that you can use to specify the number of months for which system-generated registrations in online classes are to be considered valid. After the specified number of months has passed, students who restart the online class are informed that a new registration will be created if they continue.
New Pre-test Settings Available
6.0 delivers new settings that you can use to define what registration statuses should be automatically assigned when a student starts, cancels, and finishes a pre-test for a course. You can also define the number of months after the maximum attempts allowed has been reached before a student can retake a pre-test.
New Password Expiration Settings
You can now cause all passwords to immediately expire, thereby forcing all users to enter a new password the next time they attempt to log on.
New Skills Setting Available
Users of the Pathlore Skills Management System (SMS) can use a new LMS Source ID Description setting to alter the default text that the system displays so that administrators can more easily distinguish between skills that are manually defined and those that are imported.
STUDENT CENTER [LMS ENTERPRISE & LMS CLASSROOM ONLY]
LMS 6.0 extends your ability to empower students with greater control over their learning. New Student Center enhancements for users of LMS Enterprise and LMS Classroom include:
New Registration Approval Process
To support the new Approval Management process in LMS 6.0, new features have been added to Student Center which allow:
- People designated as approvers in the Pathlore database to approve (or deny) a particular person's registrations in one or more classes.
- Students to view which registrations require approval, the name of their approver, and the approval status.
New Electronic Signature Process
A new Electronic Signature process enables a dialog box to be displayed whenever a student performs a function that requires an electronic signature as defined by System Manager settings.
Expanded Class and Course Detail Pages
Now empower your students to:
- View a Class Schedule from the Class Detail Page.
- View list of any Prerequisites from the Class Detail page.
- Access the Course Detail page for any Prerequisite listed by selecting the Prerequisite's course code and so that students can view equivalent courses.
- Use New Class and Course Registration Views to access class/course registration data.
- Use the Course Detail page (rather than the Course Start page) to view the content objects within a course.
Display of Equivalent Courses/Classes
New processes have been added to support the display of registration statuses for equivalent courses/classes. LMS 6.0 provides a way for students to view from the Course/Class Detail pages a list of course equivalents. Students can use this list of course equivalents to determine what other courses, if any, they can take instead to meet their training requirements.
Enhanced Training Plan
6.0 improvements to the Student Center allow easier access to information from their Training Plan:
- Clicking on course code rather than the course's name sends student to Course Detail.
- The student can now access the Class Detail page for the corresponding class they are registered for by clicking on the registration status.
- A unique image appears next to the registration status for any class which is an equivalent course.
Improved Curriculum Detail
New 6.0 enhancements that provide your students with more information from the Curriculum page include:
- Course code, along with the name, for each course in the curriculum is now displayed.
- Clicking on course code sends student to Course Detail page.
- Courses equivalent to each course in the curriculum can now be shown or hidden.
- When already registered in a corresponding class, the student can now access the Class Detail page for the class by clicking on the registration status.
- If the class in which the student is registered is for an equivalent course, the system displays a unique image next to the registration status.
Continue Course Without Need for Last View
Students no longer need to determine which content object they last viewed before they can continue the course. Instead, they can select the course, click Continue, and the system automatically returns them to the last page viewed.
Two or More Levels of Content Objects
Students can now view two or more levels of content objects within the course, where previously they could only view one level.
Enhanced Online Course Start
Renamed the "Class/Course Content Process" in LMS 6.0, this process has been completely redesigned to help students locate and interact with online content more efficiently.
Improved Data Sort
In 6.0 students can now easily sort data in the Student Center by simply clicking on the header of any column. Eliminated are the "Sort on 'field name'" drop down lists.
ENHANCEMENTS FOR PATHLORE LMS OPTIONS [LMS ENTERPRISE ONLY]
LMS 6.0 extends LMS support for Virtual Classroom and Phone Self Service options with these new additions:
Centra and WebEx Now Support Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
When configuring Centra and WebEx virtual classroom software to work with an LMS, you can now specify that the SSL protocol be used.
Phone Register Process for Approvals
Several objects have been added to the Register process for users of the Pathlore LMS Phone Self Service (PSS) option so that, if you are using the new registration approvals features, the system can prompt students when approval is required during class registration and the desired registration statuses can be assigned.
PATHLORE LMS COMPLIANCE KIT OPTION
NEW! Pathlore LMS Compliance Kit
LMS 6.0 delivers a new optional tool of significant value to any organization under the watchful eye of regulatory compliance agencies (such as the FDA) both externally and internally. This kit is a set of documentation designed as a template and guide for developing LMS test protocols. The kit includes:
- Pathlore Quality Statement
- Pathlore Operating Procedures, pertaining to software development and validation
- Pathlore LMS Hazard Analysis Report
- Pathlore LMS Software Requirements Specification
- Pathlore LMS Software Test Protocol
For complete information and pricing on the new LMS Compliance Kit contact your
Account Executive.
EXPANDED SERVER AND PLATFORM SUPPORT
Pathlore LMS release 6.0 delivers new support for:
Microsoft .Net Web Services
Now developed to support Microsoft's .Net web services platform. This means that as third-party applications (such as Microsoft Word, Crystal Reports, and content development tools) evolve to use the .Net platform, and as industry standards (such as HRIS, CRM, and ERP) for web service applications change, LMS can easily adapt to support these changing applications and standards.
Operating System Support
For administrator workstations, support for Windows 98 and Windows NT has been dropped, whereas support for Windows 2003 Server has been added.
Multiple Application Servers Now Supported
Pathlore LMS now supports the use of multiple application servers for redundancy, failover, and load balancing purposes. This means that if you have installed multiple copies of the LMS web-based applications (such as the Administration Center) to one or more web servers (because, for example, you have numerous or widely distributed users), each application can now communicate with any number (or combination of instances) of application servers.
Pathlore LMS Web Service Changes
The name of this service has changed to "Pathlore LMS Application Service." Also, you can now run multiple instances of this service to better support your load balancing needs.
New Pathlore LMS Mail Server
This new Windows-based program is designed to manage all manual and auto-letter Word/MAPI-based mail requests that are generated from the Administration Center. The Mail Server also works with the Pathlore LMS E-mail Service to send SMTP-type e-mail. This program can be configured to run as a fat client or thin client application.
TECHNICAL AND TOOL IMPROVEMENTS
LMS 6.0 improves with these technical notes:
Screen Resolution Support
The pages of all web-based administration centers (such as the Administration Center, Content Center, and Design Center) are now designed for use on 1024 x 768 resolution monitors (rather than 800 x 600).
Adobe Acrobat Replaced by Amyuni for Batch Reporter
You no longer need to purchase or install Adobe Acrobat for use with Batch Reporter. Batch Reporter previously used Adobe Acrobat to create PDFs. A printer driver called the Amyuni PDF Converter is now used instead.
Import Manager becomes "Integration Manager"
In LMS 6.0 the Import Manager has been renamed "Integration Manager" to better communicate the fact that you can use this tool to integrate data from a variety of sources with Pathlore LMS.
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