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NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2003
CONTACT:
Elise Woods, COO
Business Technology Source, LLC
304.876.9242
304.876.2980 (fax)
ewoods@biztechsource.com
Technology Company Completes Online E-Learning System for Healthcare Professionals
Shepherdstown, WV – July 22, 2003 - Business Technology Source announces the completion of an online, distance learning platform developed by BTS for Emerald Events of Pasadena, MD, in conjunction with The Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Emerald Events and The Wilmer Eye Institute obtained a business development grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund the project.
The Learning Management System (LMS) developed by BTS allows Emerald Events to deliver online courses to occupational therapists and other medical professionals around the country as well as internationally. The initial course offerings provide continuing education to healthcare professionals who provide assistance to patients experiencing loss of eyesight. The LMS allows delivery of live, online courses through an integrated third party provider. Some courses allow the student to learn interactively by actually manipulating instructional material through the use of streaming audio and video.
Course material is available on the internet 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Occupational therapists are able to obtain continuing education credits when they complete a course. Previously, healthcare professionals had to travel to the location of a continuing education course and stay in a hotel for several days. The new, online continuing education course offerings are much less expensive for the student because they are available at home or in the office and can be completed on a self-determined schedule. No special software is required to access the course material.
Business Technology Source, an information technology outsourcing company located in Shepherdstown, WV, integrated a suite of open source components to create the Learning Management System. Emerald Events needed a cost-effective solution and BTS was able to provide one by using the open source components, such as Red Hat Linux servers, along with course management software and Macromedia software for course presentation.