Trainer1 launches Argonaut

Trainer1 has released Argonaut, a new, enterprise-wide, simple to install and use, knowledge management application for the search and retrieval of all forms of information contained within a corporate intranet/extranet. Argonaut includes a tracking system for continuing professional development (CPD), a full search engine and the ability to manage e-learning materials that do not conform to AICC/SCORM standards.

Trainer1 has developed Argonaut because organisations tend to have a great deal of material – both specific learning materials as well as ‘information’ – that is in a variety of formats. Learning materials available online are often found in pdf, Word document, HTML, e-book and other formats.

“Managing this increasing horde of information in all its guises in a globally consistent and effective manner can become a task of mythical proportions,” commented Neil Lasher, Trainer1’s managing director. “So we’ve developed Argonaut as one of a suite of tools that organisations need if they are to be ‘e-learning efficient’.”

In the same way that Jason and his companions – the Argonauts of mythology – searched for, and found the Golden Fleece, users of Argonaut on a quest for knowledge can track and find their own goal – the information they need when they need it.

Neil Lasher, Trainer1’s managing director, explained: “Although Argonaut can be used within the context of training – and, indeed, it includes a CPD application since it tracks what information each user has accessed – it has many more applications.

“Argonaut is relevant for anyone dealing with compliance issues; for law firms needing access to a wealth of case histories; those wanting to store and retrieve articles and press clippings, and professional institutes that need to track their members’ CPD activities. It provides a viable alternative for those who want to manage and provide access to information and learning materials that exist in a variety of formats and who don’t want to – or can’t – access these through an LMS.”

“It can allow access to a store of business-related information; case histories in the legal and medical fields, and even marketing materials.”

According to Lasher: “Argonaut, which is compatible with SQL servers, can cope with an unlimited number of users and is a web-driven ‘.NET’ application that can sit on an internal or external server.

“It contains simple tools to import existing data and users, and,” he added, “it will even run training materials that a learning management system (LMS) cannot – such as web-based training materials that are not AICC or SCORM compliant”.

Argonaut costs in the region of £8,000, including the first year’s annual support.

About Argonaut

Users first meet a screen containing a number of ‘categories’. They progress to view, for every piece of learning or information in that category, its title, an overview, a description of it, its size and a link to the actual material.

They will also be told which related materials previous users have also viewed – to help them with their continuing professional development (CPD). The system also contains reports on each user and, as each piece of material is accessed, the system adds that to the individual user’s profile – which provides accurate, on-going and regularly up-dated proof of their CPD record.

Each page contained on the system contains two search tools. One – a ‘quick search’ tool – enables users to search the system’s database while the other, advanced, search tool allows users to find what they need by searching the database via parameters including category and phrase.

The Argonaut knowledge management tool does not import or store any information or learning materials. It merely lists what is available and tracks which of this its users read. So, the information that Argonaut accesses and presents to the user can be stored anywhere within the company intranet.

Argonaut is totally configurable – rather than being ‘customisable’ (which usually means extra costs for the purchaser). This means that it is ‘self-customisable’ via configuration screens that allow users to change even the size of type and the colour of the screens.

About Trainer1

Trainer1 is an independent e-learning specialist and creator of sophisticated courseware for learning, with a long experience in computer delivered learning. In particular, Trainer1 supplies and supports:

Authoring tools - for the creation of content, meeting SCORM, AICC, LRN, XML, and QTI standards.
Learning Management tools - for the management and distribution of content, including accreditation and reporting of data within existing databases.
Tools and libraries to create multimedia content, including image editors, easy to use Flash production tools, libraries of sound, graphics and animation.
Specialist training events to assist trainers become self sufficient in e-learning design and production.
Development services in the creation and maintenance of learning content.
The full range of Peter Honey Online Publications including the world famous and industry recognised Honey and Mumford Learning Styles Questionnaire.

Trainer1 is privately owned and remains a small, friendly company providing high quality product combined with personal service to Blue Chip Companies, as well as small and medium sized enterprises. Trainer1 is a member of many e-learning organisations and works with standards bodies to ensure technology is meeting the needs of users worldwide, as well as the guidelines determined by the governing groups in the e-learning industry.

www.trainer1.com