Thank you for being one of the valued clients of eLearningToolBox.  We are committed to being an organization that is responsive to the needs of our clients.  Over the past year we have seen our set of tools evolve into services that extend beyond the eLearning enterprise.  Many of our schools use READI for all of their students because it measures traits and skills that are necessary for any student learning in this digital age.  PostCourse.com is being used enterprise-wide and not in just distance learning programs.  FacultyFinder.com is being used to find local, full-time faculty as well as distant adjuncts.  As our vision for our services is continuing to expand to provide even more tools to improve retention and enable data driven decisions, we feel that our name as eLearningToolBox  is a poor descriptor since it limits us to just eLearning activities. 

As a result of this expansion of our services beyond just eLearning, we are changing our name to SmarterServices.  Our new mission is to organize and analyze data that empowers people to make smarter decisions.   This mission is congruent with the efforts at many educational institutions to be smarter by making data driven decisions. 

Our new web presence will be SmarterServices.com.  In addition to our company name changing, we are also changing our product names to fit within a consistent naming convention as indicated below: 
New Name                      Formerly known as
SmarterMeasure (.com)     READI.info – Readiness for Education At a Distance Indicator
SmarterSurveys (.com)      PostCourse.com
SmarterFaculty (.com)      FacultyFinder.com
SmarterProctors (.com)    TestProctors.com (in Beta form)
SmarterRetention (.com)   RetentionRadar.com (in development stages)

With any change come questions.  You may be asking yourself, why is eLearningToolBox changing their name?  No, we haven’t been acquired by another company.  No, new management hasn’t taken over.  No, we aren’t outsourcing any of our work, products, or developing.  Yes, we are still the same hands-on company that will continue to provide you with excellent service and evolving products!  Yes, we are experiencing growth and want to expand our reach!  Yes, we are getting smarter about the way we do business!

Keep up with all the progress on our Facebook fan page – SmarterServices, follow us on twitter SmarterServices, and watch our blog and website. 

Smarter in 2010

All is a buzz at eLearningToolBox.  With 2010 in full swing we are planning one of the biggest changes ever!  Over the past several years, our client base has grown, our products have improved, and the market has evolved.  To serve you better we are changing our company name and the names of our product line.  We will still be offering you the same great service and nothing will change about our current products. 

Although the new name won't be announced until early March and change over will begin in April, it is so hard to keep this exciting news to ourselves!  Join our facebook fanpage, watch Twitter and the blog for updates.

The only hint I can share is that it appears we are getting SMARTER!

Change is on the Horizon

Today is Groundhog Day and that means many are anxiously waiting to see if the groundhog will see his shadow and thus sentence us to another six weeks of Winter.  In researching where the Groundhog Day celebration came from I stumbled upon a clever piece from GKLife with some history.  It turns out that it originates from folks looking for something...anything...to celebrate in the dead of Winter. 

Have you ever thought about how much power the groundhog has in his shadow?  Whether fact or fiction, it is something to think about.  This is a great lesson for us all to ponder on a personal level.  What do others see in our shadow?  Are we leading them to greatness or mediocrity?  Are we leaving behind a shadow that is powerful, shows ambition, and organized brilliance? 

What about your organization?  Your school?  Do your practices leave you in the shadows of other's greatness?  Businesses that carefully plan, look at market trends, and have a committed workforce generally leave the shadows that others find themselves in. 

eLearningToolBox is making some changes in 2010.  After a strategic planning session, we found ourselves wanting to create a stronger shadow that others can see and imitate. We are in the process of changing the company name and product line.  Details will be coming soon so pay careful attention and don't forget to follow our fan page on facebook for up to the minute updates! 

Speaking of Shadows