1. Reached over 1,250,000 students with our readiness assessment - SmarterMeasure (formerly known as READI)
2. Changed company name from DECADE Consulting to eLearning Tool Box.
3. Have operated for ten years as a zero-debt company!
4. Went through a complete rebranding from eLearning Tool Box to SmarterServices that included new logos, colors, literature, websites, displays, and product names.
5. Grew client base consistently every year for the past decade.
6. Created 3 fully functional profitable solutions.
7. Secured 10 state wide contracts.
8. Successfully became the industry leader in assessing student readiness.
9. Secured contracts with the 5 largest for-profit schools.
10. Experienced no turn over - only adding to current staff but no one left the company. 

10 Milestones in 10 Years - Happy Birthday SmarterServices

As reported this week in The Washington Post the Encyclopedia Britannica has stopped the presses and will cease production of its print based books.   After 244 years of production of one of the world’s most respected information resources, the publisher must now change its way of doing business.  When I first heard this news it evoked some sentimental sadness.  I remember the great joy each time that my family would get a new set of encyclopedias or the annual edition of the Year Book.  OK, so I was one of those geeks who enjoyed learning.  Well, I still enjoy learning, but it is rarely in the form of a book that I hold in my hand.  After going down memory lane for a couple of minutes I was then jolted back to reality by the realization that as a business owner, I must realize that no business – however well-established or well-respected, can continue doing business the same way forever.  Visions of Woolworths, Oldsmobile, and Polaroid flashed through my mind. 

So what are we at SmarterServices doing to remain relevant?  We are listening.  Listening to you.  We are listening to the expressed needs of our clients and then envisioning services that can be done in a smarter way.  The evolution of all of our services has been prompted by the suggestions of our clients.
•    Just over ten years ago we listened as there was a need expressed by the US Army for an online learning readiness assessment.  Now over 1.25 million students have benefitted from the SmarterMeasure Learning Readiness Indicator.
•    Then as distance learning exploded we listened to schools as they needed an efficient way to find online faculty.  Now over 12,000 online faculty have created searchable profiles in SmarterFaculty.
•    Next we listened as schools needed a smarter way to collect student perception data.  Now over a half million course evaluations have been submitted through SmarterSurveys.
•    Most recently we listened as schools requested a way to ensure online student authenticity and learner integrity.  We will soon be releasing SmarterProctors. 

What will we be doing next?  We are not sure, but we are listening to you to find out.  Let us know how we can help you be smarter as you educate learners.

Reflections from Company President - Dr. Mac Adkins

The recent 2010 Distance Education Survey Results released by Instructional Technology Council (ITC) lists the top 10 greatest challenges for elearning program administrators.  SmarterServices' tools lined up perfectly with the first three. 

1. Support staff needed for training and technical assistance - SmarterFaculty
2. Adequate assessment of distance education classes - SmarterSurveys
3. Adequate student services for distance education students - SmarterMeasure

It is very exciting as a company to be positioned on the edge of distance learning needs!  Our goal is to provide robust, yet cost effective solutions, to distance learning challenges.  We want to help you understand your data and make it useable.  So far we are right on track!

SmarterServices Matches Trends in Distance Learning

Released in May 2011, from the Instructional Technology Council, the 2010 Distance Education Survey Results: Trends in eLearning: Tracking the Impact of eLearning at Community Colleges, offers seven issues of relevant regulatory and legislative activity that are currently impacting the trends in distance learning.

1. State Authorization for Institutions Offering Distance Education to Out-of-State Students
2. Increased Scrutiny of For-Profit higher Education Institutions
3. Broadband Techology Opportunities Program (BTOP)
4. Failure to Enact the American Graduation Initiative
5. Passage of the TAA Community College and Career Training Grants Program
6. The Department of Education's National Education Technology Plan
7. The 2008 Higher Education Opportunites Act (HEOA)

Learn more by reading the full report.

2010 ELearning Trends - Instructional Technology Council

Last week, we were invited to participate in an online interview by the E-Learning Queen's assistant, Susan Smith Nash.  The E-Learning Queen Blog is jammed packed with great information for those interested in learning more about online education.  Check out our complete interview here.

E-Learning Queen