Click2learn Ships ToolBook 8.5

Click2learn (NASDAQ: CLKS) today began shipping ToolBook Instructor 8.5, its highly acclaimed desktop e-Learning authoring software.

With this important release, Click2learn introduces deep interoperability between ToolBook and Click2learn’s Aspen learning content management (LCMS) technologies.

The move allows developers to seamlessly integrate ToolBook learning content within the Aspen LCMS system, where it can be added to searchable knowledge bases, used by expert communities and shared with colleagues.

“Click2learn’s technology strategy is to bring together all the functions required by global organizations to capture, manage and disseminate knowledge throughout their extended enterprise. By integrating Aspen and ToolBook more deeply, the global companies that use both technologies gain even better ability to enhance their content for personalized and collaborative delivery,” said Srinivas Chandrasekar, Click2learn’s senior vice president of technology.

“As we move forward, we expect this cross-pollination of technologies to benefit both ToolBook and Aspen product lines.”

In addition to advanced collaborative capabilities, ToolBook Instructor 8.5 also marks the debut of state-of-the-art tools for performance-based software simulations, support for new operating systems, enhanced web publishing and e-Learning standards.

Using ToolBook’s visual editing interface, e-Learning authors can instantly create ‘smart’ software simulations that automatically assess and record user performance. The technology requires no special programming skills, which makes it easy for training professionals and subject matter experts to create these interactive segments.

With the release, ToolBook introduced support for Microsoft Windows XP operating system and demonstrated compliance with the Advanced Distributed Learning Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM™) 1.2 standard.

With SCORM 1.2, learning technology providers move to an XML-based packaging of content, providing truly robust portability and interoperability between learning content and learning management systems. With ToolBook Instructor 8.5 passing SCORM 1.2 conformance tests, Click2learn continues to lead the industry in affirming strong support for standards across its Aspen and ToolBook product suites. Support for the SCORM 1.2 standards helps protect clients’ long-term investments in learning technology, by ensuring they aren’t locked into a single provider for learning content or technology.

“It’s great to see prominent authoring tools like ToolBook add significant feature sets that are in line with customer requirements," said Bryan Chapman, e-learning analyst with brandon-hall.com, and host of the 2002 Software Simulation Shootout. “We’re monitoring a growing demand for tools with simulation capabilities, especially in the area of teaching software applications. The fact that simulations created in ToolBook can be stored as reusable learning objects, and stored in Click2learn’s enterprise learning content management system, helps make even a stronger case for simulation-based learning.”

Click2learn’s ToolBook has been named one of the best desktop authoring software packages on the market today by e-Learning analysts, training and human resource publications. Thousands of companies and organizations – representing more than 120,000 licensed users – rely upon ToolBook for their creation of SCORM – and AICC-compliant content. This long-term user base includes 13,000 major global corporations, hundreds of military and government organizations, and more than 500 colleges, universities and K-12 schools.

Pricing and Availability

ToolBook Instructor 8.5 is available for purchase today and is priced at $2,595 for first-time purchases or upgrade prices starting from $695. Discounts are available for quantity purchases and education and government customers. Instructor 8.5 may be purchased directly through Click2learn or through Click2learn’s global network of value-added resellers serving 22 regions in Europe, Japan, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Please contact the company at (800) 448-6543 from North America, or (425) 462-0501 from outside the United States or online at http://home.click2learn.com/en/toolbook/toolbook_instructor.asp.

About Click2learn

Click2learn (NASDAQ: CLKS) is a provider of enterprise software for Global 2000 organizations seeking to capture, manage and disseminate knowledge throughout their extended enterprise.

Using Click2learn’s Aspen Enterprise Learning Platform, organizations can deploy highly interactive, personalized learning initiatives to achieve strategic business objectives. Many of the world’s best-known corporations use Click2learn’s technology and award-winning content development services to improve workforce performance, educate customers, and publish large volumes of learning content. Click2learn’s clients include Microsoft, Fidelity Investments, Wells Fargo, Symantec, Prudential, American Airlines, ADC Telecommunications, Ernst & Young and the New York Stock Exchange.

Based in Bellevue, Wash., Click2learn [www.click2learn.com, 800.448.6543] operates offices in the United States and Europe.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including information contained in this document where statements are preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates”, or similar expressions. For such statements, The Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements include, market acceptance of Click2learn’s e-learning solutions and competing e-learning offerings, the ability to successfully implement Click2learn’s solutions and increase revenues, the ability to successfully address technological developments and standards and the risk factors set forth in filings the Company has made with the SEC.

Click2learn and Aspen are trademarks of Click2learn. All other company and product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.