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rSmart Releases Commercial Sakai CLE Update

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Education support services provider rSmart has rolled out an update to its commercial implementation of the Sakai Collaboration and Learning Environment, bringing it in line with the latest major release from the Sakai Foundation. rSmart's version is built on the regular Sakai software but also includes additional functionality and contracted support.

Sakai 2.5 from the Sakai Foundation was released back in late March with some 1,500 improvements and fixes, including 300 individual feature enhancements. Some of these enhancements include:

  • Improved forum functionality;
  • New gradebook tools;
  • Significant changes to tests and quizzes;
  • New portfolio features;
  • Additional mobile support, as well as other "user experience" improvements;
  • New portal functionality; and
  • Expanded assignment handling capabilities.

A complete list of changes to version 2.5 can be found here.

In addition to distributing the software and providing support, rSmart also provides training, installation, integration, data migration, customization, and application hosting, among other services. The company said that more than 30 educational institutions are currently using its Sakai package.

rSmart Sakai CLE 2.5 is available now for hosted and on site implementations. It can be downloaded immediately from rSmart's site here. Support is available on an annual contract that starts at $10,000 for up to 2,000 users. A demonstration site has also been set up at sakaisandbox.com.

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About the author: David Nagel is the executive editor for 1105 Media's online education technology publications, including THE Journal and Campus Technology. He can be reached at [email protected].

Proposals for articles and tips for news stories, as well as questions and comments about this publication, should be submitted to David Nagel, executive editor, at [email protected].

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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