SoftChalk Authoring Software To Work with Equella and Merlot

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 11/16/09

SoftChalk is partnering with two companies, The Learning Edge International and Merlot, in integration projects for its e-learning content authoring software. SoftChalk allows users to search for and incorporate rich-media assets into content. Lessons created with SoftChalk can be saved as reusable learning objects. The Learning Edge publishes the Equella Digital Repository, which lets a user centrally store and make searchable digital content, including media files, Web links, documents, and other learning objects. Merlot is an open source education collaboration network that features 21,000 online educational materials submitted by members.

The integration with Equella is designed to simplify the process of finding and integrating Equella digital content into media-rich lessons created using SoftChalk and allow SoftChalk authors to streamline the process for publishing learning materials into Equella.

"The ability for SoftChalk authors to easily store and organize their rich-media files and SoftChalk-authored content and then easily search, share, and re-use this content is extremely important to our customers," said Sue Evans, co-founder and CEO of SoftChalk. "We already have many customers who are using Equella, and they are very excited about this partnership."

The partnership between Merlot and SoftChalk will focus on two primary objectives: simplifying the process of finding and integrating Merlot digital content into lessons created using SoftChalk and allowing SoftChalk authors to streamline the process for publishing learning materials into the Merlot repository.

SoftChalk is also offering Merlot members discounted pricing on the purchase of SoftChalk individual licenses; institutions that use Merlot have access to discount pricing on enterprise licenses.

"The alliance between Merlot and SoftChalk will result in a wonderful opportunity to increase the effectiveness of creating, discovering, sharing, and utilizing rich media content," said Gerry Hanley, executive director of Merlot and senior director of Academic Technology Services for the California State University, Office of the Chancellor. "This partnership is another step towards our mission to improve teaching and learning by expanding the quantity and increasing the quality of online learning materials."