Kaplan University to Transform Student Learning Experience With D2L's Brightspace LMS

WATERLOO, ON --(Marketwired - June 21, 2016) - D2L, a global learning technology leader, is proud to announce that Kaplan University, a regionally accredited leader in online education, will utilize its Brightspace Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver a best-in-class learning experience designed for the modern student. The school's more than 37,000 students will use Brightspace to access Kaplan University's online curriculum across thousands of courses.

Kaplan University, one of the largest online educators in the United States, signed the contract with D2L following a comprehensive RFP process that culminated in a 40-day onsite, intensive evaluation comparing Brightspace with competing LMS offerings. Kaplan University is now in the early stages of transitioning from its current LMS to Brightspace, a phased-in process that is expected to be completed in 2017.

"It was absolutely critical for us to make the right decision when selecting a new learning platform, which represents a very significant investment to support our student's learning and overall success," said David Starnes, Kaplan University's Vice President of Academic Affairs, Curriculum and Governance. "Fortunately, after a very detailed evaluation process, it became clear that D2L will meet the needs for our faculty and our very diverse, growing student body -- not just today, but for years to come. We look forward to a long-term strategic partnership to deliver an industry-leading online learning experience as well as outstanding student outcomes."

Kaplan valued D2L's innovations, including a mobile-friendly student user experience, data analytics, and competency-based education. The ability Brightspace has to support a personalized learning experience, so that students at any skill level can progress at a rate that is tailored for them, was key. The evaluation also covered a wide range of areas including implementation, instructional design and pedagogy, open platform, and standards support.

"It was clear Kaplan University and D2L share common vision for the future of learning," explained John Baker, CEO of D2L. "We both strive for uncompromised excellence in learning. Combining the Brightspace platform with Kaplan University's faculty and program offerings will create an online learning experience that will be truly world-class."

D2L's track record of innovation, which was a central element of Kaplan University's selection of Brightspace, has been widely recognized. In March, Fast Company Ranked D2L #6 on the Most Innovative Companies of 2016 List in the Data Science Category, amongst Google, IBM, Spotify, Costco, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. eLearning Magazine recently rated D2L as #1 in Adaptive Learning. Brightspace was also recently named the #1 LMS in Higher Ed by Ovum Research.

Unlike a traditional LMS, Brightspace was created with the modern learner in mind. The platform engages students by incorporating personalized learning, mobile devices and gamification:

• Mobile and Video Content allows students to access learning from anywhere and on any device, while offering more authentic ways of providing students with feedback
• Game-Based Learning supports student engagement and allows for new methods of teaching and learning with trophies, leaderboards, game boards, and levels that unlock as learners demonstrate mastery of topics
• Learning Analytics help keep students on track for success and provides faculty with the right insight at the right time
• Personalized Learning provides adaptive learning pathways, support for individuals with different learning and assessment activities, and enrichment and remediation wherever needed

To learn more about Brightspace, visit http://www.d2l.com/products/learning-environment/.

ABOUT BRIGHTSPACE

D2L's Brightspace is an online learning platform that helps schools and institutions deliver personalized learning experiences to people anywhere in the world. Created for the digital learner, Brightspace is cloud-based, runs on mobile devices, and offers rich multimedia to increase engagement, productivity and knowledge retention. The platform makes it easy to design courses, create content, and grade assignments, giving instructors more time to focus on what's most important -- greater teaching and learning. At the same time, analytics reports track and deliver insights into the performance levels of departments, courses, or individuals.

Brightspace was recently named the #1 LMS in Higher Ed by Ovum Research, and #1 in Adaptive Learning by eLearning Magazine.

ABOUT D2L

D2L is the software leader that makes learning experiences better. The company's cloud-based platform, Brightspace, is easy to use, flexible, and smart. With Brightspace, organizations can personalize the experience for every learner to deliver real results. The company is a world leader in learning analytics: its platform predicts learner performance so that organizations can take action in real-time to keep learners on track. Brightspace is used by learners in higher education, K-12, and the enterprise sector, including the Fortune 1000. D2L has operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil, and Singapore. www.d2l.com

© 2016 D2L Corporation.

The D2L family of companies includes D2L Corporation, D2L Ltd, D2L Australia Pty Ltd, D2L Europe Ltd, D2L Asia Pte Ltd, and D2L Brasil Soluções de Tecnologia para Educação Ltda.

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