Articles - Page 146

What I Mean to Say: A Practitioner Perspective on AI, Semantics, and Content Evolution

msalvatierra

Thanks to today's technology, courses that don't require meeting in a classroom are not only possible; they're increasingly common. In fact, these days, even classes that do meet in person very often have an online component (even if that just means that the syllabus is posted on a website and assignments are turned in online). Students in traditional, in-person courses are increasingly required to participate in interactive online activities as part of their course work – such as contributing to a discussion forum, adding information to a wiki, or taking part in video web conferencing. Regardless of how many (or how few) online components a course entails, today's learning management systems (LMS) give instructors many options for how to handle important aspects of teaching, from enrolling students to organizing lessons and tracking student progress. Moodle, Course Toolkit, EDU 2.0, JoomlaLMS, and ATutor are all impressive and versatile systems available for educators.
<h2>Moodle</h2>
Moodle is a free source LMS used by educational institutions and businesses alike. This LMS makes it simple to add whole groups of students to a course, assign administrative privileges, create interactive and engaging course content and activities, and track and comment on student progress. Moodle allows instructors to set up workshops, quizzes, or course blogs – as well as to add PDF resource documents, set up discussion wikis, and embed film clips into a lesson. The simple user interface makes it easy to export items to Google Docs, Dropbox, etc. The fact that Columbia University's Teachers College (considered the premier graduate school of education in the United States) uses Moodle as its default system for courses is quite an endorsement.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/moodle_interface.jpg" />
Learn more about <a href="/products/moodle/">Moodle</a>
Visit their website: <a href="https://moodle.org/">Moodle Website</a>
<h2>Course Toolkit</h2>
Course Toolkit is a free, fully customizable LMS in PHP, allowing instructors to create and manage all types of educational course content – from quizzes and tests to collaborative wikis and multimedia content. Instructors may create HTML documents, but Course Toolkit's easy-to-use WYSIWYG visual editing tools makes the system easy to use without any technical knowledge whatsoever. This LMS allows instructors to invite students to join the course (and to control who has access to which materials), as well as to track student activity. It comes complete with gradebooks, automated grading, live test results, attendance monitoring, and other built-in reporting tools. This system enables a high level of interaction via a variety of tools, from messaging to an interactive whiteboard and video chat.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/course_toolkit_interface.jpg" />
Visit their website: <a href="http://www.coursetoolkit.com/">Course Toolkit</a>
<h2>EDU 2.0</h2>
EDU 2.0 is a cloud-hosted LMS that's free for schools that have up to 2000 students. Such a plan never expires and includes access to online help and community support forums, as well as unlimited storage and bandwidth. Custom CSS and HTML are both supported for deep web customization, but no technical knowledge is necessary to use this highly customizable system featuring dashboards and dropdown menus. A help menu is available, with detailed instructions and screenshots featured for most help topics.
EDU 2.0 supports instructor-led, blended, and self-paced classes alike. Given that courses can be saved in a library as templates for reuse later, it's easy to automatically create new classes and sessions just before the start of the term, as well as to teach multiple sections, using the unique “class sync” feature to publish changes from a master copy of one class to others on the list.
EDU 2.0 allows for many different account types (for parents, administrators, and others, for example), and it simplifies registration and course access by allowing student enrollment via file import, student roster, email, or self-enrollment through access codes. Only students in the course may access resources, and URLs cannot be shared outside of the roster without instructor permission. Instructors may also enable and disable whether and when resource links are displayed for those enrolled. Students may be deactivated through a time-based system, too. The system also allows for automatic generation of certificates of course completion at the end of the term, at which time grades may also be downloaded via CSV file or API through the gradebook feature – which also allows for many grading and weighting options. (Many other reporting tools are also available).
This LMS comes equipped with a curriculum builder; alternatively, instructors may use preloaded US Common Core standards and analyze how well a class covers the curriculum. It is also has full multimedia capability, with built-in support for messaging, forums, chat rooms, wikis, surveys, debates, and blogs. Resources may be archived and shared with colleagues.
Instructors using EDU 2.0's LMS may create student groups, and the lessons and section order may be reordered by simply dragging and dropping. The system allows users to easily return to where they left off in a lesson. Instructors may also track attendance (easily recorded in a PDF) and lesson progress, as well as time spent on the site. They may also receive alerts to any possibly offensive content. Rubric builders and many types of assessments (including portfolios) are available, including a variety of quizzes and personalized assignments. Instructors may even decide how many late assignments the system will accept (if any), tailoring this parameter for individual students as needed.
EDU 2.0 also integrates with many common systems, including Skype (for web conferencing), Google Docs, LDAP, Calendars (iCal), and Paypal (for paid courses). A school-wide activity feed is also available.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/edu_20_interface.jpg" />
Learn more about <a href="/products/neo/">EDU 2.0</a>
Visit their website: <a href="https://www.edu20.org/">EDU 2.0 Website</a>
<h2>JoomlaLMS</h2>
JoomlaLMS is an on-premise, proprietary, fully functional learning management system used by schools and corporations alike. JoomlaLMS offers custom development services and a variety of course templates. The system allows for self-enrollment and administrator-approved enrollment, at which time students may also pay ( if applicable); instructors may set a maximum number of students who can enroll, too, as well as establish a waiting list. An instructor can also control who may access what (and when) – as well as at what level, depending on the user roles that they define. At the same time, it's easy to toggle between student and teacher modes – in order to see the interface as the students see it when they're logged on.
Once users are enrolled, they may create customized profiles. After that, aside from access to features like a homework drop box, quiz creation, and the ability to monitor student activity on the site, many instructors love being able to create a virtual interactive classroom through JoomlaLMS's live conference tool, featuring audio/video streaming, a virtual whiteboard, and the ability chat within a conference (and even record the session).
Other communication-enabling features include course announcements, a calendar of due dates (and other time-sensitive information), a discussion forum feature, and the ability to exchange files and messages without having to use email. Files that may be uploaded and managed include HTML documents, .zips, .pdfs, text, audio, video, etc. It's also easy to set up a library of course material – and to control the order in which students may access information (to ensure that they don't skip any lessons). JoomlaLMS also shows users where they last left off.
Finally, this system makes evaluating student progress simple. Instructors may view (and download, in a number of formats) many types of reports. Quiz results are easily emailed, and course grades are also simple to record. Instructors may even issue certificates of completion at the end of the term. In turn, JoomlaLMS also allows students to rate and comment on the course.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/joomlalms_interface.jpg" />
Learn more about <a href="/products/joomlalms/">Joomla LMS</a>
Visit their website: <a href="http://www.joomlalms.com/">Joomla LMS website</a>
<h2>ATutor</h2>
ATutor is a free, open source, web-based, on-premise LMS in PHP that conforms with international accessibility standards. An automated installer and upgrade are both available for a more worry-free experience, and a link to the full user handbook is always in sight. Instructors will be able to start their courses off on the right foot by importing a comma-separated list of students for enrollment and enabling CAPTCHA and email confirmation to ensure registrant validity. The enrollment manager also allows instructors to control access levels.
Once students are enrolled, they can set up personalized network profiles, including a profile photo. The system allows them to control the theme and display settings that they see when they log in – and shows them where they last left off in a lesson. Adaptive navigation allows students to move through content in a variety of different types of sequences, and an FAQ section and search engine enable students to quickly and easily find the information that they need. Like any great LMS, ATutor allows instructors to set up a discussion forum and collaborative groups. Other means of interactive communication include chat rooms, user inboxes, and group blogs.
Both students and instructors can add web links to the site, and instructors may create course content in either HTML or, if they prefer, plain text. It's simple for instructors to create course reading lists and glossaries, too – as well as to set up tests in almost any format imaginable. They can even create quick polls to get student opinions. When all is said and done, teachers won't need to reinvent the wheel from one term to the next, as content is easily stored to a local computer, and a master copy of a course (which is easily populated by available backups) may be created for future use.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/atutor_interface.jpg" />
Overall, the type of learning management system that instructors prefer may largely depend on course content, structure, and subject matter. Some courses may lend themselves more to an LMS that simplifies standardization and automation, while courses in which student creativity and participation in discussions are more highly prized may value other LMS features. The good news is that popular LMSs – such as those mentioned here – have many features from which to choose (by design), making them versatile for a variety of teaching situations.
Learn more about <a href="/products/atutor/">ATutor</a>
Visit their website: <a href="http://atutor.ca/">ATutor Website</a>
Do you know of a good Learning Management System that we've missed? Let us know in the comments below.

5 Learning Management Systems with Educator-Friendly Features

mike-johnston

This week, <a href="http://www.blackmonk.com/" target="_blank">BlackMonk CMS</a> – a platform designed to power online newspapers, business directories and community portals, released version 3.2 of their product. 
I recently carried out an in-depth <a href="/blackmonk-cms-review/#.Uywg7fl_vvU" target="_blank"> review of BlackMonk </a> , where I detailed their range of functionalists and features which make community, directory and news portal website building easy. 
Now, with the release of version 3.2, BlackMonk users can make use of some interesting enhancements – some of which I called for during my review of their platform. 
<h2>Rich Snippets &amp; Rich Static Pages</h2>
First of all, BlackMonk version 3.2 increases the click worthiness of your content in search engines by leveraging Google’s rich snippet feature.
Rich snippets is a feature of Google Search which structures the description of a search listing based on nature/type of targeted content. For example, listing of a news story comprises of story headline, name of news service, time elapsed since publication and a brief summary of the story.
<img alt="BlackMonk Rich Snippets" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/blackmonk.jpg" /> BlackMonk now optimizes your content in line with the benefits of Google’s rich snippet feature, resulting in a substantial increase in Click through Rates (CTR).
Furthermore, the BlackMonk team have also added rich formatting and multimedia content insertion features, making it simple to create rich static pages. This was a feature which I felt was missing in my <a href="/blackmonk-cms-review/" target="_blank">review of BlackMonk CMS</a>, and to see their team react so quickly to that concern is admirable.
Not to mention, it also gives their platform a boost in a very important area.
<h2>Disqus Comments &amp; More</h2>
Version 3.2 of BlackMonk also brings about built-in Disqus comments with Single Sign in Option (SSO).
<img alt="BlackMonk Disqus Comments" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/disqus_comments.jpg" /> You can now allow users to engage with content via the popular Disqus comments system, which allow users to reply to comments posted by fellow users. The Single Sign In Option allows users to post comment without the need for creating a Disqus account.
Additional features included in version 3.2 are CSV upload histories, error logs and over 100 other fixes.
To find out more about BlackMonk CMS, or to request a demo, check out their <a href="http://www.blackmonk.com/" target="_blank"> official website</a>.
Also, be sure to check out my <a href="/blackmonk-cms-review/#.Uywg7fl_vvU" target="_blank"> BlackMonk CMS Review</a>.

BlackMonk v3.2 Released

WordPress today <a href="https://wordpress.org/news/2014/03/wordpress-3-9-beta-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced the second beta release of version 3.9</a>, as they prepare for an April launch.
Amongst the enhancements which WordPress 3.9 could bring, is an improved <a href="http://wordpress.org/plugins/widget-customizer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Widget Customiser</a> which allows you to edit and preview widgets in a similar way that the current Theme Customiser works.  
 Further widget management improvements may come in the form of the <a href="http://wordpress.org/plugins/better-widgets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Better Widgets</a> feature, which enable the sidebar area to be switched to the main screen instead of being constricted to the sidebar, giving users greater control over widget placement and configuration. 
 Shaun Andrews, who leads the WordPress “Widgets UI Refresh” team believes that both feature plugins would be ready for inclusion into 3.9 core. For now though, let's have a look at what additions the two recent beta tests have revealed.
<h2>TinyMCE Updates, Improved Image Editing &amp; More</h2>
The first set of  improvements  which WordPress users were asked to test via the first beta release, were as follows:
<ul>
<li>TinyMCE, the software powering the visual editor, updated to the latest version. Be on the lookout for cleaner markup. Also try the new paste handling — if you paste in a block of text from Microsoft Word, for example, it will no longer come out terrible. (The “Paste from Word” button you probably never noticed has been removed.)</li>
<li>Added widget management added to live previews.</li>
<li>3.8′s beautiful new theme browsing experience to the theme installer included.</li>
<li>Galleries now receive a live preview in the editor. </li>
<li>You can now drag-and-drop images directly onto the editor to upload them. </li>
<li>Some have been improved around editing images. It’s a lot easier to make changes to an image after you insert it into a post,  and you no longer get kicked to a new window when you need to crop or rotate an image.</li>
<li>New audio/video playlists.</li>
</ul>
Today though, with the second beta release of WordPress 3.9, some more notable updates have been made, including:
<ul>
<li>Rendering of embedded audio and video players directly in the visual editor.</li>
<li>Visual and functional improvements to the editor, the media manager, and theme installer.</li>
<li>Various bug fixes to TinyMCE, the software behind the visual editor.</li>
<li>Lots of fixes to widget management in the theme customizer.</li>
</ul>
To test out the WordPress 3.9 beta 2 and provide the team with your feedback, head over to the <a href="https://wordpress.org/news/2014/03/wordpress-3-9-beta-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">official WordPress Blog</a>.

WordPress 3.9 Beta Testing Underway as April Launch Looms

“Online learning” is a term most of us have probably heard by now, but how exactly are instructors able to run every aspect of an online course – from assigning work to collecting it and monitoring student participation? (And what exactly does “participation” even mean or look like in an online environment?)
Actually, while online learning can refer to “online only” courses – such as the MOOCs we've begun to hear so much about recently (massive open online courses) – on today's university campuses, online learning is often just an additional tool that's used in what we think of as traditional courses (ones that meet in a classroom several times a week), too. For instance, while many professors still collect hard copies of student papers, an increasing number of university instructors are ditching the drop box outside their office doors for the virtual alternative. While some may just ask students to email their work, thanks to today's LMS (learning management systems), better and more centralized ways to collect and track student work are available today. While signed in to an LMS, students and faculty can also access a whole host of other features for organizing a course and enabling more effective and efficient communication.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/atutor_screenshot.jpg" alt="ATutor screenshot" />
While an LMS such as LearnCore is commonly marketed to corporations for training purposes – allowing employees to complete training modules, for example, as they pass tests and move up to the next level – ATutor, on the other hand, is marketed to educators who teach in settings that we more traditionally associate with a university (or some other type of school) in the most basic and classic sense of the word. An LMS such as Edu 2.0 – or BrainX, Moodle, or Joomla – is a popular choice among traditional educators and corporate trainers alike.
Visual Features Help Span the Distance
Among instructors of online-only university courses, a very popular feature (that virtually every LMS offers) is the capability for instructors, with just a few clicks, to set up and monitor a discussion forum. In a 100% online course (where the instructor may never meet the students in person – and they may never meet each other), a discussion forum gives students a chance to interact simultaneously with both one another and the course material (and also provides a way for instructors to consider a “class participation” component when grading). What is more, an LMS that allows students to create user profiles with photos helps to put a face to the names on the roster. In addition, video conferencing (and the ability for both students and professors to upload videos) allows the course to expand beyond reading and writing black-and-white text. Interactive Whiteboard technology can often be added to a live video conference so that all communication tools are available, all at once.
Many Creative Options
Regardless of whether a course only meets online – or is a “hybrid,” only integrating some virtual features into the ways in which students interact with one another and their professors – an LMS allows instructors and students alike to use their imaginations, bringing a multimedia approach to learning. While instructors can still assign and collect – through online means such as an LMS – old-fashioned term papers and the like, LMS blogging capability also allows professors to add a contemporary and creative twist to writing assignments and make student work available for the whole class to read and comment on.
In addition, instructors can post key vocabulary, FAQs, or a library of course reading materials, as well as design quizzes that students take online (which may be graded automatically). They can also create wikis that students add to in order to demonstrate what they know in a way that's more fun and interactive. Students also enjoy the opportunity to create and share educational videos (which, for example, can take the form of a skit that engages key course concepts). These can be created by individual students or through collaboration for group projects, which are considered an increasingly valuable part of a well-rounded university education.
Organizing Basic Course Logistics
On the practical side, an LMS will usually allow professors to invite (and, often, enroll) students – and post not only a course calendar but also important announcements. What's more, the instructor may control when students access any or all information on the website. Many also come with a system for sending individualized messages to students, as needed – as well as giving students grade information and other feedback. An LMS will often also come with an attendance-tracking system. Student groups may be set up for collaborative projects, in which case the messaging also allows students to easily contact one another.
Increasing a Sense of Community
In fact, within an online class environment, what happens quite naturally is that students will often want to be able to message each other anyway, even if there are no group projects. That's the thing about a really good LMS; while many might fear that online learning “distances” students from each other and their professors, really these systems can be used to remind us of one of the most humanizing aspects of learning: it's just plain fun.
Simply put, an LMS can help increase the amount (and quality) of communication between stakeholders. In fact, students who are shy in person – perhaps because the course is held in a language that isn't their first or perhaps because they have a fear of public speaking – will often open up and thrive in a virtual environment. An LMS can also allow professors to create and easily administer student polls and surveys, allowing them to get to know the group better – and to get a better sense of which elements of the course and teaching are effective and which aren't (and make adjustments accordingly). The truth is, rather than making education feel impersonal, a good LMS, when used to its full advantage, can make a class what it should be: a real community (in every sense of the word) of fully-engaged learners.

What is a Learning Management System (LMS) and What Does it Do?

Next week, I will be attending the 2014 Adobe Digital Marketing Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah. Held at the Salt Lake City convention center, this event is definitely a unique one that I do my best not to miss. 
Not only is Salt Lake City a beautiful place but Adobe tends to put 110% into their conferences and this years will be no exception. Two of the speakers I'm most interested in hearing from this year are Robert Redford (actor &amp; director) and Yancey Strickler (CEO and Co-founder of Kickstarter.com).
Adobe also knows how to throw one helluva party (<a href="/the-summit-bash-at-the-adobe-digital-marketing-summit/#.UymfP1f5a0M">see past pictures of the Summit Bash here</a>). This year, we will be treated with a concert by Vampire Weekend (last year was an amazing concert by The Black Keys).
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/adobesummit2012.jpg" />
It's not all about the party though. The conference is a great place to see the new innovations that Adobe is bringing to the forefront and each year, I'm impressed with what they are doing. As a major player in the online marketing space, it only makes sense to keep up on what they are doing to see how they are staying competitive and relevant. I also tend to connect with quite a few related vendors that attend the show and have booths there, so it's a win-win for me.
Stay tuned on the site and on Twitter as I'll be live tweeting from the event starting mid next week. For more info on the Adobe Summit, check out their website: <a href="http://summit.adobe.com/">Adobe Summit 2014</a>.

See you at the Adobe Summit!

Following the recent release of <a href="/bigcommerce-launch-bigcommerce-next-beauty-brawn-brains/#.Uyl28fl_vvU">Bigcommerce Next</a> – which includes blogging functionality, <a href="/products/bigcommerce">Bigcommerce</a> have this week introduced further blogging improvements to help merchants produce and present content more professionally.Since the launch of <a href="/products/bigcommerce">Bigcommerce</a> Next, users have written more than 18,000 individual blog posts, with almost 500 new blog posts per day. So, these new blogging features will surely be welcomed.Let's take a peak at what's new.<h2>Front End Enhancement</h2>To increase readership, visitors to your Bigcommerce blog will now see the most recent blog post appear in full. Previous posts are listed less dramatically underneath.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/blog-main-page.jpg" alt="Bigcommerce blog" />Additionally, thumbnail images have been incorporated to increase click-through rates. Plus, no blog is complete without an image or two.<h2>Tag Filtering &amp; Google Authorship</h2>Bigcommerce has also made finding content easier for blog visitors via the implementation of tags.Now, when a reader clicks on a tag in one of your posts, they’ll be taken to a page that features all posts with that tag. This enables readers to filter posts by topic and helps them better navigate your blog and find posts that interest them, increasing their engagement.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/blog-tag-page.jpg" alt="Bigcommerce tags" />Furthermore, having tag pages with the tag in the URL helps Google and other search engines find and categorize your blog posts, which should aid you and your blog in the terms of search engine optimization.Finally, <a target="_blank" href="http://blog.bufferapp.com/why-google-authorship-is-so-important-for-the-content-you-create-and-how-to-set-it-up">Google Authorship</a> is also now supported. Google Authorship lets online authors claim their content and build authority on certain subjects by linking blog posts to their Google+ profile page.It helps increase your click-through rates from Google search results because searchers will see a “rich snippet” that includes a preview of your post and your profile picture.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/blog-serp700x0.jpg" alt="Bigcommerce Google Authorship" />Now you can add the URL of your Google+ page to your post and Bigcommerce will automatically link it to your account with a rel=”author” link, a requirement for Google Authorship. You’ll then start seeing your author profile in your blog search results on Google. It's that easy.A 15 day free trial of Bigcommerce Next can be found on the  <a href="/products/bigcommerce">official Bigcommerce website</a>.Additionally, you can explore more of <a href="/products/bigcommerce">Bigcommerce via our CMS Directory</a>.

Bigcommerce Introduce New Blogging Improvements

<a href="http://www.prestashop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> PrestaShop 1.6</a> is now officially available for download after months of development and intense anticipation.
I had the pleasure of carrying out a <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/hands-on-with-prestashop-1.6/#.Uygj0vl_vvU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> hands-on preview of PrestaShop 1.6</a> last week, where I explained some of its key new features and gave you another peak at the sleek user interface.
The PrestaShop team have worked hard on bringing in some major enhancements to do with general usability and statistical store monitoring in particular.
Additions have also been made to the PrestaShop Front Office, where an array of design improvements and functions have been introduced to make the end user experience better than ever.
<h2>Another Look at What's New</h2>
Although I covered PrestaShop 1.6 extensively in my <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/hands-on-with-prestashop-1.6/#.Uygj0vl_vvU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> hands-on preview</a>, here's a quick re-cap of the changes made to PrestaShop's new Front Office:
<ul>
<li>Redesigned and Fully Responsive Front Office Default Template.</li>
<li>The front office template is now mobile responsive, allowing your online shop to display perfectly when accessed from a mobile and tablet device.</li>
<li>The powerful and popular Rich Menu module has been integrated into the default theme.</li>
<li>New Quick View feature has been added to let customers add a product to their shopping cart without ever leaving the page.</li>
<li>Attractive promotional banners to help you highlight sales, marketing campaigns and other promotions.</li>
<li>Live Template configurator that lets you to edit the color and font of your shop directly from your front office.</li>
<li>Now customers can use the grid or list option when viewing your products.</li>
<li>Even more brilliant features including integrated product comparison with dedicated URL, new add to cart confirmation with cross selling, instant field format validation and more.</li>
</ul>
As for the Back Office &amp; Admin Dashboard, PrestaShop users can now enjoy:
<ul>
<li>A fully mobile responsive back office, letting you manage your shop from a mobile or tablet device, wherever you are.</li>
<li>Completely new dashboard look that displays information that is important to you, in real time.</li>
<li>Real-time net profit margin, a unique ecommerce feature that you will only find in PrestaShop 1.6.</li>
<li>Intelligent Merchant KPI (key performance indicators) are located throughout select pages in the back office, giving you in depth insight on your shop.</li>
<li>Smart Forecast Statistics Panel allows you to see how your sales are trending and what the outlook is for the future.</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.prestashop.com/en/download" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Download PrestaShop 1.6 </a>
<h2>15% Discount on PrestaShop Developed Addons</h2>
To celebrate the release of PrestaShop version 1.6, users can take advantage of a <a href="http://addons.prestashop.com/en/2-modules-prestashop" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> 15% discount on all PrestaShop developed Addons</a> between now and midnight on Wednesday 19th March. All you need to do is use the promo code: PRESTASHOP16.
To find out more about PrestaShop 1.6, visit their <a href="http://www.prestashop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">official website</a>, or check out their <a href="http://www.prestashop.com/blog/en/prestashop-1-6-is-officially-available-for-download/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">blog announcement</a>.
Additionally, you can explore more of  <a href="/products/prestashop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> PrestaShop via our CMS Directory</a>.

PrestaShop 1.6 Released

Toiling in order to attract customers and make sales is already difficult and time consuming enough, yet the effort needed to process and ship those very orders can be just as arduous. But not any more.
<a href="http://mbsy.co/3mQzZ" target="_blank">ShipStation</a> is a cloud-based software designed to help online merchants process, fulfil, and ship their orders from all the most popular online marketplaces and shopping carts via world renowned carriers.
Founded in 2011, ShipStation has since flourished into one of the most popular, flexible and feature-filled shipping softwares on the market.
<h2>Signed, Sealed &amp; Delivered from the Cloud</h2>
One of the beauties of ShipStation lies in its accessibility. The software is completely cloud-based, meaning that there is nothing to download or install, and yet you can access it on any device, from anywhere in the world, and at any time.
ShipStation itself enables you to import, sort, and process your orders just the way you want them.
The software combines order processing, production of shipping labels, and customer communication in an easy to use, web-based interface that integrates directly with major carriers and selling platforms.
Shipping rules can be specifically defined, labels can be printed in bulk, returns can be professionally managed, branding can be applied and much more. It's everything you need to successfully fulfil orders, all in one place.
Yet, the conveniences of using ShipStation don't end there.
<h2>Seamless Integration with Popular Marketplaces &amp; Carriers</h2>
No matter how or where you sell your products, or with which carrier you like to deliver them, ShipStation can almost always seamlessly integrate.
Marketplaces like eBay, Amazon, Shopify, Bigcommerce, Volusion, Etsy, PrestaShop, Squarespace and many more are all a piece of cake for ShipStation to join forces with.
This integration includes automatic order retrieval, automatic customer notification regarding order status and tracking, customized email confirmations, branded shipping slips and so forth.
And if that wasn't enough of a comfort, ShipStation also integrates just as easily when it comes to popular carriers, including FedEx, UPS, DHL and USPS.
It's as easy as selecting your orders, choosing and then automating your shipping options and then printing your shipping labels all in one fell swoop. There's also no need to separate orders by carrier, weight or destination. ShipStation simply handles it all with no complications.
<h2>Multi-channel Unification</h2>
ShipStation isn't just compatible with different online marketplaces – it's compatible with all of them at once.
For merchants who sell through multiple channels, like Amazon and eBay for example, this means that ShipStation can process all orders seamlessly, even though they come from different selling platforms.
This is also true for when you use multiple carriers. ShipStation once again streamlines the process, allowing you to manage multiple carrier shipments using just one interface, without having to constantly log in and out of individual carrier accounts.
So, the chore of attending to each platform and carrier to gather up and fulfil orders is long gone – all thanks to ShipStation's all-in-one solution.
To find our more about ShipStation, and to sign up for a completely free 30 day trial, <a href="http://mbsy.co/3mQzZ" target="_blank">visit their official website</a>.

ShipStation: a Seamlessly Integrated Cloud-based Shipping Service

CMS Kickoff 26

Find out at CMS Kickoff 26, January 13 - 14, St. Pete FL

What's the future of CMS in the AI era?

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Commercial content management systems need to offer simplicity by default, but without leaving out technical options to help organizations customize and evolve over time. <a href="http://www.envisagecms.co.uk/" target="_blank"> Envisage</a> does a pretty good job on both those fronts.
Envisage are a UK based CMS, offering their commercial platform as on-premise, with easy and flexible editing in mind.
Their offering of a real-time WYSIWYG editor keeps things straightforward for those who need it, whilst full source code editing, multi-device previews, template creation and more, all provide technical users with the tools they need to go forth and create.
<h2>Real-time &amp; Responsive WYSIWYG Editing</h2>
With a user friendly real-time WYSIWYG editor, even those with limited knowledge of web design can start implementing their ideas into web pages.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/envis2700x0.png" alt="Envisage WYSIWYG Editor" />
But the Envisage WYSIWYG editor also goes a step further. Thanks to Envisage mobile, you can always be on hand to approve new content, create new pages and insert new content right from the screen of your mobile device.
Furthermore, to ensure editing is done correctly and to the highest standard, Ensivage enables you to preview your website in three different formats; Desktop, Tablet and Smartphone.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/envis3700x0.png" alt="Envisage Multi-Device Preview" />
This intelligent multi-device preview option ensures that your content doesn't just look good on desktops,whilst lacking in quality on mobile devices. It enables you to tweak the design via the different mobile views in order to perfect it on all channels.
And yet, you never have to leave the comfort of the Envisage WYSIWYG editor.
<h2>Purpose Built Apps, Widgets &amp; More</h2>
As impressive as the real-time and responsive editing options are, Envisage CMS goes even beyond that in terms of flexibility.
Built-in <a href="http://www.envisagecms.co.uk/features/apps" target="_blank">Envisage Apps</a> make general use of the platform extremely dynamic. These include a feature-filled form builder, integrated Google Analytics, and more. Also, Envisage mobile, an app which I have already discussed, enables editing from any device on the move.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/envis4700x0.png" alt="Envisige Form Builder" /> 
<a href="http://www.envisagecms.co.uk/features/widgets" target="_blank">Envisage Widgets</a> – which are all free for Envisage users, enable you to integrate elements like Google Maps, Vimeo, Twitter feeds, social buttons and much more into web pages, with a simple drag-and-drop function.
But Envisage doesn't stop there.
Their platform is highly compatible with search engines, and offers detailed search engine optimization configurations, including keywords and page descriptions, alt text and descriptions for images, links and so forth.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/envii454700x0.png" alt="Envisage File Management" /> 
File management is also a key feature, with users being able to upload and manage web assets. Yet more drag-and-drop functionality makes it easy to add new files and folders, whilst folder management, search and categorisation ensures that your organization will never lose a file, or need to re-upload an image ever again.
To find out more about Envisage CMS, check out their <a href="http://www.envisagecms.co.uk/" target="_blank">official website</a>, where a free online demo can be accessed.
Additionally, you can check out <a href="/products/envisage/" target="_blank">Envisage via our CMS Directory</a>.

Envisage: a Commercial CMS Built for Simple & Responsive Editing

SiteSupra Review

WoodWing Software have released version 9.2 of its <a href="http://www.woodwing.com/en/reach-your-audience-multi-channel-publishing-overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">multi-channel publishing </a>  system Enterprise. Via a brand new connector, this release enables the centralized publication of content to WordPress sites. 
WoodWing Software, founded in 2000, develops and markets a premier, cost-efficient multi-channel publishing system, Enterprise – including the editorial management application “Content Station” – coordinates and streamlines the process of creating, managing and publishing static, dynamic and interactive content for all media channels including print, Web, social, smartphones and tablets. 
Along with WordPress publishing capabilities, Enterprise 9.2 also brings about a number of additional new features ensure even smoother and faster processes in multi-channel publishing environments.
<h2>WordPress Publishing &amp; Smooth Multi-channel Content Production</h2>
Traditionally seen as more of a blogging tool, WordPress has been continuously expanding toward becoming a mature Web CMS. As a result, the distinction between traditional blogs and full-featured websites is becoming increasingly blurred. The system is rapidly gaining acceptance by media and brands, including Forbes, Time, Metro (UK) and many more. 
 In fact, according to WordPress, 409 million people view more than 13.1 billion WordPress pages each month.
<h3>Three Easy Steps to Publishing to WordPress</h3>
The new WordPress connector for Enterprise enables publishers and brands to transparently integrate WordPress as a new channel in their publishing and communication processes.  <a href="http://media.ne.cision.com/l/hacbewfn/www.woodwing.com/en/reach-your-audience-multi-channel-publishing-content-station" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Content Station</a>, the editorial management application of Enterprise, follows the same easy three-step process as for any other digital channel when it’s publishing to a WordPress site: Creation of a dossier, authoring of text and images, and the immediate publication of the article.
With Enterprise 9.2, WoodWing also further simplifies repurposing of content. Article components and other content published to WordPress sites can easily be reused in social media, mobile, other CMS systems, in print and on tablets – and vice versa.
<h3>Smooth Content Production for Online, Digital &amp; Print</h3>
The latest version of Content Station now eases the editing of the properties of any number of files at one time, a huge time saver when facing production deadlines. For example, users can quickly update properties of multiple assets such as their status, next assigned worker in line, copyright information, and other metadata.
In print production and tablet publishing,  <a href="http://media.ne.cision.com/l/hacbewfn/www.woodwing.com/en/reach-your-audience-multi-channel-publishing-enterprise-server" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Enterprise Server</a> enables users of InDesign and InCopy to access all content through WoodWing´s Smart Connection panel directly from within both applications. They can conveniently search and browse, open layouts, place images, save versions, and route documents to others according to the pre-defined workflows. 
The Smart Connection plug-in now allows the replacing of an image in the layout with a file in a different format – all while the version control features of Enterprise help keep track of the changes.
With Enterprise 9.2, WoodWing also officially released the support for Adobe InDesign CC and InCopy CC, which successfully passed an intensive public testing. 
 Dennis van Nooij, Vice President Product at WoodWing, had this to say:
<blockquote>
“In order to help our customers to stay competitive, we always strive to further optimize existing processes based on customer feedback, while at the same time providing new features reflecting market trends and new opportunitie. The new version 9.2 of Enterprise and Content Station offers a well-balanced mix of both.”
</blockquote>
To find out more about Woodwing and their products, visit their <a href="http://www.woodwing.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> official website</a>.

WoodWing Releases Enterprise 9.2 Enabling WordPress Publishing

Treehouse, an online education platform that teaches anyone how to code, today launched a completely revamped beginner course that teaches students how to create their own website from scratch. Central to the new “How to Make a Website” class is Treehouse’s new innovative code-editing environment called Workspaces. The integrated editor makes it simpl for students to follow along with class instructors and save their work to the cloud. The new course and in-browser editor are available to all Treehouse students at <a href="http://teamtreehouse.com/workspaces">http://teamtreehouse.com/workspaces</a>.
<blockquote>
“We believe coding is a basic skill that anyone can learn and master, no matter what your background or education,” said Ryan Carson, Co-founder and CEO of Treehouse. “Our new course and Workspaces tool makes learning to code even easier, while helping students catalog and showcase their accomplishments. It’s part of our mission to give people the tools they need to achieve their dreams.”
</blockquote>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/treehouse600x0.jpg" />
The Workspaces editor allows students on any OS to begin coding without having to download or install any third-party software. Users are guided through an easy-to-follow training course that includes 10 hours of video tutorials, quizzes and code challenges. Students who complete the course will have learned how to create their own portfolio website to showcase their future work. Workspaces makes the entire learning experience a breeze with the following key features:
●        Simplicity – The tool eliminates confusion when multiple text editors are shown in course materials. Now, instructors and students use the same text editor, making the class more accessible to basic coders.
●        Freedom – Workspaces was created so students can easily build and save a project, then “fork” the source code into entirely new projects. Forking allows students to try out new ideas while also leaving their original project intact. Similar to a native text editor, students can use the tool to code alongside a project or develop something completely different from scratch.
●        Power – Unlike other online coding environments that lack many of the features of native text editor applications, Workspaces provides the functionality developers and designers have come to expect from a full-featured code editor like auto-complete, quick-open and the ability to drop files right onto the workspace to upload them.
To date, more than 50,000 students have taken Treehouse’s first-generation website-building course.
The newly revamped online course and Workspaces tool is currently available to all Treehouse students. To learn more about “How to Make a Website” or to start a free trial, visit <a href="http://www.teamtreehouse.com">www.teamtreehouse.com</a>.

Treehouse Launches New In-Browser Development Tool with Beginner Web Site Coding Course

Social networking CMS <a href="http://elgg.org/" target="_blank">Elgg</a> has released two important security updates for two of their current versions. Elgg 1.8 has received version 1.8.19, whilst Elgg 1.7 has been upgraded to  1.7.22.
Elgg is a free and open-source social networking software that has been around since 2004. The popular platform provides a robust framework on which to build all kinds of social environments, from a campus-wide social network for your university, school, or college or an internal collaborative platform for your organization to a brand-building communications tool for your company and its clients.
Features and functionalists include blogging, microblogging, file sharing, networking, groups, and much more.
The security fixes in both of these new security updates will help to enhance the security of the “Remember Me” feature and also introduces measures to prevent brute-force attacks of the “Remember Me” cookie. This upgrade will invalidate all “Remember Me” cookies for admin users, so admin users may need to log in again.
<h3>Other changes in 1.8.19 include:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Fixed numerous PHP warnings.</li>
<li>Groups: Corrected breadcrumb for group discussion pages.</li>
<li>Fixed RSS validation for the River RSS feed.</li>
<li>Moved Site Secret update to configure -&gt; advanced.</li>
</ul>
However, perhaps more importantly, Elgg have also strongly encouraged their 1.7 users to make the migration to 1.8 in lieu of Elgg 1.9 releasing.
<blockquote>Users of 1.7 should migrate to 1.8 ASAP as Elgg 1.7 will no longer be updated when Elgg 1.9 is released.</blockquote>
For more information on the release of Elgg versions 1.8.19 and 1.7.22, check out Elgg's official blog. Both versions can also be <a href="http://www.elgg.org/download.php" target="_blank">downloaded here</a>.
Additionally, you can explore more of Elgg via our CMS Directory.

Elgg Release Security Updates & Encourage 1.7 Users to Migrate

Kontent.ai - Agentic CMS

Meet the world's first Agentic CMS

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