12/22/2003
World Wide Learn Announces Santa is Prepared for Crunch
Time; Final Three Days of Coursework in Progress
Third week of customized curriculum leads up to 'big
night'
CALGARY, ALBERTA - December 22, 2003 - As Santa Claus continues his unprecedented e-learning experience, World Wide Learn, provider of the world's largest directory of e-learning courses and online education resources, reports that Santa is holding up well after completing more than a dozen business-related courses in just two weeks. In his final week of learning, Santa is expected to pull out all the stops, completing an additional seven courses in just three days before heading out on Christmas Eve to deliver the world's holiday packages.
The final education track of Santa Claus' three-week, customized learning curriculum is perhaps the most intense, topping off an exciting and productive period of learning.
"It's going to be a very, very busy three days for me," said Santa Claus, CEO of Jolly Red Fellow Enterprises, North Pole. "Not only do I need to make sure everything is in place for toy delivery, I need to hunker down and complete my coursework. I have confidence, though, that I can pull it off - with good cheer. World Wide Learn has designed a spectacular line-up of courses for me, and the online delivery of these courses gives me with flexibility I need.
"The first two tracks of courses covered a lot of ground, providing me with the tools and knowledge I need to make Christmas 2003 the best ever. When my final week of coursework and the 'big night' are behind me, I think I'll take a long nap - after the blow-out party I have planned for the elves and the reindeer, of course."
Last week Santa once again hit the 'books,' exploring yoga, animal care and childhood anxiety. He also brushed up on project management, best practices and call center communications skills, and reviewed occupational safety recommendations. The most exciting development for children around the world comes from Santa's online business course, where he learned how to launch a Web site. This means that instead of mailing letters to Santa, children will be able to go online to post a letter to Santa directly, and have the opportunity to take a peak at Santa's workshop - and maybe even Rudolph.
"Santa has had such a terrific attitude throughout this entire learning process," said Angela Lovett, CEO and founder of World Wide Learn. "He's not only learned that he has what it takes to learn new skills, he's also discovered that he has a much larger appetite for learning than he realized. We've already made arrangements with Santa to continue to provide him with learning opportunities throughout 2004. The big jolly guy has expressed an interest in some continuing education courses to help him improve North Pole operations, and has also hinted that he may take time out for a cooking course and a digital photography training program."
For the next three days of Santa's learning, World Wide Learn has assembled the following curriculum:
| Week Three Curriculum | |
| Non-Profit Management Track |
"Grant Writing Fundamentals for Non-Profit
Organizations" Santa has his quill pen and scroll of paper ready - he can't wait to learn how to write a winning grant proposal. His first submission will be for funds to update his sleigh. He's interested in an on-board GPS (yes, he sometimes gets lost), a mini fridge for peppermint ice cream (it's the reindeers' favorite) and a high-powered heater (even Santa gets a little chilly). |
|
International Business Track |
"The Impact of Micro/Macro Culture in a Global
Economy" Santa's toy empire stretches around the world, reaching children of all languages and cultures. Managing this vast global economy - even for the world's most famous toy maker - can be daunting. This course should help shed some light on how Santa can best manufacture and deliver toys in this highly global operating environment. |
|
Conflict Management Track |
"Negotiating Techniques" Managing stressed-out elves can be difficult - if not downright frightening. It doesn't take but a second for these little critters to cause chaos when they're upset. Santa has grown tired of yelling at his little workers, and is looking for more positive approaches to coaxing the elves back to work. This course should help do the trick. |
|
Supply Chain Management Track |
"Intelligent Supply Chains" Keeping just the right inventory levels for the toy factory is a challenge to say the least. And the procurement of magic oats and corn for the reindeer is even more difficult. Santa will take this course to gain a better understanding of how to keep inventories at a perfect level. This should help the factory run more smoothly, and help prevent anarchy among his reindeer. |
|
Customer Service Track |
"Keeping Customers Coming Back" Santa must always be mindful that the children are his customers. As a result, he must make sure that he gives them cheer - each and every year. This means making sure that Bobby receives the red bike he asked for - not a skateboard - and that Amy receives the stuffed kitty cat she requested in a perfect shade of purple. This course will serve as a reminder to Santa that the customer is always right. |
|
Team Building Track |
"How to Inspire and Empower Your Team" Santa's dream team has come through for the world's children year after year, but that doesn't mean it has always been easy. For example, there have been a number of years where Santa has had to plead with his reindeer to continue flying on the 'big night' despite being cold and hungry. To keep motivation high - and problems low - Santa will use the skills he learns in this course to inspire and motivate his entire team in new, creative ways. |
|
Time Management Track |
"Managing Your Time in Style" With just a few days to go until Christmas, time management is a must. Santa will leverage the powerful tips and tricks in this course to precisely and accurately orchestrate the final days of preparation. He'll also implement time management on delivery night to ensure that no child wakes to sadly discover that Santa didn't arrive with toys. |
This isn't World Wide Learn's first foray into the North Pole region, which can be a difficult place to stay warm, let alone receive coursework in real time. Recently, World Wide Learn announced its key sponsorship of WorldWideLearn.com North Pole Solo 2004. This expedition will see Wave Vidmar make his bid to become the first American to reach the geographic North Pole - solo and unsupported. To avoid getting in the way of Santa's activities during the holiday rush, Vidmar will begin his journey February 2004.
"We started with Wave's journey to the North Pole and now we're helping Santa with his 'big night' - we are truly amazed and overjoyed with our good fortune," said Angela Lovett, CEO and founder of World Wide Learn. "While we haven't had the pleasure of meeting Santa in person, we have exchanged some jolly emails, and I can assure you that he is pumped and motivated to learn skills that will help him operate his toy empire more efficiently and effectively. We look forward to providing Santa with his specialized curriculum over the next several weeks, and hope that his efforts will be obvious when children worldwide successfully receive their packages this holiday season."
About WorldWideLearn.com North Pole Solo
2004
World Wide Learn North Pole Solo 2004 is the bid of lifelong
adventurer and athlete Wave Vidmar to become the first American
to reach the geographic North Pole - solo and unsupported.
Vidmar's expedition officially kicked off December 2003 with key
financial sponsorship from World Wide Learn. Nearly 40 additional
sponsors are also supporting Vidmar's unprecedented expedition,
including Adobe Systems, Dryers Grand Ice Cream, Nike, Nikon, 24
Hour Fitness, and others. Vidmar plans to set off in early
February 2004 and begin his 60-day odyssey walking, skiing and
swimming 600 miles to the North Pole. More information about
WorldWideLearn.com North Pole Solo 2004 can be found at www.worldwidelearn.com/northpole.
About World Wide Learn
Founded in 1998, and based in Calgary, Canada, World Wide Learn
offers the world's largest independent directory of educational
services, featuring informative resources as well as hundreds of
e-learning courses in 247 subject categories. WorldWideLearn.com
enables its users to quickly and easily locate effective
e-learning courseware. The directory highlights free courses and
tutorials, computer training, corporate training, post-secondary
education, professional development, personal development, and
continuing education. Some of World Wide Learn's leading
university partners include Baker College, Capella University,
Kaplan University, University of Phoenix and Walden University.
More information about World Wide Learn can be found on the company's website at www.WorldWideLearn.com.
