A.M.I.C.A. is a web-based learning environment that enables an integrated vision of the creation, management and delivery of blended learning processes through the use of the new communication and collaborative technologies.
A.M.I.C.A. has been entirely developed in Italy by Didael’s Laboratory (authorized by M.I.U.R.) in collaboration with Fondo Innovazione Tecnologica (F.I.T. – Tachnology Innovation Fund) of the Ministry of Productive Activities.
A.M.I.C.A. was developed starting from ATENA® w.l.e (a collaborative learning environment created by Didael during the years 1996-2004 and winner of the European Label Award), which was restructured and empowered basing on the experience gained through more than 70 applications.

A.M.I.C.A. main advantages are:
• centralized management - A.M.I.C.A. allows to manage all the learning and sharing knowledge experiences of the same organization, basing on single register of users and contents repository;
• automatic creation of customized environment – using a single portal system, it’s possible to provide each project with its dedicated environment, both customizing the general appereance and choosing among the different resources included in the system (functionalities, contents, supporting and communication tools);
• video communication – integrating web conferencing systems, the users will be able to interact in real time using video, voice, shared contents and tools; it allows to provide virtual and live class services, making the most of the collaborative elements of the learning processes;
• multilingual versions – it is available in the following languages: Italian, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Suomi, Bulgarian and Chinese (Chinese translation by Prof. Cao of the PekingUniversity). Thanks to A.M.I.C.A. flexibility, it’s also possible to add new interfaces languages to support initiatives addressed to foreigners, in Italy or abroad;
• compatibility with e-learning standards – it can manage the contents realized on the IMS and SCORM standards and track the users activity;
• compatibility with the Universities and Pubblic Amministration directions for e-learning;
• optional integration of satellite services -if requested by users or if needed for particular projects, satellite band booking softwares can be integrated to allow the users participation to live events and the broadcasting of high-quality multimedia materials directly on users workstations (for example, TelBios and Padova Reserach satellite systems have already been applied within the project SkyNurse).

Didael, in collaboration with Ente Nazionale Sordi (National Deaf People Association), has developed a version of A.M.I.C.A. suitable for deaf people.

FUNCTIONALITIES

Thanks to its main features, A.M.I.C.A. can perform the following e-learning functionalities:
• E-learning Portal: it can be used by institutions/organizations to manage all their e-learning projects from a single point of access
• Learning Management System: it provides all the useful tools for the delivery of didactic contents and the integration of learning services within dedicatedenvironments
• Virtual classroom: it allows users synchronous and asynchronous interaction, lessons/communication events in real time, collaborative learning and group activities

The main functionalities are:
1. The portal managing
A.M.I.C.A. includes a centralized system for the development and management of every single learning environment. More specifically, it’s possible to:
• develop and publish new learning environments
• customize the learning environment’s general appearance, such as logotype, trademark, gamut of colours…
• enrol users in their learning environment (user access and temporal validity)
• define users profiles (tutors, teachers, administrators) in each environment
• select didactic contents from the general catalogue and publish them in the different environments
• integrate communication and collaboration services to be used in every single learning environment
• back up each single learning environment’s data at the end of the training project or educational experience

2. Users roles configuration
Different types of users, as students, tutors, teachers or administrators, are registered in a centralized repository which allows to respond both to organizational requirements (i.e. in the case of different business departments or university faculties) and educational ones (i.e. enrolling the same user in different learning environments, also with different roles).

3.The content management
A.M.I.C.A. allows to:
• import IMS compliant content packages
• distinguish alternative study paths within each environment on the basis of a central repository of learning material
• add quickly and automatically different kinds of contents (from multimedia Learning Objects to synthetic materials to practice or gain a deeper knowledge of the subject)
• track the learning process carried out by each user, when contents are compliant to SCORM standards

4. Activity Tracking
Thanks to monitoring tools, based on the storage of users data for every environment included in A.M.I.C.A., it’s possible to:
- at organizational level, analyze different aspects such as the number of enabled environments in a specific period of time, the amount of users enrolled in the platform / in every single environment, the accesses in each environment
- at educational level, to monitor and report didactic activities and tests results (if the contents include SCORM tracking systems)

Each user can get a report of his own activity within A.M.I.C.A., while training administrators are allowed to manage and track single users or group of users activities. A.M.I.C.A. can interoperate with reporting systems or more sophisticated Business Intelligence environments to carry out more complex analyses and correlations between training experiences and other enterprise's business activities.

5. Communication and collaboration services
For each learning environment based on A.M.I.C.A. it is possible to select both asynchronous and synchronous communication tools, such as mailing system, chat, discussion forum, discussion board and a shared agenda to notify common interest events. These tools allow the users interoperation and help training administrators (teachers, tutors, facilitators, experts, technical help desk) in their work.

SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

Server requirements
Minimum requirements
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server - Microsoft Internet Information Server - Microsoft SQL Server 2000

There’s no limit in the enrolled users and/or available courses number: it depends on the memory available to the platform, both as Application Server and Data Server. There’s no limit in the number of users who connect simultaneously too, it depends on the performance of the server on which A.M.I.C.A. is installed and on the Internet connection tools used.

FURTHER SERVICE

Didael can also provide:
• support for the system management (web environment set-up, crash recovery, security, system resources monitoring, remote server management); hosting.
• help desk via e-mail ( helpdesktecnico@didael.it ) or free telephone number (800012776) available from Monday to Friday (from 9 a.m to 6 p.m)
• translation services – development of new versions in short time, translating into other languages requested by international clients
• development of ad hoc solutions – thanks to the modular structure and flexibility of A.M.I.C.A., Didael can develop new software units to be integrated in the platform, basing on customer requests.