More than 165,000 sailors sign up for online learning.

• Author: Kennedy, Harold

At most recent count, more than 165,000 sailors have registered in Navy Knowledge Online--an educational Web site that is available through the Navy Marine Corps Intranet, according to Myles Weber, NKO program manager for Appian Corporation.

Appian, of Vienna, Va., in July 2002 won a one-year, $5 million contract to build and manage NKO for the Naval Educational and Training Command, he said. The command oversees training and educational opportunities for 350,000 sailors.

In September of this year, the company won a second one-year bid, worth $11.9 million, to upgrade the portal. Under the contract, Appian will install the latest version of its collaborative intranet software, Appian Enterprise v.3.0, explained company spokesperson Kathleen O'Neil.

The new software will make it easier for users to organize themselves into something called "communities of practice," Weber told National Defense. These are interactive, collaborative communities, operating via NMCI and dedicated to common concerns, problems or missions, he explained.

The improved software will enable every command, group and individual to create and share community portal pages with whomever they like, based on individual or group profiles.

As part of the new contract, Appian also will develop...