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partners through Fathom. But learning is not limited to the classroom, and the many other types of content provided through Fathom will provide a more complete and accessible context for knowledge. We believe that Fathom will define the transformation of the online learning category into a broader interactive knowledge marketplace."
219:, offer students a wide variety of courses, and allow Columbia to cooperate with participating institutions rather than work against them. Although members of the consortium were required to distribute their online content exclusively through Fathom.com, financial contribution was not a condition of membership.
342:
Columbia
University closed the for-profit corporation on March 31, 2003, keeping the web site's free content online until mid-2012. Although Columbia invested $ 25 million in the venture, and 65,000 people created accounts, Fathom failed to turn a profit, partly because few customers paid for any of
202:
In regards to Fathom's ambitious scope of content, Fathom's CEO Ann
Kirschner is quoted in a press release as saying, "Today, most initiatives by educational institutions are focused on courses. Courses are important, and courses for distance learning will be one of the offerings provided by some
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Fathom initially planned to offer only courses produced by its members, which failed to produce courses quickly enough to meet benchmarks set out in its original business plan. Consequently, as announced in
September 2000, Fathom decided to allow non-member "content partners", including the
24:
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tools and groups, and expert-led discussions. In these ways, Fathom's ambitions reached beyond the course-confined materials and limited interaction of more familiar online learning initiatives by universities, like
156:
On April 11, 2000, The Fathom
Network Inc. incorporated in Delaware, changing its name to Fathom Knowledge Network Inc. shortly afterward. On November 15, 2000, Fathom opened to the public as a "preview site".
186:
educational content designed specifically for the website, not limited to course syllabi and resources (hence the partnership with archival institutions); and b) interactive features such as
169:
for general audiences who desired the experience of "' being at a great university or a great museum'" without having to attend one in person. Concerned by the initial success of
Microsoft's
353:, which "failed to meet their stated goal of expanding educational opportunities, most likely because they did not align with student needs, and, hence, were not financially viable."
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In 2002, Fathom tweaked its business model to generate additional revenue. Specifically, Fathom began to develop non-academic courses in collaboration with organizations as
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in late 1998 to help develop this plan. Over a one-year period starting in
January 1999, Crow and Kirschner quickly drew up the blueprint for Fathom, hoping to gain a
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The specific types and styles of academic courses, marketed using the institutions' brands, varied widely. Courses were text-based yet included
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activities, Fathom aimed to distinguish itself from other university-led online learning initiatives. Their plan called for a) a broad range of
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Bush, M. & Mott, J. "The
Transformation of Learning Technology: Learner-Centricity, Content and Tool Malleability, and Network Effects".
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encyclopedia, they also saw Fathom as a proactive defense against losing valuable faculty members to other online education projects.
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scholars Bush and Mott cite Fathom as an example of a handful of "very thoughtful educational technology 'solutions,'" including the
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Although Fathom offered many free seminars, some courses cost over $ 500 and offered credit toward a degree. For example,
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reported an "Introduction to
Macroeconomics" course from the University of Washington cost $ 670.
456:"Fathom This: Academic and Cultural Institutions Partner To Create Interactive Knowledge Company"
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as a strategic tool for extending higher education's reach to the public. The university hired
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129:. Failing to turn a profit despite a 2002 business plan change, Fathom closed in early 2003.
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Unlocking the Gates: How and Why
Leading Universities Are Opening Up Access to Their Courses
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735:"Columbia and Five Other Institutions Create Premier Knowledge Web Site, Fathom.com"
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Four World-Renowned
Educational, Research, and Cultural Institutions Join Fathom
402:. Division of Corporations, State Records and UCC. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
109:, that opened to the public in late 2000. Partners in the venture included the
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36:
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725:"After Losing Millions, Columbia U. Will Close Online-Learning Venture"
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In the late 1990s, Columbia University, led by executive vice provost
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741:, vol. 25, no. 19, April 7, 2000. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
714:"Columbia's Internet Concern Will Soon Go Out of Business"
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389:. Division of Corporations. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
326:. Fathom also expanded its focus from degree programs to
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on November 13, 2002. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
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on November 13, 2002. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
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Search the Corporation and Business Entity Database
298:documents, animations, interactive graphics, audio
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549:on January 23, 2003. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
532:on January 23, 2003. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
526:Fathom Poised to Redefine Scope of Online Learning
731:, January 17, 2003. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
665:, January 13, 2003. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
720:, January 7, 2003. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
620:on November 13, 2002. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
614:Seven Premier Online Course Partners Join Fathom
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224:London School of Economics and Political Science
178:As an Internet hub of educational resources and
111:London School of Economics and Political Science
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462:, April 10, 2000. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
165:Crow and Kirschner conceived Fathom.com as an
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8:
704:, vol. 49, no. 2, p. 3-20, March–April 2009.
648:, May 2, 2002. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
226:was Columbia's initial partner, followed by
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785:2003 disestablishments in New York (state)
215:, Fathom could compete for highly skilled
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15:
659:"Columbia University to Close Fathom.com"
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616:. September 12, 2000. Archived from the
603:on May 24, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
92:Closed March 31, 2003; currently offline
775:Internet properties established in 2000
770:Education companies established in 2000
579:. November 15, 2000. Archived from the
577:The University of Michigan Joins Fathom
362:
291:, to sell courses through its website.
597:Fathom: The Source for Online Learning
351:University of Illinois's Global Campus
562:. October 3, 2000. Archived from the
419:. Columbia University. Archived from
270:). The final member institution, the
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780:2000 establishments in New York City
748:. Princeton University Press, 2011.
545:. August 9, 2000. Archived from the
398:New York State Department of State.
256:Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
125:, and the Smithsonian Institution's
528:. April 3, 2000. Archived from the
141:, sought a way to use the emerging
236:National Museum of Natural History
127:National Museum of Natural History
14:
234:, the Smithsonian Institution's
702:Educational Technology Magazine
380:General Information Name Search
105:portal project, spearheaded by
378:Delaware Department of State.
1:
800:American educational websites
729:Chronicle of Higher Education
643:Lessons Learned At Dot-Com U.
560:Three Top Museums Join Fathom
258:) and three UK museums (the
153:over potential competitors.
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739:Columbia University Record
612:Fathom Knowledge Network.
595:Fathom Knowledge Network.
575:Fathom Knowledge Network.
558:Fathom Knowledge Network.
541:Fathom Knowledge Network.
524:Fathom Knowledge Network.
268:Victoria and Albert Museum
228:Cambridge University Press
123:Cambridge University Press
413:"Fathom Has Preview Site"
167:online learning community
21:
385:January 6, 2010, at the
320:MasterCard International
289:University of Washington
663:Information Today, Inc.
460:Information Today, Inc.
248:American Film Institute
240:New York Public Library
119:New York Public Library
680:Times Higher Education
347:Educational technology
272:University of Michigan
260:Natural History Museum
192:collaborative learning
76:; 23 years ago
74:November 15, 2000
285:University of Florida
244:University of Chicago
151:first-mover advantage
599:. Archived from the
332:continuing education
197:MIT's OpenCourseWare
180:interactive learning
790:Columbia University
676:Bilitzing the Glitz
107:Columbia University
89:Current status
47:Columbia University
18:
718:The New York Times
646:The New York Times
328:corporate training
312:The New York Times
754:978-0-691-14874-8
629:Walsh, pp. 31–32.
492:Walsh, pp. 30–31.
369:Walsh, pp. 24–25.
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300:slide shows
764:Categories
744:Walsh, T.
357:References
266:, and the
254:, and the
238:, and the
213:consortium
184:multimedia
81:2000-11-15
63:Commercial
57:fathom.com
657:Hane, P.
454:Hane, P.
618:original
601:original
581:original
564:original
547:original
530:original
383:Archived
287:and the
71:Launched
172:Encarta
101:was an
79: (
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338:Demise
302:, and
262:, the
250:, the
246:, the
230:, the
188:forums
161:Vision
117:, the
113:, the
99:Fathom
17:Fathom
43:Owner
750:ISBN
330:and
324:AARP
322:and
222:The
66:Yes
53:URL
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634:^
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83:)
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