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Welcome to our site on developing software training e-learning as simulations. We hope to improve and expand this site over the next few months. And, I hope you will send me links, suggestions, tools, etc. so we can increase its value.
- Tony Karrer (Contact)
Thanks to all of you who attended my session at the eLearningGuild. We received several great ideas out of the discussions, a few of these included:
- Try Again/Continue Buttons in Feedback
After giving the user two or three levels of feedback, rather than automatically going by the exercise or forcing the user to complete, give them two buttons: Try Again and Continue. Try Again will allow them to continue trying with that step. Continue continues to the next step.
- Location of Content
General instructional information, explanations, etc. generally is best in a fixed location.
Information that directs the user to a specific place on the screen to take an action is often best next to (and likely pointing to) the place on the screen.
- Fireworks for reducing graphic sizes (www.macromedia.com/software/fireworks)
One attendee reported that she had been successful reducing the size of screenshots using Fireworks.
I present and write on this topic frequently. If you would like to receive updates, please drop me a line and I will try my best to notify you. (Contact)
Sources for additional information:
Several of the slides were left out of the presentation. The content was the following information about tools.
Tools
One of the biggest questions everyone had at most every presentation I've done is - "What's the best tool?" Unfortunately, the answer today is that it depends. Issues to consider are:
- Playback mechanism
- HTML (Browser versions supported?)
- Flash, Applet, Plug-in, ActiveX (Firewall issues?, download?)
- Supports higher levels of simulation?
- Supports the right kinds of interactions?
- Widgets look right?
- Supports feedback?
- Special scripting?
- Integrates with other content, not just simulation?
- Integrates with LMS (AICC/SCORM - but test it too)
- Produces professional looking result
- Audio support/quality
Knowledge Quest / Expert Author
- www.kq.com
- Plug-in based
- Especially good for creating MS Windows-based simulations
- Easy to use for simple simulations
- Easy access to Windows UI widgets, such as menus, toolbars, etc.
- Does not use scripting languages as of this time, so complicated interactions are not really possible.
- Supports audio
- Small download sizes, plus the media file stream.
- Several people have reported good success using this tool (including Tony Karrer). This is a small company that is very responsive.
Productivity Center / Virtual Professor
- www.prodctr.com
- Delivery Platform: Web - HTML / CD - HTML
- Can incorporate Flash and video
- Interactions are fairly simplistic, with limited feedback options
- HTML version is limited - capture screen, put clicks on top of it
- It is more stable and easier to use than ViewletBuilder, a product with a similar paradigm.
- A little clunky and demos look unprofessional
- Only works in IE
- Has some workflow capabilities
MaxIT / DazzlerMax Delux
- www.maxit.com
- Delivery Platform: HTML or Java
- Primarily intended to create CD-ROM based or downloadable .exe
- Can create applet or HTML but it limits capabilities
- Simple to use to build screen-by-screen
- Feedback choices limited
- Has rich media content and a question wizard to make multiple choice, true/false, or fill-in questions - but this doesn't work for the Java or HTML version.
- Widgets do not behave like normal window or browser widgets - e.g. dropdown boxes do not behave like dropdown boxes. Instead they behave like pictures of dropdown boxes. This is somewhat disconcerting as one is taking the training.
Xstream Software / Rapid Builder
- www.xstreamsoftware.com
- Delivery Platform: Flash OR Plugin
- Uses a timeline / object paradigm
- Clicking on objects prompts a validation event, which leads to a new "frame" in the timeline.
- A little clunky, but once figured out, it's easy to work with
- No scripting, but there are a lot of interaction types.
- Output is SWF and various movie formats, plus its own native format, with plugins, for full functionality
- Some users have reported minor issues with the product, but have said that they are responsive about upgrading, fixing, improving.
RWD / InfoPak Simulator
- www.rwd.com
- Delivery Platform: Applet OR DHTML
- The Simulator is a software simulation tool that records the developer's actions as they work through a particular task or application. As the developer uses the application, the Simulator "watches" and records all interactions including menu selections, data entry, and mouse clicks.
- The Simulator also provides easy-to-use editing functionality that allows the developer to supplement a recording with notes or audio.
- Once complete, the simulation can be exported to a Java applet or dynamic HTML for use in eLearning, classroom training or embedded into an online help system.
- Similar to ScreenCam style
- Supports audio
Qarbon / Viewlet Builder
- www.qarbon.com
- Delivery Platform: Flash
- Viewlet builder is designed to build online demos (not really simulations)
- Paradigm is capturing screens from the application, and then using the builder to glue interactions, popup help balloons, and text on top of it.
- Product is slow and a bit clunky
- Limited interactions
- Have heard good things from several people on this product
X.HLP / X.HLP Designer
- www.xhlp.com
- Delivery Platform: Applet
- Limited error trapping with a "Do it for me" mode
- A full set of interactive widgets, such as dropdown boxes, buttons, etc.
- Successful completion of the task takes you to the next screen.
- Player is very unresponsive; taking several clicks before it takes effect.
- Like several other products, the widgets don't act like widgets, they act like pictures / hotspots.
- Printing is built in.
Other Tools
If you have experience working with one of the above tools and have input to give, I'm sure everyone would be interested. Again, please let me know:
(Contact)
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