Neither information mapping nor Docutools is for the purpose of designing a learning experience. They both are merely tools to help you take information and organize and format it in a pleasing, easy-to-use presentation, such as a user's manual. That has nothing to do with designing learning - designing user's manuals, yes - designing learning, no. I don't think ASTD meant to give you that impression. That's unfortunate if it came across like that. And user's manuals should not be confused with "training materials." A user's manual is not for the purpose of training. It's nothing more than a reference document for later use. I would say that if a trainer uses a "user's manual" created by Docutools or another such tool as "training material," then he/she has not designed a learning experience at all, but has merely created a document.

The results of your analysis and design of the learning should direct you as to what type of support materials you need. It all depends on what the learner needs. If all the learner needs is the technical information written in a better format than the maunfacturer-provided software instructions, then Docutools is a good choice for doing that. BUT - that has nothing to do with designing learning. I think that's where the confusion lies.

I encourage all instructional designers and trainers to make use of materials that already exist in the manner they were meant to be used -- as *reference* material. Bring the reference material into the classroom and have learners research the answers to their questions using the reference materials.

Doesn't anybody remember learning how to use a dictionary? I don't know about your teachers, but mine handed us dictionaries and we learned how to use a dictionary by using and having an actual dictionary.

And yes - my ultimate point was that the software you're asking about has nothing to do with designing learning.

JetLee 0
I was trained in 1998 in Information Mapping using the Formatting Solutions Pro Software. I cannot say enough good things about the training and the sofware. It is an excellent, easy to use tool for creating training manuals, job aids, user guides, etc. I use it for nearly all my communications (not just training needs)as well.
As a new user, I would suggest the Developing Business and Technical Communicaitons course as a starting point. I think it runs around $995 and can be taken as a live, 3 day course, or online over an 8 week period.

Thanks msever for your recommendation. I think I've actually decided on DocuTools, but mainly because online course from PTA can be done at your own pace rather than in a standardized 8 week cycle like the Formation Solutions trainings offered by Information Mapping Inc. Time is important to me because I really need to learn the method quickly, so that I can get to development ASAP.

I have to say that the rest of this thread was a little pedantic for my tastes. Since I'm new to all of this, I got confused at some of these non-sequitur answers to what I thought was a pretty straightforward question about information mapping software recommendations. I thought I made it clear that I've already done the "design" phase of the process and that I'm looking for a tool to help me do the actual writing of a training manual and other supporting materials for before/during/after training.

Anyway, I'll be sure to report back on my experience with DocuTools, for future readers.

Thanks again to those that posted.

I have used both but more Info Mapping. I have been using IMI for many years and really like it. I know people who use DocuTools and really like that tool as well. They are very similar. I have found that IMI software is sometimes slow on releasing new or updated versions I'm not sure if that is true of DocuTools as well.