Hello,

I’m a technical writer at a small software firm. We have several thousand users throughout the country. In addition to webhelp (Robohelp), I maintain two 400-page training manuals for two audiences; one for users and one for system administrators. Training is delivered by our field reps. My employer is looking to move to eLearning to minimize paper manuals and to improve the learner’s experience.

To this end, I am tasked with evaluating several eLearning tools and reporting back to management. I have have just downloaded a trial version of Adobe Captivate. Can anyone suggest a few other popular tools that I should consider? We need quizzing and screen capture simulations.

I also need to know how eLearning projects are distributed. We don’t want to burn and distribute cds; we would prefer for our clients to have unlimited access/unlimited downloads to the e-training from our website. If anyone knows of any distribution restrictions for the tools, please advise on that subject as well.

If you are willing to share small samples (10 MG or less) of e-learning projects that you have created using various tools, please send your samples to elearnsamples@hotmail.com. Thank you very much.

quote:

to improve the learner’s experience.

I'm confused.

It sounds like you plan to produce interactive simulations that could get users up to speed quickly on specific tasks.

If that's the case, SnagIt could help. As a tech writer you might already be familiar with it. It's grown from a simple screen-capture program to a tool that can produce Flash rollovers and video. The same company also produces Camtasia, a screen recording program. More info about both:

http://www.techsmith.com/

You also asked about tools to create quizzes. If your goal is to help learners become proficient in using your software, I'd suggest that you focus on simulations and minimize your use of quizzes. Quizzes usually test learners' acquisition of facts and not their ability to use the facts. Unfortunately, elearning authoring tools seem to emphasize quizzes, probably because they're a lot easier to produce than a simulation.

You could create a quiz-like activity with screen shots. For example, you could display a screen shot and ask the learner to click on the tool they would use to do X.

For instructional design ideas, you might check Efficiency in Learning (by Clark, Nguyen, & Sweller). Chapter 8 covers how to transition learners from worked examples to practice. Most of the examples are taken from online software training.

Cathy

I'd also recommend you take a look at Moodle
www.moodle.org.
It is an open-source learning system that provide support for course content, discusssion forums, quizzes, etc.

Captivate files can be incorporated into Moodle courses as a "flash" file. I was introduced to it about 1.5 months ago and I've been building courses for sites across the country since the first day (very easy to use).

I did not implement this but it is a web-based / database based application that can be installed on a server.

For software applications, recognize that less than 10% of what you learn during a single event (whether it's instructor-led, courseware, simulations, etc.) will be retained after 60 days. As such, quizzes are a complete waste of time unless there is some certification process you are trying to meet the requirements for. If the objective is to abandon paper manuals while improving the user's (not learner's) experience, then you need an Electronic Performance Support System (EPSS). These solutions are embedded into the application so that the user can access just what they need to know at that moment of need. EPSS solutions enable the user to resolve their issues immediately and get back to a productive state. My advice to you is to help your users get their jobs done without the pain of sitting through "courses". Everyone wins.

Hit me up if you want a look.

Sean Reyes
s.reyes@learningguide.us