The world is changing real fast, complex information is all over the place and software technologies are developing at warp speed. All businesses are successfully implementing the use of software applications for their work to the fullest extent possible. They are willing to shell out a significant amount of money to implement software solutions, and an equal amount simultaneously on the required software training for their employees. To achieve this, companies are increasingly using eLearning.

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The traditional development process of an e-learning course needs a team of professionals that comprise Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), Content Developers, Flash and Multimedia designers and programmers. In addition, it is a long process requiring around 10-15 weeks to complete. These professionals have their own roles to play with little scope for content authors to take up a designer’s or a programmer’s job. As a result, more investment and time goes into creating an e-learning course. However, with the advent of Rapid e-Learning, things have changed.

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Software product training using authoring tools like Captivate or Adobe Flash is an effective mode of eLearning.

Screenshots of the software acts as a raw content for developing an online course. The learner is taught on how to use the software by creating a simulated environment. The effectiveness of learning can be enhanced by using audio. Both Captivate and Flash can impart training. Let’s see, which one is more suitable.

If the software has an intuitive interface and navigation, the learner can easily learn the software by simple demonstration using Captivate, a rapid elearning tool.

If the software is complex and has multiple users and tasks, it becomes difficult for the user to learn the software, hence Adobe Flash is recommended. Some of the examples of complex software are SAP, Call Center software, Customer portals etc.

For complex software products, the effective instructional strategy is using Watch-Try-Do (WTD) approach. The strategy is to first show the operations, and then invite the learner to try and perform the required operations with some guidance and finally, allow him/her to try the operations all by themselves. This approach provides a smooth transition in learning – from watching, to trying and finally, doing the operations.

The raw content for the complex software products will be Captivate screen, describing the flow of the software, its navigation and its uses. Based on the Captivate screens, a detailed storyboard is developed to incorporate Watch-Try-Do. Using Adobe Flash, we can create WTD simulations with ease.

For both simple and complex software products, Captivate plays an important role in developing eLearning content. It helps to record screens and navigational flow of the product effectively. It also integrates audio and offers a customized interface for the learner to navigate and explore the simulation.

Share your views on using Flash and Captivate software for imparting product training.

One of our Fortune client based in USA raised an issue regarding compatibility of AICC courses on their LMS. The courses were published using Captivate Authoring tool. The client proposed CommLab to fix this issue in the courses. Nearly 100 courses were in queue and the client was not able to launch them because of this issue.

When we took up this assignment, we were a little confused on where to start our research and how to solve this issue. On the other hand it was a very challenging task because we have to work on the coding of an authoring tool to make the courses function properly on the LMS. Earlier, we had the experience of working on coding side of another authoring tool. It was proprietary tool and the courses published by the tool ran on a particular portal. It was really a tough time to work on that tool.

To solve the Captivate issue; we planned a strategy which consists of three stages:

1. We will search for the solution in search engines with similar issues
2. We will go through the coding of Captivate course and try to fix the issue
3. We will implement our own AICC wrapper in-between the coding generated by Captivate

In our first stage, we were able to find out some information regarding AICC compatibility issue with regards to Captivate. Then in the second stage we went through the coding of the course to understand the flow of AICC and we could successfully figure out the reason for this issue.

The actual issue in the course was the AICC URL. The course was not able to get the correct AICC URL. Finally the courses worked fine on the Client LMS.

We worked on this assignment for around 8-10 hours and at the end of the project we were little happy and little disappointed. Happy because the project is closed successfully and disappointed because at the end, what we changed in the coding was just one line!!!

Actual code:
strURLParams = (strURLParams==unescape(strURLParams)?escape(strURLParams):strURLParams);

Modified code:
//strURLParams = (strURLParams==unescape(strURLParams)?escape(strURLParams):strURLParams);

On the other hand, I think we should really cheer for the success because even though it is only one line, the client was not able to launch their courses. And we helped the client to solve his problem and launch his courses.

Hope this article is helpful to you!

Cheers!

Syed Amjad Ali
Manager – Technology