New Training project

Oct 25, 2012

Hello,

The e-learning concept is really totally new for me and my team, and we're now working on a project to make our trainings more virtual, interactive, funny, available, passionate...you name it...

To make it short, we're looking for a program or software, which includes:

-quizzmaking - quizz-answering and quizz-evaluations

-the possibility to have some kind of audio/web conference during the training

-something that's easy to use

-the possibility to invite attendees who do not necessarily have the same licences as us

-screenshot possibilities

-the possibility for the attendees to review the trainings

-multilingual offers

-Customer Care support

-maintenance

-language test possibilities

-good sound quality

I don't know if all there criteria can fit into one single software-kit, but if you can guide, and even give me some advice about which one we should try in order to chose a final kit.

Thanks,

Best regards,

Ragnhild

30 Replies
Anna Sabramowicz

Hi Ragnhild,

I recommend Blackboard Collaborate. I used to use Elluminate Live Classroom (which Blackboard bought out and integrated/updated) The product is robust (basically all of the things you want to accomplish with it are possible!) It is web based so users only need to click on a link and download Java on their computer. 

I suggest checking out the demos. It is very standard to other Virtual Classrooms as far as layout, but I find has much more features for asking questions, having students submit in-session personalized quizzes, breaking out into small groups and passing around rights to use the same application ( I find this useful when I want students to demonstrate they know how to execute a task in a custom application, or want to troubleshoot a problem with me).

Here is their site: http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Collaborate/Products/Blackboard-Collaborate/Web-Conferencing.aspx

I suggest you get the free trial to really see if it fits your needs.

Take care,

Anna

Ragnhild Bekkhus

A new questions.

I've downloaded storyline, engage 09 and quizmaker for a free trial. But ofr the moment I have the impression that Articulate software packets are for LCMS only, and not for LMS.

I appreciate Articulate's userfriendly design, and I wonder if it has an LMS function. In other words, is it possible to deliver, track and manage training content with Articulate's products ? It would have been fantastic if there was a possibility to deliver the content online liek in some kind of webinar-like setting.

-Ragnhild

Ragnhild Bekkhus

Ragnhild Bekkhus said:

A new question.

I've downloaded storyline, engage 09 and quizmaker for a free trial. But ofr the moment I have the impression that Articulate software packets are for LCMS only, and not for LMS.

I appreciate Articulate's userfriendly design, and I wonder if it has an LMS function. In other words, is it possible to deliver, track and manage training content with Articulate's products ? It would have been fantastic if there was a possibility to deliver the content online liek in some kind of webinar-like setting.

-Ragnhild

Gerry Wasiluk

Ragnhild Bekkhus said:

A new questions.

I've downloaded storyline, engage 09 and quizmaker for a free trial. But ofr the moment I have the impression that Articulate software packets are for LCMS only, and not for LMS.

I appreciate Articulate's userfriendly design, and I wonder if it has an LMS function. In other words, is it possible to deliver, track and manage training content with Articulate's products ? It would have been fantastic if there was a possibility to deliver the content online liek in some kind of webinar-like setting.

-Ragnhild

The output from Articulate products are most often used with a LMS.   They are not, by themselves, a LMS or LCMS.

Articulate does offer a baby-LMS product, Articulate Online, but it only works with Articulate-produced content.

Gerry Wasiluk

Probably not since Articulate Online won't work with Adobe products.

Articulate Storyline is a stand-alone authoring tool tht installs on your PC. 

It allows you to produce e-learning content for use in a LMS, on the web, on CD, etc.  An authoring tool normally does not provide tracking abilities and the recording of results.  Sometimes, content produced from an authoring tool can also be stored in a LCMS.

A LMS, among other things, can launch and track e-learning content.  The content produced by authoring tools is most often loaded and stored in a LMS for use by learners (or accessed from a linked LCMS). 

Some LMS's do have authoring tool capabilities but usual these are primitive in comparison to tools like Storyline.  Usually people who want a systems approach to authoring sometimes opt for a LCMS.

This output from authoring tools like Storyline allows you to do tracking and reporting of results with use of a LMS.  The LMS and the authoring tool output work together to provide tracked e-learning.

Adobe Connect is a virtual classroom tool.  It can also work with a LMS to provide tracking.

Authoring tool output as e-learning and virtual classroom use can often be combined in a LMS to produce a blended learning solution.  A course can be both synchronous (live as virtual classroom) and asynchronous (taken any time as e-learning).

Help?

Ragnhild Bekkhus

Ok. I see that my basic knowledge in the e-learning world is more or less equal to zero .

Your two last sentences sum up more or less THE THING we need for our trainings.

Virtual classrooms AND asynchronous learning.

It is important for the attendees to have the possibility to REVIEW our trainings and content. It is important to keep it SECURE and changeable from a author's account.

I'm not sure if one single product can fulfill all our expectations..

Gerry Wasiluk

Well, I consider each of us is always a learner along the path of knowledge.  Sometimes we can help others by being the instructor/facilitator/knowledge sharer for a moment or two.

Not every project has to blended.  And not everything has to be e-learning.

There are times when just asynchronous (e.g., e-learning) is fine.  For example, a new product is launched and you want to give sales reps the basics of it.  E-learning is fine for that.  Or you have changes in a benefit policy you want to communicate quickly and consistently to a population.

There are times when synchronous is best, either via virtual classroom or classroom/workshop.  For example, you want to get new supervisors together to discuss and share experiences and do action learning.

There are times when blended is best.  For example, in the same class for new supervisors, you want them all to have the same prerequisite knowledge before the classroom session.  You do e-learning for the pre-work and then you have classroom.  (And if you're really wise, you have e-based performance support resources for after class--and these can be e-learning also.)

I'd suggest you start a thread on this in the "Building Better Courses" section of these forums (if it hasn't been started already).  Ask when you would do purely e-learning and when you would do blended with e-learning and live.

Should be a rich discussion.

Ragnhild Bekkhus

just one, last thing before I attack the thread. The principal of a LCMS is rather vague for me. Without trying it in the real life, it remains after all very abstract. Is Articulate's products some kind of LCMS ? If not, do i really need a LCMS to create my trainings ?

Thank you so much for your useful replies.

Gerry Wasiluk

No, you don't need a LCMS to produce content.

The primary advantage of a LCMS is usually structured, systems-approach to authoring, managing, approval, project management and storage/reuse of e-content in a central resource.

YMMV, but some might consider a LCMS a luxury.  Not sure if I remember this right but I thought I read that LCMS's were not as popular as they once were.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Right now, during the crazy time of transition from Flash-based content to HTML5, I'd probably not touch a LCMS for a while until HTML5 is approved and matures a bit more.  Again, YMMV.

Not to confuse things but some LMS's and LCMS's overlap but that's for another day.

For administering and tracking training, most folks go with a LMS and then add authoring tools for producing e-learning content.  That'd be the base of going "e."   Then I'd add integrated virtual classroom with the LMS.

Just my $0.02 worth . . .

Bob S

Hi Ragnhild,

Gerry and others have done a pretty good job explaining this,  but I recently had this conversation with a training team that still didn't quite get the whole e-learning thing either. Since it was still confusing for them, here is how I explained it...

There are three main types of "tools" for e-learning...

  • Authoring Tools - Allow you to build courses   (Examples include Articulate Storyline, Captivate, Articulate Suite '09, etc)
  • Deployment Tools - Allow you to share those courses with learners and perhaps track their usage (Often known as LMSs and/or LCMSs, examples include Articulate Online, Absorb, Saba, Taleo Learn, etc )
  • Virtual Classroom Tools - Allow a presenter to deliver a live or recorded "classroom" experience with learner participation (Examples include products like Adobe Connect)

Depending on your needs, you may only need a one or two of these. For example...

If all you want to do is deliver "webinars", then just purchase a Virtual Classroom Tool.

If you want to create a self-paced course and deploy it to learners to take, you will want an Authoring Tool and a Deployment Tool.

The confusion comes in the fact that some products try to bridge the gap between these three tools and offer a Swiss Army Knife approach. Classic example here is an LMS (Deployment Tool) that also has rudimentary Authoring tool capabilities and Virtual Classroom tool capabilities.

Hope this helps to clarify things a bit more,

Bob

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