Client updating their own content w/o training dept.

Hi, Nicole:

I would say option 1 would be the best bet for everyone: they get their quiz updated, and you do not end up with a headache that might force you to work for free.  I'm all for knowledge transfer, but using an application like Captivate is like playing tennis: if you only do it once a year, you're not going to be very good at it.  I think option 2 means you'll be getting calls from a frustrated client once a year.

I would get to the bottom of why exactly the client wants to do this themselves.  Is it cost? Convenience? Finding that out might yield other options.

Brian

Thanks for your reply Brian.

They want to update the course for themselves due to cost/not wanting to rely on another company for maintenance and updates. Another thing that might be influencing this is that we are currently developing a CMS (content management system) website for the same company using Drupal. I think the client is under the impression that since they can update their own website, shouldn't they be able to update their own eLearning?

I think it's the usual case of client needing education on how things are done.

People have very little knowledge of how eLearning works if they've never been exposed to it.

Usually it's a cost thing. Present both options with Pro's and Cons and let them decide. If they go for option 2, they'll contact you after a year

I think this is something the we will need to get used to, with products like Studio and Storyline maturing into easy to use powerful tools, elearning is no longer rocket science.  Organisations will want to produce and update their own content and this is becoming easier by the day.

I am not saying there is not a need for instructional designers, but as the i ndustry is changing, already companies like Kineo produce templates for Health and Safety courses, that can be rebadged very quickly.

Nicole,

There might be an option 3 you might want to consider.

Moodle has a built in quiz engine with a way to manage a question bank, and allowing to easily edit or add question to categories, quizzes. User interface is pretty friendly, and no technical knowledge is required. It allows for automated grading, feedback, etc.

It is less visually appealing than Captivate but is quite powerful and flexible with many options.

Data and grades are stored within the Moodle LMS and not in SCORM format.

You would have to seperate the quiz part from the e-learning course for that option.

This might be the right solution for your client.

See here for more data regarding Moodle quiz:

http://docs.moodle.org/20/en/Quiz_module

I will gladly answer more question regrading Moodle.

Regards,

Amir

And if all they're doing is questions, let's not ignore the obvious: Articulate Quizmaker is powerful, has an easy-to-master interface, and plenty of tutorials available if they forget what they're doing.

While I like a variety of tools for a variety of jobs, Captivate for quizzes alone seems to me sort of like using a sledgehammer as the only hammer to build a house. It could be done, but not easily. And FWIW, I have manually someone converting 180 quizzes right now. I really looked at my options and wound up choosing Articulate Quizmaker.

Thanks for all your responses!! Very helpful ideas.