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This is a capture of AuthoLearn's integrated SCO test environment, where the author tests the SCO published. The screen consists of two parts. In the main part, the learning object/SCO runs and interacts in the same way as for a learner, while in the lower part the author can view a "debug" view of all interactions between the SCO and the LMS (real LMS is not required).
 Overview of AuthoLearn
AuthoLearn is a Web-based platform for content developers focused on authoring, publishing, and packaging of e-Learning/training material. It is utilized directly by content authors and subject matter experts (SME). The author’s privacy is kept as well as the option to share selected content, templates, styles, and resources (e.g., graphics and media files) among content developers.
AuthoLearn provides a Web server-based authoring environment that multiple content developers access simultaneously using their browser only (no installation). The user interface is entirely visual WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get).
AuthoLearn is primary used for creating of online and offline courses including:
· Presentations and documents (native or converted to e-Learning)
· Tests and assessments
· Multimedia
· Animations
· Instructional games
· Software and role-play simulations and scenarios
Content development with AuthoLearn is best suited for subject matter experts and learning/training professionals who are not required to have programming or Web design skills and experience. Still, power users with some programming and Web experience, can take advantage on AuthoLearn’s structured groupware environment, rapid developments and advanced simulation and scenario generation.
Using AuthoLearn, the content developer can:
· Produce rapidly high quality content/learning objects using tools enabling integration of text, graphics, multimedia, documents and built-in internal editing of rich text and vector graphics (including 2D/3D).
· Define and set behavior and assessment properties of interactive tasks like free/open questions, multiple choice, drag & drop, hotspots and other variations interactive objects.
· Set the system feedback to the learner - The interactive objects have a unique feedback mechanism which can be tuned to the nuances of the learner's answering method and provides several levels of optional editable indicators.
· Easily define a glossary/help for his content object and to create links from a text to search the glossary/help for a term or subject.
· Generate Scenarios and Simulations - AuthoLearn includes a powerful simulation/scenario generator with which the author can set time based and/or events based scenario or a simulation of software, machine, device or a process.
The content produced is fully SCORM 1.2-conformant (+ internal sequencing according to SCORM 2004/1.3) and can be plugged into any SCORM-conformant LMS/LCMS, or can be consumed in a stand-alone mode (from a Web server, intranet, HD, LAN, or CD/DVD).
AuthoLearn technology for content development uses light-ware components and objects, which are stored on a server side repository and are transferred to the client side in run time for management and processing using the client’s Internet browser, while changes are transferred back to the server for storing. This technological approach is taken in order to minimize the load on bandwidth and the server side and take advantage on the processing power of the client machine.
The technology (on the server side) is currently based on Microsoft and Oracle layered products, using tools and environments like IIS, ASP, MS SQL Server or Oracle database, XML, DOM, DHTML, JavaScript, DotNet and C#.
Using AuthoLearn
The Learning Curve
AuthoLearn user interface is entirely visual WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) and intuitive. After one day of training, users can create basic content including tasks like:
· Manipulate the content structure (add, delete, copy, etc.)
· Edit pages using various objects types
· Set, Edit and tune interactive objects' properties
· Create some basic scenarios using the wizard/graphical interface
· Publish a content structure as an SCO (Sharable Content Object) with default metadata
After 1 – 2 weeks of experience with AuthoLearn, content authors will be able to master advanced features like:
· Use the built-in vector graphics (VML) editor (including controls of 2D/3D)
· Use advanced features and scripting of the simulation/scenario generator
· Use complex conditions of the feedback editor in order to set context sensitive and precise feedback to learner interactions
· Edit the default values of metadata/LOM of SCO and package components
· Create packages, packages structure, and integrate local and foreign SCO/packages in the packaging module
· Set complex internal navigation/sequencing modes, conditions, rules, limits and rollups (according to SCORM 2004/1.3)
Components of AuthoLearn
Authoring and publishing module: This module includes the activities for the creation and maintenance of content. It supports individual and/or group work of content developers. The author, using an intuitive Windows like Graphical User Interface, has flexibility in the mode and order of work. He or she can start from creating the outline structure (subjects, chapters, etc.) and then go into the editing of content/tasks pages, or start from the content editing and organize the structure later. AuthoLearn does not dictate a specific order and enables mixture of these two methods. Any content level can be published as a Learning/Content object (SCO) - the output is a standard SCORM package. An SCO from a SCORM package can also be imported for further authoring.
Navigation/sequencing module: This module enables the author to create, among and within content components, simple or complex navigation logic and work order with the ability to link them to the learner's performance. In this module, the author can also modify the default relative weight of content structure components. The module adopts the SCORM Sequencing and Navigation 1.3 specification of SCORM 2004.
Packaging module: This module handles the learning objects/SCOs after they are published. The author can create SCORM 1.2 standard packages, define organizations and aggregations, and add AuthoLearn's and/or foreign SCOs to the aggregation's items. The packaging module includes test/debugging of a SCO/aggregation. In this environment, the author activates and interacts with the content exactly as a learner, with the addition of a window to check the detailed run-time interaction between an LMS and the content (AuthoLearn simulates LMS interactions).
Learner performance repository (added in 2005): This is a new optional module that extends the authoring tool in order to enable some basic LMS capabilities and creates a learning environment. Learner performance would be updated online in a data warehouse. Several basic reports are pre-defined and external reporting/data mining/business intelligence tools would be able to be used as well. The learning environment enables allocation of learning objects/units according to organization, department, job title and learner.
Description of typical authoring process
1. The author logs into the system using an Internet browser.
2. In the workspace, the developer can activate three modules - authoring, navigation, and packaging.
3. If authoring is selected, the author, using a visual Graphical User Interface, can start from creating the outline structure and then go into the editing of content/tasks pages or start from the content editing and organize the structure later. AuthoLearn does not dictate a specific order and enables working in a mixture of these two methods.
4. Author creates the content structure using AuthoLearn's content tree manipulation functions (new, copy/cut and paste, shortcut, etc.).
5. Author edits pages using a visual graphical interface, and then places the object on the page layout. The objects on the page can be "passive" - like text, images, multimedia, URL frames, documents, or "interactive" objects - like open question, multiple choice, drag & drop, hotspots. The Author sets and tunes the properties of the objects - including feedbacks, assessments and weights for the interactive objects. Some tools like alignment, grouping, copy and apply size, objects’ duplication, preview and other assist him in editing tasks. The author controls the page size and position. For the passive objects he can use the resources library from the server or upload, to this resources library, new files. He can also use internal tools to create and edit rich text and to create advanced graphical object (including 3D/2D) using a Vector Graphics (VML) editor. A predefined style can be used in a page and the author can also define and save a new style. Simulation/Scenario objects can be added to the page in order to control the presentation of the page according to timers and events (onstart, mouse click, mouseover, mouseout, key press, input text, etc.). The presentation control includes clear, draw, play, stop motion of objects and other methods.
6. Author provides weights to interactive components and to content structures.
7. Author sets the navigation options (default navigation is applied otherwise), including sequencing modes, conditions and rules, limits and rollup rules - according to SCORM Sequencing 1/3 (2004).
8. Author publishes the content structure.
9. Author edits the SCO metadata.
10. Author selects publishing options (private/public, full screen, with/without navigation bar).
11. After publishing is done, the SCO appears in the packaging window. It is already packaged as a SCORM package.
12. The author has the option to create a package by integrating the SCO with other packages and to define/change the structure and the metadata.
13. The author tests in learner mode the SCO and checks in the debugging window the SCORM run-time interactions between the LMS and the SCO.
14. The author sends the SCO to the desired destination according to the desired distribution mode (LMS, Web server, LAN/WAN, local station, CD/DVD).
An example of creating and setting a hot spot task by the author
Features and Capabilities of AuthoLearn
Store and upload of content to a Web server
In AuthoLearn, during the content development phase, the whole authored content is kept in the server side only. After publishing, the published content/learning object is created and kept on the Web server (as SCORM package), the author can send the published learning object/SCO/package from the server to any destination - including to other Web Servers.
As part of the authoring phase, the author can upload his or her own files to the shared libraries on the server, files from workstation/LAN that he or she would like to integrate in the authored content such as graphics, media, documents, HTML, presentations, and other supported types. Page styles can also be kept in the server shared libraries.
The author can also upload to these server libraries a "zipped" structure of directories and files that will be automatically "unzipped" on the server side.
Availability of collaborative authoring
During content development, only the author can access his/her own content, objects, templates and resources - unless full or read-only access is provided to others - in order to enable collaborative authoring. The administrator can also defined some content, objects, styles, templates, resources and examples as read only shared for all content developers.
After the development phase, as part of the publishing and the optional packaging process, the author can select if the SCO/package is private (no one else can view/import/package) or public. A public SCO can be imported by any author for further editing.
Navigational controls that are part of the standard interface
- Next (Forward)
- Back (Previous)
- Exit (Quit)
- Course Menu
- Glossary
- Help
- FAQ Board
The author can add controls to navigate directly to another page, to any URL, and to open/execute any application.
Ability to create sophisticated branching scenarios
AuthoLearn adopted the SCORM 1.3 (2004) standard also for internal navigation within the LO/SCO, not just externally among SCOs/aggregations of a SCORM package as the standard requires.
The navigation options include the simple and complex options of navigation mode, rules, limits, and roll-up. Due to the fact that it is an intra-SCO navigation, it is not dependant on the presence of an LMS.
In addition the simulation/scenario generation object of a page can be used for non standard navigation and to branch to any other content item according to any event, timer or conditions.
Specific formatting and design features
- WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) authoring interface
- Quick preview function without compiling the material
- Alignment tools for screen objects
- Spacing tools (automatically provides even spacing between objects, bulleted list, graphics, etc.)
- Grouping of objects for simultaneous alignment and for setting horizontal/Vertical spacing
- Features to align objects (top, bottom, left, right)
- Copy size of an object and apply it to other objects
- Grids
- Guidelines
- Pixel-precise placement of objects using coordinates
- Scaling of objects such as using handles
- Numerical scaling of objects
- Built-in, formatted, rich text (bold, underline, text color, etc)
- Uses of styles to keep look consistent in course design
- Percentage scaling of objects
- Alignment of group of objects
- Built-in vector graphics for creation of advanced graphics (including 2D/3D)
Editors built-in to this product
- System comes packaged with graphic/paint tools (Vector Graphics VML editor including 2D/3D)
- System has built-in animation tools (using the Simulation/Scenario generation)
- Built-in storyboarding tools
- Rich Text editor
- Feedback editor
- There is basic control over audio/video/Flash objects and more advanced control through the simulation/scenario generator.
Primary output format(s)
The output format is a SCORM package consists on a folder including sub-folders and files of the following types:
- HTML
- DHTML
- JavaScript
- XML
- Media and documents as/if used by the author.
The output consists of HTML, DHTML and JavaScript files, and is a standard SCO or SCORM package. The output structure is generic and can work for learners with no changes, independent of the consumption mode. The same structure works in LMS, Web server, LAN, workstation or from CD/DVD. No player or plug-in us required - the learner needs internet browser only. It is not recommended to make changes to the files "manually" or with other tools. The files structure can be imported to the AuthoLearn development environment for changes.
Rapid development features
- High level course and/or curriculum view (for organizing inter-relationship among pages or learning activities)
- Synchronize time-based media objects with objects in authoring tool (e.g., synch a bulleted list item-by-item with a sound file)
- Automatic conversion of typed hyperlinks to working links
- Built in storyboard features for creating specifications prior to authoring
- Ability to use persistent navigational controls (without having to have a copy of them on each page)
- Import utility for direct import of Microsoft Word content
- Import utility for direct import of PowerPoint content
- Authoring tool has a library for storing reusable media/graphics/documents objects
- Authors can create and save their own composite instructional design templates in a library
- Authors can copy/create shortcuts of ready/maintained content structures and integrate these shortcuts in other content structures (without copying the original structures).
Backgrounds, button sets, etc.
AuthoLearn's server resources library stores in common directories many graphics and media files, as well as several selected styles.
Authors can also save their own reusable resources and styles and share them with other authors.
Template types
One of the main purposes for having common examples is to use them as templates for creating structure items such as courses, chapters’ hierarchy, activities, and pages. A selected content structure can be copied from the common read-only area and then pasted in the author's structure for further editing of the content structure and/or the pages with their objects.
In addition page styles - including texts, graphics, backgrounds and buttons can be saved as shared resources in the Server resources library - these styles can be applied for any content item - for all its pages at once.
Built-in software simulation development tools
Consists of wizard graphical interface plus (optional for power users) a tabular object-event-state-action interface.
- Ability to add textual annotations and explanations to recorded software simulations
- Ability to add audio narrations and explanations to recorded software simulations
- Ability to create self-running "show me" software demonstrations
- Ability to create interactive "guide me" software simulations
- Ability to create interactive "try me" software simulations
- Ability to provide customized feedback when a user clicks correctly/incorrectly during a software simulation session
- Tools to create hot spot (click) interactions
- Tools to simulate data entry fields, requiring the learner to type into data fields (and judging response)
- Tools to create and simulate objects (without screen capture) such as buttons, pull-down menus, list boxes, etc.
- Ability to control and change dynamically objects' properties (size, text, xy, color, etc)
- Ability to control and change dynamically objects' methods (clear, draw, play, stop, etc)
- Tools to react on events (click, over, on page start, key press, input, etc).
- Tools to react on timers (ability to set/start multiple timers)
- Tools to set and manipulate variables and to set conditions (if..else) and react accordingly.
- Tools to create motion, animation, and dynamic resizing of objects
Instructional games
The Drag & Drop, Hotspots and the Simulation/Scenario generation objects can be used for creating simple and advanced instructional games
Role-play creation tools (to create on-screen role-play scenarios)
The Simulation/Scenario generation objects can be used created role-play scenarios.
Other engaging interaction types
The Simulation/Scenario generation objects can be used created machine device operating scenarios.
The Simulation/Scenario generation objects can be used created mockup scenarios of planned/designed software or device even if they don't exist yet and are still on the drawing table.
An example of a content which includes simulation/emulation of a computerized system (creating content tree items in AuthoLearn).
Testing and Assessments in AuthoLearn
Extent of built-in assessment capabilities
In AuthoLearn, any content structure at any level can get a relative weight for the score calculation. The default is that all siblings have equal weight.
In a page, each interactive object can get a relative weight. The default is that all interactive objects of a page have equal weight.
A score for an interactive object takes into account partial and mixed answers.
Available question types
- Multiple Choice with a single correct answer
- Multiple Choice with multiple correct answers
- True or False
- Short answer (typed response)
- In-line, fill-in-the-blank questions (type answers in mid sentence)
- Freeform essay question (graded by an instructor or keyword analysis of multi-sentence response)
- Matching question
- Sequence (sequence the order of steps in a procedure)
- Hot spot (invisible touch area on top of a graphic)
- Drag and drop (position drag objects with targets, i.e. could be used to assemble a jigsaw puzzle - more than just a drag and drop matching question)
Assessment and testing features
- Questions can be randomized in a quiz or test
- Answers to test questions (distractors) can be randomized for each question
- Test results can be automatically shown to learners at the end of a quiz
- Automatically stores performance data in flat file format
- Automatically stores performance data in a database
- Built-in learner performance reporting
- Number of attempts for test questions can be easily set
- Questions can have immediate feedback
- Questions can have delayed feedback (at the end of the exam)
- Feedback during tests can be turned on/off
- Feedback can link back to content for review
- Timed test questions
- Timed tests
- Can create dynamic pre-tests that will automatically select content based on learner performance
- Built in utility for creating surveys ("happy sheets") for assessing Level I effectiveness ("Did you like the course?")
- Questions can be combined with other content objects in the same page/unit
- Built-in option to present the correct answer/s
- Built-in option to indicate the learner's correct/incorrect answers
- Option to present to learner his answering attempts - after presenting the correct answer
- Answer level feedback (i.e. "This answer is correct")
- Question level feedback (Correct/Incorrect/Partial/Mixed)
- Relative weight can be easily set for each question and for content/exam units.
Use of third-party testing and assessment tools
If the third party produces a SCORM-conformant SCO/package, it can be packaged together with AuthoLearn content.
Data shared with LMS products
Bookmarks
Test Scores
Test Item Analysis Data
Course Structure (i.e. SCORM manifest)
Times (Start, End)
Run Time SCORM parameters and arguments
Built-in performance tracking
Learning environment and reporting module is in place as an installation option. In addition, the simulation/scenario generator can be used in order to present scores and performance data in a course page. Scores are also kept per learner/content in cookies on the client side. These scores can be presented when log-in in a special mode.
Information that is automatically tracked
Test scores
Completion status (passed, failed, not completed, etc.)
Bookmarks
Test Item analysis data (answers given for each test question)
Times (Start, End)
Performance reports available (without having to turn to an external LMS)
Performance by: learner, organization, department, job title, start time, end time, completion status, score. The report can be filtered and sorted and exported to Excel.
Extensibility features
- Ability to build complex interactions beyond the capability of built-in templates
- Includes a scripting language beyond the built-in tools
- Ability to add plug-ins or extensions to the authoring tool
- Ability to store content in a database
- Ability to store content as XML
- Ability to link to content in a database
- Ability to link to a third-party digital asset repository
- OLEDB/ODBC/JDBC connectivity
- Ability to import XML-based content
- Ability to link propriety formats (such as Interwise's VCM) and applications (including Java and EXE files). | 
