Introduction to Web Based Training Tools	Search BWA Web Pages

Notes from BWA Meeting, May 2002

Presenters:

Jerry B. Day, widely recognized as a Web-Based Training (WBT) expert whose book on this subject will soon be published.

Mitzi Forbes, Education Multimedia Specialist for the Colorado State Forest Service who has most recently been working on touch-screen applications for WBT.

Writing for Web Based Training (WBT)

Jerry defined WBT as any training delivered via the Internet. For this reason, WBT is sometimes called Internet-Based Training. WBT is sometimes confused with Computer-Based Training (CBT), which uses CD-ROMs and other digital storage media, but the defining element in WBT is the Internet as method of delivery. He also noted that WBT is not e-reading (e.g., oneline manuals and technical documents) nor is it conventional classes converted to HTML and put on-line. He went on to note that while general technical writing includes producing manuals and on-line help, WBT is fully interactive and allows assessment and evaluation of the user.

When writing for WBT, Jerry emphasized five important things to keep in mind:

• use of interactive design
• use of examples to illustrate concepts and principles
• differentiation between "must know" and "nice to know" content
• linking difficult words and concepts to reference sources
• providing a mechanism for evaluation
  

An important concept in WBT is Instructional Systems Development (ISD),which provides a roadmap for effective training and learning. It is a systems approach to analyzing, designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating the instructional tool. These elements are not linear, but are interlinked throughout the process of creating WBT.

Analysis determines:

• If the problem can be solved through employee training (or if the problem is inherent in the product itself)
• The goals and objectives of the training
• Who is to be trained
• The available resources
• What the training should accomplish
  

Design includes:

• Preparation of instructional objectives
• Development of instruction methods and tasks
• Development of the sequence and structure of the course
• Evaluation method of techniques and tasks
  

Development requires:

• Appropriate materials
• Beta testing
  

Implementation means:

• Deployment
• Consideration of a learning management system (LMS) or learning content management system (LCMS)
• Evaluation

A learning management system (LMS) is software that administers the training process of the course training: log-in, student progress tracking, etc. A learning content management system (LCMS) is a combination of an LMS and a search engine that allows a search of the Website to develop specific content training. With an LCMS, content is re-usable and is not bound to a template nor stored in a central database repository. In addition, the content can be represented or stored as XML.

Evaluation is very important in WBT, and Jerry spoke of five levels of evaluation:

1. Measure learner reaction (course evaluations)
2. Measure learning: tests, quizzes
3. Measure application: how well the trainee can apply learning on the job
4. Measure business impact: did the money spent by the company for training result in higher quality, lower costs, greater output, greater job satisfaction
5. Measure Return on Investment (ROI): similar to business impact, but places a dollar value on the results. (The ROI measure is one that Jerry emphasized as very important for technical writers to determine because many writers and Web developers work in rather isolated environments and management does not always see the value of the work performed.)

In response to a question about the future of WBT, Jerry noted that some people have predicted that use of the Web for training will be greater than its use for e-mail. There are predictions that the market for WBT and course developers will quadruple in the coming years.

Jerry suggested several resources: Macromedia's Website; the American Society for Training and Developers; and Designing Web-Based Training, by Bill Horton.

WBT Authoring Tools

There are over 100 WBT authoring tools, varying widely in price and intended audience (some are intended solely for academic environments). Some are part of a LMS or LCMS and some only work with specific LMS or LCMS. In addition to tools from MacroMedia and Click2Learn of which were reviewed in the presentation, Jerry made note of several others: Trainersoft ($1,700), Designer's Edge ($2,500), WebCT ($600), Xtreme Learning ($7,500), SocratEase ($1,200), Easy CBT ($500), Blackboard 5.5 (available only to schools).

Checklist for choosing a WBT authoring tool:

• assessment and evaluation capabilities
• e-learning capabilities
• compatibility with e-learning standards
• support of templates
• page preview
• JavaScripting, DHTML, Java, ActiveX, VBScript
• link checking and de-bugging
• site management
• WYSIWYG and code views
  

The e-learning standards compatibility will ensure interoperability with LMS/LCMS and will allow re-usability of courseware, as well as management, accessibility, and durability of the course. There are three primary standards for WBT: Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM), Aviation Industry CBT Committee (AICC), and IMS Global Consortium (IMS).

Although many authoring tools say that they are compliant with standards, Jerry suggested that the only way to truly know if the tools will work as expected is to get a copy and try it out. One common problem is that the tools are supposed to be compliant, but they might not actually be compliant with different versions of the standards.

Jerry quickly reviewed Macromedia Authorware, Macromedia CourseBuilder, Macromedia Learning Site, Macromedia MX, Macromedia Flash MX Learning Interaction, and Click2Learn Toolbook. He demonstrated Authorware, CourseBuilder, and Learning Site, and Mitzi demonstrated Click2Learn.

Macromedia Authorware

Macromedia CourseBuilder

Macromedia Learning Site

Macromedia MX

MacroMedia Flash MX Learning Interaction

Click2Learn (previously Asymetrix)

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Comments? Please contact Liz Hill Last update: 4 Mar 2003