An Introduction to Rapid E-Learning Authoring Tools :An Introduction to Rapid E-Learning Authoring Tools Presented By: Michael Hanley Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley


Introduction :Introduction Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley Michael Hanley House rules Turn off your mobile devices please! Duration About two hours Presentation (45 minutes) Lab (75 minutes)


Objective :Objective Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley At the end of this session you will know about: Organisational uses of Rapid E-Learning tools Authoring tools used in developing multimedia-based learning content How these tools are implemented to develop content using the Rapid E-Learning methodology / approach


Agenda :Agenda Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley This presentation will cover: Context: training challenges facing organisations Rapid E-Learning (REL) and content development E-Learning authoring tools Focusing on Techsmith Camtasia Lab – creating a short learning object in Camtasia Ask questions at any time during the session!


Authoring Tools :Authoring Tools Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley


What is an authoring tool? :What is an authoring tool? Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley An authoring tool is a software application which developers use to create and package content deliverables to end users. Enables content developers to integrate digital media using: Text Images Animations Audio Video …to create content


Some Authoring Tools :Some Authoring Tools A generic term – authoring tools can include: MS PowerPoint Web editors Flash Director Content platforms Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley


Authoring Tool Workflow :Authoring Tool Workflow Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley


Camtasia Recorder Tool :Camtasia Recorder Tool Set up options to record: Features onscreen Audio voice-over Presenter Video


Camtasia UI :Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley Camtasia UI


Camtasia UI - Stage :Camtasia UI - Stage Detailed preview of individual slide Add slide notes / close captioned text Includes transport controls for the content Current time/total time display Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley


Camtasia UI - Menu :Camtasia UI - Menu Menu bar Includes all commands Icons for frequently used items © Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley


Camtasia Task List :Camtasia Task List Includes all tasks associated with the different stages of content production Adding media Editing Media Producing content Tips and Help


Camtasia UI – Clip Bin :Camtasia UI – Clip Bin Previews Captured content pane View slides in sequence Drag and drop to timeline Double click the file to preview each stage in the sequence Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley


Camtasia UI - Timeline :Camtasia UI - Timeline Layer-based (like Flash or Director) Includes Video 2 Audio Tracks Captions Chapter Markers Onscreen text and highlight boxes Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley


Lab :Lab Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley


Practical :Practical Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley Create a learning object using Camtasia Objective: develop a demonstration to instruct a learner how to format and print a document in Microsoft Word Guidelines: Your demo must contain the following elements Onscreen text Animation Interactivity Transport controls and progress bar Format The published file must be a Flash Video (FLV) file The file must play back in a browser such as IE or Mozilla


Task Breakdown :Task Breakdown Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley Capture your content Launch MS Word (your target application) and enter some text in a Word doc. Save the file. Launch Camtasia Select Task List >> Record the Screen The Camtasia Recorder and the New Recording Wizard are displayed In the New Recording Wizard, click on the Entire Screen radio button Click on Next Ensure none of the checkboxes are selected on the Recording Options screen and click on Next On the Begin Recording screen, read the information about starting and stopping recording, as well as the Hardware Acceleration advice. Click on Finish


Recording your demo :Recording your demo Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley In the Camtasia Recorder API, click on the Record button The Camtasia Recorder API is minimised If you have chosen to disable Hardware Acceleration, your screen may “fade to black” for a moment as your PC is reconfigured Recording begins – a flashing green and red Camtasia icon is displayed in your taskbar for the duration of the recording Record your demo Change the layout from Portrait to Landscape Change the paper size from A4 to US Letter Preview and “print” the document When you’re done, press F9 to end the recording The Camtasia Recorder Preview is displayed. Click on Save Name your file myDemo.camrec and save to the default Camtasia directory


Edit your content :Edit your content Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley In Camtasia, open your recording Your recording is displayed Review your screen capture Use the Timeline tools to make any edits to the content (if required) Save your demonstration as a CAMREC file Next, open Camtasia Editor


Publishing your content :Publishing your content Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley Select Produce >> Produce Video As… The Production Wizard is displayed Click on the Custom Production Settings radio button and click on Next Choose the Flash (SWF/FLV) radio button. Click on Next


Publishing your content :Publishing your content The Flash Template screen is displayed In the Appearance pane, select Template: >> One Video with TOC Set the Theme to Matte In the Size pane, choose 1024x768 in the Fit In dropdown list Click on the Flash Options button Under Video >> Format, ensure the FLV radio button is selected. Set Flash version to 8 in the dropdown list


Publishing your content :Publishing your content In the FLV pane, set The frame rate to 5 Max bitrate to 512 Bitrate Control to Variable 2-pass Video Codec to VP6 Key Frame Rate to 5 Use the slider to set Video Quality to 100%


Publishing your content :Publishing your content Now click the Audio tab Check the Encode Audio checkbox Set the Audio Format to MP3 Set Audio Attributes to 44 1000kHz, Mono, 128kBits/sec Click on Apply


Publishing your content :Publishing your content Click the Table of Contents tab This is where the markers you set on the timeline are displayed Edit your TOC text if desired Use the Move Right & Move Left buttons to format the TOC Click on OK Under Flash Templates, click on Next Click on Next again on the video options dialog box Review your options on the Markers page in the wizard


Publishing your content :Publishing your content Under Flash Templates, click on Next Click on Next again on the video options dialog box Review your options on the Markers page in the wizard There’s no need to add anything on the Video Options screen. Click on Next Under Produce Video, go to Output File >> Production Name and give your demo a name Select the file output location in the Folder text box Click on Finish The file is rendered; this may take some time Once production is complete, you may view your demo You’re Done!


Some things to try yourself :Some things to try yourself Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley Add some audio to your demo Try adding narration to your demo Try adding sound effects to give learners feedback Questions Add in a progress test half-way through the demo Add a lesson test at the end of the demo Interactivity Add in Back and Next buttons Create a hotspot to a Web-based URL Publish Options Try generating WMV version of your demo Try creating a video podcast of your demo Try creating a CD-based version of your demo


Conclusion :Conclusion Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley


Summary :Summary Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley The objective of the sessions was to introduce you to e-learning authoring tools and provide some hand-on experience creating your own learning object with Adobe Camtasia This presentation has covered: Organisational uses of Rapid E-Learning tools Authoring tools used in developing multimedia-based learning content How these tools are implemented to develop content using the Rapid e-Learning methodology / approach


Supporting Documentation :Supporting Documentation Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley Research and resources used to create this presentation: Website: Techsmith Camtasia online Article: An Introduction to Authoring Tools Article: Review: Adobe Camtasia and Techsmith Camtasia Studio Article: Rapid E-Learning: a Growing Trend Website: The E-Learning Guild Resource Library (subscription required) Text: E-Learning Tools and Technologies (Horton, W. & Horton, K. 2003, Wiley Books)


Questions? :Questions? Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley


Endo Finito! -Thank You :Endo Finito! -Thank You Copyright 2008 Michael Hanley