Training tools work plan

 Captivate Draft

Here is the PowerPoint for podcasting ... still needs some work: Exploring_Captivate.ppt

RW

Ease of Use and Other Information

From http://www.adobe.com/products/captivate/productinfo/faq/  and

http://www.adobe.com/products/captivate/productinfo/features/

• Create simulations, software demonstrations, scenario-based training, and quizzes
• Automatically generates interactive Adobe Flash Player compatible content
• Automatic screen capture with smart full-motion recording
• Software simulations with multiple learning modes in a single recording session, including a demonstration of the procedure, a simulation for practicing the steps, and an assessment.
• In demo mode, Adobe Captivate 3 automatically adds mouse movement, text captions that describe onscreen actions, and highlight boxes.
• Simulation mode creates a project with scored interactions and instructional feedback.
• Automatically rerecord entire procedures in most web applications after the user interface has been modified or localized.
• AutoText Captions feature to automatically create captions that contain text describing your actions.
• Access and reuse media objects that are already part of the project.
• Record audio narration and capture screen motion simultaneously. Synchronize audio easily with slides and timed objects.
• Import Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT) projects or only selected slides. Adobe Captivate converts PowerPoint slides into SWF files while retaining the animation effects.
• Other features include:
  • Multimode recording for software simulations;
  • question randomizing, question pooling, and answer shuffling for quizzes;
  • hover objects and animated slide transitions for engaging content;
  • XML file export and import;
  • support for Microsoft PowerPoint slide animations;
  • new question types, including sequencing and image hot spots;
  • multipurposing of existing quiz slides;
  • Microsoft® Windows Vista™ and Office 2007 support;
  • a real-time recording mode for quick-and-dirty demos,
  • audio recording with preview,
  • improved learning management system (LMS) integration,
  • reduced SWF file size
• Only a standard web browser with Flash Player 7 or later is required to view Adobe Captivate content.
• Can also export content directly to Macromedia® Flash 8 or Adobe Flash CS3 Professional software for advanced editing or scripting
• Can import SWF, FLA, and FLV files into any Adobe Captivate 3 project to enhance the content.
• Integration with Adobe Acrobat Connect Professional software, enabling authors to add a layer of interactivity to Adobe Presenter presentations and Acrobat Connect Professional online meetings to improve training effectiveness.
• Can track and manage courses, learners, and scoring data by publishing Adobe Captivate 3 files directly to Adobe Connect Enterprise Server.
• Can import content from a variety of formats, including SWF, FLA, FLV with metatags, MP3, and image file types (such as GIF, JPG, PNG, BMP, ICO, EMF, WMF, and POT).
• Integration with Acrobat Connect Professional means users can add interactivity as well as quizzing to Adobe Presenter presentations or live meetings and publish directly to Adobe Connect Enterprise Server
• SWF files generated by Adobe Captivate 3 can be used with other tools that support the insertion of SWF files, such as Adobe Acrobat or Dreamweaver® software.
• Runs on Windows Vista. It also runs on Microsoft Windows® 2000 with Service Pack 4 and Windows XP with Service Pack 2.
• Currently only available for the Windows platform, Macintosh users can view Adobe Captivate 3 content on their Mac OS X systems using a standard web browser and Flash Player 7 or later.
• System requirements: http://www.adobe.com/products/captivate/productinfo/systemreqs/

Accessibility

From http://www.adobe.com/resources/accessibility/tools/vpat/captivate_3_508.html

Voluntary Product Accessibility Template - Summary view of the Section 508 Standards

Summary:  Different accessibility issues related to authoring and output.  Limited control through keyboard related to workflow in authoring and movement of playhead/question response in output.  Focus is an issue concerning radio buttons and checkboxes in quizzes.  In authoring, non-text elements in interface do not convey sufficient information and lack information needed for screen readers.  Lose information defined in PowerPoint to aid in screen readers use and some slide playback controls do not convey.  Font and font color in flash does not convey.  Content does not respond to user changes in color and contrast.  Some controls in authoring to create electronic forms do not convey with screen readers.

508 Criteria not met/exceptions:

• (a) When software is designed to run on a system that has a keyboard, product functions shall be executable from a keyboard where the function itself or the result of performing a function can be discerned textually. (a) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user vision shall be provided, or support for Assistive Technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired shall be provided. Authoring: Not all workflows support keyboard access. Output: Movement of the playhead and responding to “sequence” question types is not possible from the keyboard
• (c) A well-defined on-screen indication of the current focus shall be provided that moves among interactive interface elements as the input focus changes. The focus shall be programmatically exposed so that Assistive Technology can track focus and focus changes. Output: Quiz question radio buttons and checkboxes do not have a well-defined focus, although focus is programmatically exposed.
• (d) Sufficient information about a user interface element including the identity, operation and state of the element shall be available to Assistive Technology. When an image represents a program element, the information conveyed by the image must also be available in text. Authoring: non-text elements added to the slide in the authoring interface do not convey sufficient information. Some key user interface controls lack information that is needed for screen reader use of Adobe Captivate 3. Output: Equivalents defined in Microsoft PowerPoint are not used when slides are imported into Captivate, and some elements within slides such as FLV playback controls do not convey name or state accurately.
• (f) Textual information shall be provided through operating system functions for displaying text. The minimum information that shall be made available is text content, text input caret location, and text attributes. Output: Flash based content does not convey text attributes such as font and font color.
• (g) Applications shall not override user selected contrast and color selections and other individual display attributes. Output: Content does not respond to user-selected changes in color and contrast.
• (h) When animation is displayed, the information shall be displayable in at least one non-animated presentation mode at the option of the user. Output: Authors can provide information in a non-animated form.
• (l) When electronic forms are used, the form shall allow people using Assistive Technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues. Authoring: Some controls within the Adobe Captivate UI do not provide sufficient information for completion by screen reader users.
• (b) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require visual acuity greater than 20/70 shall be provided in audio and enlarged print output working together or independently, or support for Assistive Technology used by people who are visually impaired shall be provided. Authoring: Supports with exceptions Output: Supports with exceptions

(from Adobe Captivate)

http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/captivate/overview.html

http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/captivate/faq.html

http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/captivate/best_practices.html

Note: Adding descriptions to movies or individual slides appears to be easy, but a ton of work is required to add captioning to a Captivate file.

Demos from Captivate: 

Adding description to a movie: http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/captivate/moviedescv05_demo.html

Adding description to individual slide: http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/captivate/slide-desc-2_demo.html

Adding closed captions to movie: http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/captivate/Adobe_Captivate_cc_tutorial_demo.html

Captivate Course

Instructor Contact

Wanda Mally

Email: wmally@gmu.edu

Notes from Fall

Adobe Captivate 3 software is an easy-to-use, flexible eLearning authoring tool that enables anyone to rapidly create powerful and engaging simulations, software demonstrations, scenario-based training, and quizzes without programming or multimedia skills. Adobe Captivate 3 automatically generates interactive Adobe Flash Player compatible content without requiring users to learn the Flash authoring tool.

Product features

• Automatic screen capture with smart full-motion recording: Record all of your actions while using an application, including mouse movements and keyboard activity.
• Multi- or single-mode recording for screen capture : Save time and generate robust software simulations with multiple learning modes in a single recording session, including a demonstration of the procedure, a simulation for practicing the steps, and an assessment. Or choose between demo and simulation recording modes.
• Automatic rerecording of web applications
• AutoText Captions: it canautomatically create captions that contain text describing your actions.
• Audio recording with preview: Record audio narration and capture screen motion simultaneously.
• Storyboard view:  
• Project templates : It has background, caption styles, playback controls, and other preferences.
• Microsoft PowerPoint import
• Add interactivity and quizzing without programming knowledge.

Demo

Captivate ( from Adobe captivate)