mark tomlinson ac&s ltd

Mark TomlinsonMark TomlinsonAC&S LtdAC&S Ltd

IntroductionIntroductionPresenter: Mark TomlinsonCompany: Aerospace Consulting & Services LtdURL: http://www.acns-group.com

Authorware since V2Previously Authorware ACE then eLearning ACE

Subject: Xerte (eLearning Development Tool)

www.acns-group.comwww.acns-group.com

http://www.acns-group.com/

OverviewOverview

1. What is Xerte?2. Xerte History3. Xerte Facts4. The Xerte suite5. Fundamental Technical Features6. Page Icons7. Xerte Template Wizard8. Xerte Online Toolkits9. Xpert Repository10. Authorware -> Conversion Tool


1. What is Xerte?1. What is Xerte?

Xml

Engine

Run

Time

Editor

“A suite of open source rapid eLearning tools”


2. Xerte History2. Xerte History

• Created by Julian Tenney of Nottingham University

• First released in 2006 BETA – Development from abt 2003

• Released as an open source product in 2008


3. Xerte Facts3. Xerte Facts

• Created in the search for a tool after Authorware but a faster and cleaner solution than flash.

• Accessibility ‘built in’ from the start

• Originally one standalone tool

• Now evolved into a suite of rapid eLearning tools


4. The Xerte Suite4. The Xerte Suite

• Xerte Standalone v2.6

• Xerte Template Wizard v2.6

• Xerte Online Toolkits v1.5

• Xpert (New Release)


5. Fundamental Technical Features5. Fundamental Technical Features

Standalone Interface• Built in Flash• Hosted in Zinc framework


• Easy to use tree and icon structure…



• Built in Action Script 2.0 and content publishes to the Flash Player and Xerte standalone desktop player.

• Xerte natively packages to SCORM 1.2 & 2004 from a menu button.

• All lesson content is stored in an XML file.– Reuse later (Silverlight??)



6. Types of Page Icons6. Types of Page Icons• Graphic• Text• Draw• Sound• Movie• Interaction• Framework• Decision• Component• Script


6. Graphic Icon6. Graphic Icon

• Graphic• Text• Draw• Sound• Movie• Interaction• Framework• Decision• Component• Script

Supports:• GIF, JPG, PNG, BMP• On-screen positioning & re-sizing• All other AS2 functions for graphics


6. Text Icon6. Text Icon


Supports:• CSS Style Sheets• HTML


6. Draw Icon6. Draw Icon



• Many more options compared to Authorware• ‘Vector’ Format

6. Sound Icon6. Sound Icon


MP3 & Sound Synchronisation


6. Movie Icon6. Movie Icon


FLV & Movie Synchronisation


6. Interaction Icon6. Interaction Icon


Types of interaction:

• Button• Radio Button• CheckBox • ComboBox • HotObject • HotSpot • TextEntry • TargetArea • TimeLimit • TriesLimit • Events.


6. Framework Icon6. Framework Icon



Includes Entry Pane

6. Decision Icon6. Decision Icon


“A Decision icon allows you to control the sequencing of content and present a series of pages to the user in a number of different ways.”


6. Component Icon6. Component Icon


• SWF files that have been designed to work with a Xerte piece

• Create your own in flash with the components template


6. Script Icon6. Script Icon


• Action Script 1.0 (ish)• Code auto-completion • Quick-key pop-up list for functions


7. Xerte Template Wizard7. Xerte Template Wizard

• Part of the Xerte standalone development tool

• An effective solution for non-developers to create content rich eLearning

• Based on a customisable template system

• All content stored in separate XML file



Interface



Directory Structure for Xerte Template Wizard


7. Wizard Demo7. Wizard Demo


C:\Users\ACNS\Desktop\Xerte Presentation\Page_Types\learningobject.rlt

• During 2008, after development of Xerte templates and Wizard interface, work began on an online authoring solution

• September 2008 beta release of Xerte Online Toolkits

• April 2009 Version 1.0 released• September 2009 Version 1.5 released

8. Xerte Online Toolkits - History8. Xerte Online Toolkits - History


• A web browser based eLearning authoring suite

• A tool suite for non-technical authors

• A tool suite for collaboration and sharing

• Repurposing and reuse of content

8. Xerte Online Toolkits - Purpose8. Xerte Online Toolkits - Purpose


8. Xerte Online Toolkits – Manager8. Xerte Online Toolkits – Manager

• Choose from a list of existing templates

• Templates can be created in Xerte standalone to be added to the Xerte Toolkits list

• Create, edit and publish projects and lessons



8. Xerte Online Toolkits – Manager8. Xerte Online Toolkits – Manager

8. Xerte Onlnie Toolkits – Authoring8. Xerte Onlnie Toolkits – Authoring

• Non-technical content creation

• Styles and options dictated by template

• Can be accessible to other users for collaborative authoring/review


8. Xerte Online Toolkits – Authoring8. Xerte Online Toolkits – Authoring


9. Authorware -> Xerte 9. Authorware -> Xerte

• Is it possible to convert existing Authorware content to Xerte?

• Yes!

• Dave Burnett’s Authorware -> Xerte converter


Dave BurnettDave Burnett

• 1969-1974 OSSHGD (SCIENCE AND TECH)

• 1977-1980 CARLETON UNIVERSITY (POLI SCI)

• 1993-1994 C. N. E. (NETWARE ENGINEER)

• 2002 & 2003 Career Education Corporation – Dedication to Student Service Award.


Dave BurnettDave Burnett

Introduced to Authorware in 1995, and used to produce CBT for the colleges Open Learning Center.

Became addicted to Authorware, spending the next 14 years producing both CD and web delivered programs such as:

- Conference pre-training modules for Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations.

- Safety training materials for British Nuclear U.K.

- Course delivery engine for American InterContinental University, a totally online, fully accredited U.S based university. - Software simulation training for CampusVue, one of the most popular Student Management systems used in colleges and universities.


Short Video Example

The future?The future?

• Xerte 3.0 (alpha release now)• Flex framework• AS3

Get Xerte!Get Xerte!

• Download @ http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/xerte/

• Join the mailing list:http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte(or select “Community” on the Xerte website)

• Wiki @ http://wiki.xerte.net


http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/xerte/



http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte

http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte

QuestionsQuestions

Any questions?


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