Digital Workshop

Computer Based Training programs Ive used in the past have usual question and answer sections.. But they also have the application they are training embedded somehow??? For Example, The CBT program has a copy of Excel so the user can click on menus etc... I used one the other day, and it asked questions like.. Which menu would you use to get to the options dialog? I then moved on to the Tools menu (in Excel) clicked, from the excel drop down menu I clicked the Options, the CBT told me it was Correct!!!

Can I create something similar in Opus Pro???

Hope Ive described it ok!!!!!!

Thanks

Hi Mark,

Opus doesn't do that. You can create a simulated environment by using screen captures of the program for learning which is the style of CBT I've seen and used in the past.

I'm sure the technology exists to interact with other programs but I don't think it is a one size fits all and beside the end user would either need the application in question or it would cost a load to licence the program for inclusion in the CBT material.

Regards,

Mack

I agree with Mack.

If you ran excel inside opus - how would you know when the user has done what's needed? Or what if they have the wrong version etc.
I have seen other applications where this has been done (not in opus), but simple images / screenshots would work.

Having done this for many years, what usually happens is you create screen captures of the program and then set up hot spots on those captures to go to other pages or to show/hide further captures. You simulate the environment, but you aren't in the environment. Sometimes you can get really close to a realistic feel so that learners feel they are in the program on which you are teaching.

There are some programs that can do this - Captivate is one that comes to mind. You create essentially a movie and then have hotspots throughout that movie that go to other spots in the movie or provide feedback to the learner, etc.

At a previous company we had software engineers create DLLs for us for things we couldn't simulate ourselves and so we had a high degree of fidelity in the simulated environment.

And yes, you could use Opus to do something like this. I have done it before and with all things Opus, there many different ways to accomplish what you want, you just need a plan.

Hi Guys

Thanks for the answers.. I thought you may say that!! I do screen captures but just wondered if there was an easy way...

thanks anyway.

What the Opus crowd described IS the easy way. I do a lot of applications training sims with Opus and, once you've done the first one, you do a basic screen and mouse action about every 2 minutes. Some things, like dropdown lists that highlight when the mouse moves over them, take a while to create the first time...but after that you just reuse them and change the text as required.

I do not think there is a more capable application sim tool on the market than Opus. My trainees are often completely convinced they are in the real application...except Opus runs so much faster!

Dave