Back| Comparison of PowerPoint to Flash converters, WYSIWYG tools, and ReadyGo WCB |
| PowerPoint to Flash converters (Articulate) | WYSIWYG Tools (Toolbook, Trainersoft …) | ReadyGo Web Course Builder | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market | |||
| Ease of use |
Very easy – one button turns your PowerPoint into a Flash presentation |
Requires extensive training. May simplify development by providing stock templates. |
Straight forward dialogs makes it simple to use. Easier than PowerPoint. |
| Speed of Development | Seconds (to convert an existing PowerPoint presentation) | Weeks | About the same as creating a PowerPoint presentation |
| Market | Presenters | Professional course developers | SME (Subject Matter Experts) |
| Tool Focus |
PowerPoint is a presentation tool. Creates flat page to page content outline. |
Tool is used to assemble multimedia elements on a page. Creates a single tiered courses consisting of daisy-chained pages. Each element displayed on a page is saved outside the HTML page and read into a specific location. |
Creates multi-tiered HTML web site (searchable, works with all browsers, and blind readers). Authors enter content into dialog boxes. |
| Student Session Duration |
Student stays on presentation 2 to 5 minutes |
Student stays on course for 25 minutes to an hour. |
Student stays on course for 25 minutes to an hour. |
| Student Feedback |
Frustrated, unhappy with flat content |
Positive feedback (Depending on the quality of material.) |
Positive feedback (Depending on the quality of material.) |
| Instructional Design; Web Design |
No |
Author must understand and create |
Built-in feature |
| Price Per Creator | $1,000 | $1,500-$3,500 | $499 |
| Overview | |||
| Course Structure |
Uses PowerPoint structure (converter has no structure) Adds page listing sidebar navigation. |
No inherent structure. Author must create structure. |
Four level course structure built-in. Including page to page navigation, drill down navigation, chapter sidebar navigation, and global course navigation. |
| Page structure |
PowerPoint pages |
No inherent structure. Author must create structure |
Page structure built into the tool. Default settings for page navigation, page numbering, title, summary, bullet points, graphics, and drill down navigation. |
| Web Viewing |
Graphic presentation. Flash automatically re-adjusts for browser size. |
HTML page with call outs to page elements. Absolute positioning of page elements. Must pre-set window size before creating course. |
Pages are all HTML. Page elements are all relative positioned. Page automatically re-adjusts for monitor resolution and browser size. |
| Navigation |
Option for automatic slide show or back and forward button between slides |
Author must design and create all navigation |
Built-in page to page, drill down, chapter, global, site navigation |
| Navigation Flexibility |
Very limited |
Navigation can be located anywhere |
Navigation can be located anywhere |
| Input Process |
PowerPoint |
WYSIWYG screen – needs to be set up before content can be entered |
Dialog box – Author enters data. Course look is a separate process. |
| Look (course skin) |
Chapter sidebar can be customized – content is PowerPoint |
High level of customization – templates are created on a page level basis |
High level of customization – Templates are created on a course level basis |
| Post Processing Capabilities |
No |
No |
Yes – All pages are standard editable HTML |
| Web search/Knowledge Management |
Presentation is a graphic, can’t be searched |
Content is not stored in HTML page. May be exported in an XML file – Search engine and KM system needs to recognize XML data types. |
Pages are all HTML. Works with all search engines and KM systems. |
| SCORM/AICC |
Limited – supports start, stop, and score |
Limited – supports start, stop, and score |
Very advanced – Supports all variables and behaviors |
| LMS Support |
One page fill in box – generic SCORM interface |
Must program start, stop, and score into course – creates generic SCORM interface |
Pull down menu – customized for over 30 LMS’s – complete integration |
| ADA – Blind Reader Compliance |
Incomplete - XML page (all course text saved on one page – No XML blind reader standard) |
Incomplete - XML page (all course text saved on one page – No XML blind reader standard) |
Full ADA compliance. ReadyGo courses have been certified by government compliance organizations to work properly with blind readers. |
| Features | |||
| Services Bar |
No |
Author must design and create page and navigation |
Built-in feature – Automatic creation |
| Chapter (side) Bar |
Yes |
Author must design and create page and navigation | Built in feature – Automatic creation |
| Course instructions |
No |
No |
Optional pre-built (customizable) course instruction page |
| Chapter Summary | No |
Author must design and create page and navigation |
Built-in feature – Automatic creation |
| Help | No |
Author must design and create page and navigation | Built-in feature – Page layout and navigation |
| Glossary | No |
Author must design and create page and navigation | Built-in feature – Page layout and navigation |
| FAQ | No |
Author must design and create page and navigation | Built-in feature – Page layout and navigation |
| Course Map | No |
Author must design and create page and navigation | Built-in feature – Page layout and navigation |
| Bookmark | No |
Author must design and create | Built-in feature |
| Drill down Pages | No |
No | Built-in feature |
| Articles | No | Author must design and create | Built-in feature |
| Tests |
One question per page – One test per course |
One question per page – One test per course |
Up to 100 questions per page – Unlimited number of survey pages |
| Surveys |
One question per page – One survey per course |
One question per page – One survey per course |
Up to 100 questions per page – Unlimited number of survey pages |
| Multimedia Support |
PowerPoint capabilities |
Full multimedia support |
Full multimedia support |
| Author Programming |
No |
No |
Every dialog accepts any web acceptable code (Java, Java script, HTML …) |
| Graphic Creation |
Through PowerPoint |
Yes |
Need ReadyGo WCB Plus |
| Translate WMF Files (Microsoft clip art) to Web Readable |
N/A – whole page is translated |
No |
Yes |
| Audio Creation |
Yes |
Yes |
Uses Windows sound recorder |
| Audio Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hyperlink Support | Within PowerPoint | Author must design and create | Built-in feature |
| Import Dreamweaver Pages | No | No | Yes – One click import including all images |
| Import PowerPoint | Already PowerPoint | No | Five ways to bring PowerPoint into WCB |