Mark Tomlinson AC&S Ltd

Introduction Presenter: Mark Tomlinson Company: Aerospace Consulting & Services Ltd URL: Authorware since V2 Previously Authorware ACE then eLearning ACE Subject: Xerte (eLearning Development Tool)

Overview 1.What is Xerte? 2.Xerte History 3.Xerte Facts 4.The Xerte suite 5.Fundamental Technical Features 6.Page Icons 7.Xerte Template Wizard 8.Xerte Online Toolkits 9.Xpert Repository 10.Authorware -> Conversion Tool

1. What is Xerte? X ml E ngine R un T ime E ditor “A suite of open source rapid eLearning tools”

2. 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

3. 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 Suite Xerte Standalone v2.6 Xerte Template Wizard v2.6 Xerte Online Toolkits v1.5 Xpert (New Release)

5. Fundamental Technical Features Standalone Interface Built in Flash Hosted in Zinc framework

Easy to use tree and icon structure… 5. Fundamental Technical Features

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??) 5. Fundamental Technical Features

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

6. 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 Icon Graphic Text Draw Sound Movie Interaction Framework Decision Component Script Supports: CSS Style Sheets HTML

6. Draw Icon Graphic Text Draw Sound Movie Interaction Framework Decision Component Script Many more options compared to Authorware ‘Vector’ Format

6. Sound Icon Graphic Text Draw Sound Movie Interaction Framework Decision Component Script MP3 & Sound Synchronisation

6. Movie Icon Graphic Text Draw Sound Movie Interaction Framework Decision Component Script FLV & Movie Synchronisation

6. Interaction Icon Graphic Text Draw Sound Movie Interaction Framework Decision Component Script Types of interaction: Button Radio Button CheckBox ComboBox HotObject HotSpot TextEntry TargetArea TimeLimit TriesLimit Events.

6. Framework Icon Graphic Text Draw Sound Movie Interaction Framework Decision Component Script Includes Entry Pane

6. Decision Icon Graphic Text Draw Sound Movie Interaction Framework Decision Component Script “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 Icon Graphic Text Draw Sound Movie Interaction Framework Decision Component Script SWF files that have been designed to work with a Xerte piece Create your own in flash with the components template

6. Script Icon Graphic Text Draw Sound Movie Interaction Framework Decision Component Script Action Script 1.0 (ish) Code auto-completion Quick-key pop-up list for functions

7. 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

7. Xerte Template Wizard Interface

7. Xerte Template Wizard Directory Structure for Xerte Template Wizard

7. Wizard Demo

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 - 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 - Purpose

8. 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 – Manager

8. 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 – Authoring

9. Authorware -> Xerte Is it possible to convert existing Authorware content to Xerte? Yes! Dave Burnett’s Authorware -> Xerte converter

Dave Burnett OSSHGD (SCIENCE AND TECH) CARLETON UNIVERSITY (POLI SCI) C. N. E. (NETWARE ENGINEER) 2002 & 2003 Career Education Corporation – Dedication to Student Service Award.

Dave 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? Xerte 3.0 (alpha release now) Flex framework AS3

Get Xerte! Join the mailing list: (or select “Community” on the Xerte website)

Questions Any questions?