Mark Tomlinson

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Mark Tomlinson ACS Ltd
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Introduction

• Presenter Mark Tomlinson
• Company Aerospace Consulting Services Ltd
• URL http//www.acns-group.com
• Authorware since V2
• Previously Authorware ACE then eLearning ACE
• Subject Xerte (eLearning Development Tool)

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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 -gt Conversion Tool

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1. What is Xerte?

• Xml
• Engine
• Run
• Time
• Editor

A suite of open source rapid eLearning tools
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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 2008

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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

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4. The Xerte Suite

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

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5. Fundamental Technical Features

• Standalone Interface
• Built in Flash
• Hosted in Zinc framework

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5. Fundamental Technical Features

• Easy to use tree and icon structure

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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??)

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6. Types of Page Icons

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

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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

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6. Text Icon

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

• Supports
• CSS Style Sheets
• HTML

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6. Draw Icon

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

• Many more options compared to Authorware
• Vector Format

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6. Sound Icon

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

MP3 Sound Synchronisation
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6. Movie Icon

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

FLV Movie Synchronisation
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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.

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6. Framework Icon

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

Includes Entry Pane
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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.
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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

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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

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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

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7. Xerte Template Wizard

Interface
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7. Xerte Template Wizard

Directory Structure for Xerte Template Wizard
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7. Wizard Demo

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8. Xerte Online Toolkits - History

• 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

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8. Xerte Online Toolkits - Purpose

• 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

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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

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8. Xerte Online Toolkits Manager

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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

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8. Xerte Online Toolkits Authoring

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9. Authorware -gt Xerte

• Is it possible to convert existing Authorware
  content to Xerte?
• Yes!
• Dave Burnetts Authorware -gt Xerte converter

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Dave 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. 

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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.

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Short Video Example
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The future?

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

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Get Xerte!

• Download _at_ http//www.nottingham.ac.uk/xerte/
• Join the mailing list
• http//lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xe
  rte
• (or select Community on the Xerte website)
• Wiki _at_ http//wiki.xerte.net

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Questions

• Any questions?

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