TORTAL Custom Courseware - Built from FLASH

Experience has taught us that one of the biggest pitfalls training departments face when translating traditional stand-up training to web-based modules is a lack of understanding of the end product. Typically they come to Tortal with a general idea of what they think the course should look like, but they rarely have enough knowledge of the authoring process or technologies to successfully articulate their vision. We concentrate heavily on engaging our clients during each phase of the project, so we can draw that vision out without them having to be e-Learning experts from day one.
 
Understanding the process
The first aspect of any courseware project is choosing the level of functionality required to effectively delivering your message. For the sake of simplicity, we like to explain these levels as bronze, gold, and platinum.
 
Bronze Level Courses
Includes:
Still images
Static text on screen
Text based practice exercises and end of module exams.  Ex:  true/false, yes/no, and multiple choice
One practice exercise per learning objective within instruction portion of module
Standard audio narration (one voice talent)
Level appropriate instructional design included
 
Gold Level Courses
Includes:
Same as Bronze, plus:
Most images animated to visually illustrate the concept for each slide
Animated text
Knowledge assessment includes drag and drop, flash cards, diagrams, and other simple interactions
These interactions can also be practice exercises with in the module
Maximum of three instructional simulations or scenarios included, when appropriate
When appropriate, voiceovers may include two character voices in simulations and scenarios
Instructional design work includes thorough review, recommendations and design for interactivities
 
Platinum Level Courses
Includes:
Same as Gold, plus:
Fully animated course and simulations
Maximum of 2 interactive games, where appropriate
Maximum of 2 role based interactive scenarios
Knowledge assessment can include more complex topics, structure, or level of learning
When appropriate, voiceovers include multiple characters in simulations and scenarios
Music and sound effects as needed
Maximum of three 3D graphics/animations of medium complexity
Maximum of five 30-second video clips
Instructional design work includes thorough review, recommendations and design for interactivities, detailed interviews or surveys to draw content from local SMEs with more time to spend creatively solving educational challenges
 
Learning Management System:
Tortal has developed an on-line application that currently meets the basic needs of your organization from an infrastructure perspective. The Tortal Learning Management System (LMS) has been developed to provide an economical solution with a user-friendly front-end and sufficient back-end administrative functionality.
 
The following outlines the design of the Tortal LMS
 
Hosting & Web Address
The site will be hosted on Tortal servers located at a third party hosting facility. The courses will reside on the Tortal.net servers at www.tortal.net. Your site will utilize your URL YourOrganization.tortal.net. This can be placed on your own present website that will allow a transparent access directly to the courses available at YourOrganization.tortal.net. Some clients prepare a small link on their corporate site that indicates “Your Corporate University.” The servers are monitored 24/7/365.
 
Home Screen
The “Home Screen” will be the entry to your organization’s on-line training site.  This page will provide the user with overall information about your on-line training product.
 
Initial Login
The initial login screen requires students to enter their organizational ID and password. The training administrator assigns these IDs and passwords.
 
Individual Login
The individual login screen is where each student enters their own login name.  This login name is selected by the user at the time of initial login.
 
View Course Groups / Courses
This section is where students can view course availability, brief descriptions of the courses, the course fee and any prerequisites. The system has been designed so that the administrator can limit course availability based on levels within the organization.
 
Take Course/Exam
Clicking on the course names launches the course content. Each page of the course is an html page. Users advance through each page of the course until all content has been delivered. At the conclusion of the course, the user is required to take an exam to test their understanding of the information presented. This test can consist of any number of Yes/No, True/False or Multiple Choice questions. After completing the test, students are provided feedback as to their score with explanations as to why each question was correct or incorrect. Provided a minimum score is obtained, the student is able to view and print a certificate of completion.
 
My Progress
The “my progress” page of the site provides users feedback as to the courses they have taken, the date completed and the scores obtained on the exam. From here, a student can also retake a course previously taken or continue with a course that has been started but is incomplete.
 
Admin
The admin section allows the training administrator to add, delete and modify courses; add or delete users; and view tracking reports of training usage. The system is designed so that all billing is done off these back-end reports using external billing systems. These billing systems can either be pre-paid or billed after course completion.
 
This entire site will be customized with the look, feel and graphics of your organization.
 
Tortal will set up a basic website specifically for Your Organization’s Online Training on our Portal at Tortal.net. This site will include the Client name, Logo, and a total site setup as described previously.
 
Tortal.net will provide course building using the Clients content for courses or modules.  Tortal provides the servers, maintenance, bandwidth, and support to provide your online training 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The additional cost for these administrative and maintenance functions are included within the LMS Licensing Fee.
 
Your organization will retain the copyright and ownership of all courses.