Reviews ASTD Members Only
Authoring Tool Roundup
(NOTE: Some of these tools have been previously reviewed; these are the most recent versions of each.)
What’s the ideal authoring tool? The answer is, it depends. The answer for you depends on the type of e-learning you need to create, the frequency of content creation, your learning curve tolerance, and the price you’re willing to pay.
To get you started, here are reviews and rankings (based on a 4-star scale) of widely-used authoring tools.
For more detail and comparative recommendations, see the Training Media Review Website (www.tmreview.com) for the Authoring Tools report.
Dreamweaver MX
By Patti Shank
If you’re a beginner and want maximum flexibility for designing and developing Web materials, Dreamweaver is a great choice. If you’re experienced, chances are you’re already, or will eventually be, using this tool.
And if you want a suite of Web development tools that are specifically designed to work together, the Macromedia software programs fit the bill.
One of the things that makes Dreamweaver worth buying is its support for CSS (cascading style sheets). The old method of laying out pages with tables made it difficult or even impossible for screen readers to read those pages, not an acceptable situation for people with visual impairments who depend on those applications. Search for accessibility in Google to learn more about why this is important.
Recommendation
Aside from the disappointing documentation (a complaint I have about most authoring software), this is a great tool. I liked previous versions and recommend it still. I am looking forward to taking advantage of the improved CSS functionalities.
Overall rating: 3.5
DazzlerMax Deluxe
By Jason Lewis
If not for the price, I would recommend this to a subject matter expert or trainer looking to create interactive e-learning quickly. The software is easy to use and excellent at creating knowledge-based training that requires quiz or test functionality—for example, product knowledge testing or simple skills and processes training.
At the price, though, there are other products that offer better integration with development tools or superior software simulation capability. Alternatively, if the project is important or large enough, consider working with a proven e-learning production house—one good at authoring as well as writing and designing graphics and video.
Recommendation
I can only recommend DazzlerMax to organizations that need a quick quiz- or question-based e-learning development tool and for whom price is not an issue.
Overall rating: 1.5
Lectora Publisher
By Patti Shank
One of the main benefits of this program is that it’s easy to get started and you can become reasonably proficient in basic skills quickly. The metaphor for using the program (chapters, sections, and pages) and toolbars make sense, and there are multiple means of accomplishing a task. Adding a graphic can be accomplished, for example, from the Add menu or from the icon on the toolbar.
I like this tool a lot and I’m likely to continue using it as part of my instructional development toolbox, especially if I need to create content with quizzes or tests rapidly. The available tools plus the enclosed templates provide the new or moderately-experienced developer with a strong toolset for creating instructional content quickly. Keep in mind, though, that just having these capabilities doesn’t guarantee good design. That’s true of any tool.
Recommendation
If you need to develop instructional content quickly and can afford the software, Lectora will be a great tool in your authoring toolbox. If you’re a novice developer and want to start by learning just one tool, Lectora is a good choice because of its range of capabilities. Experienced developers may also appreciate how fast they can create sound content with this software.
Overall rating: 3.5
ReadyGo Web Course Builder
By Jason Lewis
If you’re a trainer who is expected to create online learning in addition to your other duties, this product is worth considering. The e-learning you create with ReadyGo may be limited by bandwidth, but not by the functionality of the software. You shouldn’t expect to do software simulations or incredibly complex interactivity, though.
Using ReadyGo will save you a lot of time even if you already know HTML because of the built-in interactivity functionality and templates. If you don’t know HTML, the tool will prevent you from begging for help from a developer or spending hours learning and then fussing with the code.
Recommendation
ReadyGo fills the niche between high-end authoring tools that cost $2000 to $4000 and much cheaper HTML creation tools that range from free to hundreds of dollars. At $999, the tool isn’t as cheap as you might like. However, if you’re expected to create and modify a lot of Web-based training, it is worth considering. You will certainly save money in time spent learning or messing with HTML.
ReadyGo is too expensive for a one-time project, for which I would recommend begging for help from your IT department. However, the software quickly becomes economical if you have to create several courses in a year but don’t want to learn HTML or JavaScript.
Overall rating: 3
ToolBook Instructor
By Jason Lewis
ToolBook is an excellent choice for a training department that needs an easy-to-use, all-in-one authoring tool with software simulation functionality. It’s extraordinarily easy for beginners yet is powerful enough for advanced users to accomplish their goals. Advanced users may prefer to use different tools for Web development and simulation tasks and end up paying less. However, there is a time cost to learning and integrating different tools.
Recommendation
Although ToolBook has many features in common with other instructional tools, it has an edge that’s reflected in the price. First, ToolBook has a simulation capability, and simulations are the most powerful form of computer- or Web-based training. Second, it’s a mature product with a large user community, meaning the software is well developed and tested and there is a deep pool of knowledge about how to use it. Finally, SumTotal Systems is a trusted and respected e-learning supplier.
Overall rating: 3.5
Trainersoft Professional
By Jason Lewis
Subject matter experts will like Trainersoft for quick SCORM- and AICC-compliant development. As with most authoring tools, if you need to put together a basic course with text, media, and assessment, this is a good choice. It doesn’t offer software simulation capability or a scripting language, so it probably won’t solve all of your authoring needs. However, for the beginner to intermediate content developer, it will definitely do the trick.
Recommendation
Trainersoft is, as Outstart promises, fast and easy. It’s too expensive by half for the functionality it offers, however. There’s little that truly differentiates it from cheaper competition. The instructional material is good; however, it doesn’t detail how to create complex interactions. Consequently, you’ll need to buy the support package, which is also expensive.
Overall rating: 2.5
Jason Lewis delivers change management and corporate social responsibility simulations to academic and corporate clients; jason.lewis@experiencepoint.com.
Patti Shank is a nationally known instructional technology consultant and a frequent writer and speaker on instructional technology topics. She is the managing partner of Learning Peaks, LLC, a distance learning consulting firm; www.learningpeaks.com.
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Dreamweaver MX, 2004, Macromedia (800.326.2128, www.macromedia.com). Purchase: US$399. Included materials: user guide.
DazzlerMax Deluxe, 2004, MaxIT Corporation (800.868.8039, www.maxit.com). Purchase: $1995. Included materials: user guide, Quick Start guide (download), Advanced Training Guide (download).
Lectora Publisher, 2004, Trivantis (877.929.0188, www.trivantis.com). Purchase: $1595. Included materials: QuickStart Guide, tutorials.
ReadyGo Web Course Builder, 2002, ReadyGo, Inc. (888.ReadyGo, www.readygo.com). Purchase: $999. Included materials: user guide, Flash tutorials.
ToolBook Instructor, 2004, SumTotal Systems (800.448.6543, www.click2learn.com). Purchase: $2799. Included materials: user guide.
Trainersoft Professional, 2002, Outstart (800.561.2098, www.trainersoft.com). Purchase: $2495. Included materials: user guide.
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