Category Archives: Tools

Resource on HTML5 vs. Flash from Allen Learning Technologies

Posted on by Judy Unrein
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I just finished reading this paper from Patrick Krekelberg at Allen Learning Technologies, makers of ZebraZapps, and I’m adding it to my HTML5 Resources for the Learning Community page. It’s accurate and well-reasoned, and Patrick avoids the three pitfalls common in writing about HTML5 right now:

  1. overhyping it
  2. downplaying it (common among vendors whose tools don’t do HTML5 output), or
  3. making promises that their tool doesn’t support (not relevant here, as ZebraZapps currently doesn’t do HMTL5 output at all).

But speaking of that last item… I have to consider this paper an sign, kind of like how Michael Allen and Ethan Edwards blogged for a couple of years about more powerful authoring tools prior to the launch of ZebraZapps. They have already acknowledged that they’re working on HTML5 output in response to ToolBar Episode #8… so maybe this means they’re close.

How Not to Sell Software in 2012

Posted on by Judy Unrein
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Alex Payne, CTO of Simple, gets so much right in this post:

1. Don’t require that I waste my time on a sales call – or, worse, in a “webinar” – before I can give you my money…

2. Don’t make it hard for me to try your software. If I can’t play with a trial version or sandbox immediately, I’m moving on.

3. Don’t hide your pricing behind a sales process, and don’t play pricing games…

8. This should go without saying, but don’t cold call or spam me. If your product is good and meets my needs, I promise that I’ll find out about it…

As someone who tries a lot of software, I’d love for authoring tool vendors in particular to take note.

HT: TThor Newsletter

Zebra’s Out of the Bag!

Posted on by Judy Unrein
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Two years ago, Allen Interactions showed Zebra publicly for the first time, at ASTD ICE. By sheer dumb luck, I was there. So were Diane Elkins and Desiree Ward, the owners of the company I now work for. I’ve been experimenting with Zebra in its various incarnations ever since, and recently have been working on Zebra resources for instructional designers for our E-Learning Uncovered website.

Yesterday, I (and I don’t know who else) received word that we can talk about it publicly, which I’ve been eager to do for quite a while. My first post on Zebra is live on the E-Learning Uncovered blog now, and there will be more over the next few weeks.

I look forward to your thoughts!

The Way We Work at Pixar

Posted on by Judy Unrein
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I’m sometimes mistaken for a developer instead of a designer because of my interest in software, but I’m mainly interested in software because of how it serves — and sometimes influences — design.

It was a struggle to put into words my thoughts about how authoring tools and learning design are related, as I attempted to do in the article in Learning Solutions on Monday, but someone going by the screen name synapps left a comment that sums it up pretty darn well:

“Art challenges technology, and technology inspires the art. That’s it in a nutshell the way we work at Pixar.”

- John Lasseter

Well put, John. To me, this seems like the ideal situation… I’m not particularly convinced it’s the one we have in the mainstream elearning world, but it’s certainly a good vision of the future.

Which New Tools Do You Want?

Posted on by Judy Unrein
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There were a lot of impressive tools demonstrated and discussed at the conference, whether in the expo hall, education sessions, or tweetstream. Personally, I am really excited by the number of tool vendors making great strides toward tools that make it easier and easier to create great learning experiences. This blog will probably focus quite a bit on them in the coming months.

Also, my company publishes the E-Learning Uncovered series of resources (books, reference guides, etc.) for instructional designers and developers, and we’re wondering: Which tools are you most excited about right now? Which would you most like to see resources for?

Looking forward to your feedback!