Software to create courses online

Subashini Selvaratnam
New Straits Times
08-27-2001
Software to create courses online
Byline: Subashini Selvaratnam
Edition: Computimes; 2*
Section: Benchmark

FOR creating and distributing online learning content efficiently, TraxMedia Sdn Bhd recently announced the latest release of ToolBook II Instructor version 8. This is a new multimedia authoring solution for programmers, instructional designers and trainers.

The software is designed to take advantage of the latest Web technologies such as dynamic hypertext mark-up language (DHTML), extensible mark-up language (XML), Java applets, streaming media and Internet publishing, making it easier to create online lessons or courses.
TraxMedia's business development manager R. Dev Anand said the software, which was developed by Asymetrix Learning Systems Inc, can be delivered over the Internet, intranet, local area network (LAN) or on CD-ROM. With built-in wizards, the processes of publishing the course on the Internet or other electronic medium are expected to become simpler.

One of the enhancements made to the software is interactive electronic learning tools to export information like course scores, student information and data to corporate databases.

The software which conforms to US government's advanced distributed learning standards initiative, uses Sharable Courseware Object Reference Model (SCORM) as the blueprint for an interoperable, learning object-based electronic-learning system.

The ToolBook II Instructor offers other features such as support for OpenScript programming language for CD-ROM, two-dimensional (2- D) animation and graphical user interface for ease of use. The software is targeted at the education and private sectors for training purposes.

During the product presentation, Anand also introduced several add- on applications for the latest version of Mathematica software. This is a tool for professionals who need to compute complex mathematical calculations for their daily assignments.

Anand said there are over 20 add-on applications for Mathematica. Among them are Signals and Systems, Electrical Engineering Examples, Fuzzy Logic and Optica.

Signals and Systems is for analysing signals, designing filters and performing routine signal processing operations. Electrical Engineering Examples, on the other hand, offers examples on how to use Mathematica to solve genuine engineering problems. With Fuzzy Logic, one can create, modify and visualise fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic-based systems.

And with Optica, one can develop specialised optics systems and component designs. Other add-on applications include Structural Mechanics, Scientific Astronomer and Wavelet Explorer.

Anand said the add-on applications are suitable for the education market, especially universities or colleges specialising in physics and engineering subjects.

For the education market, a 100-user licence for Mathematica is offered from RM1,300 per user. Users will also get Scheum Outline Series on Mathematica which is a tutorial question-and-answer book.

suba@itp.nstp.com.my

Illustrations/Photos:
Caption: ToolBook II Instructor: Making use of the latest Web
technologies.; Fuzzy Logic: One of the add on applications for
Mathematica.

(Copyright 2001)