The task for this round of
the Software Simulation Shootout was the very same as the
Shootout
in Los Angeles. We invited eight teams to build the exact
same e-learning simulation, delivered through a browser, teaching
a learner how to add someone's name to the contact list inside
Microsoft Outlook.
Each team was given a script outlining the steps to be taught
and specifying the level of interaction required. This was
not a simple exercise of recording the steps; rather, each
team had to require the learner to click the "Start"
button, open Outlook, click the contact list icon, type
in the name of the new contact, enter his or her e-mail address,
and then save the new contact information. Feedback was required
as part of the software simulation. The script even called
for unexpected feedback if the learner did something very
different than what they were prompted to do.
The entire event takes place in less than 45 minutes, and
each team is required to create the entire interaction from
scratch with the audience watching. About 140 people witnessed
the event each of the two days at the Online Learning Europe
conference, held in London. In addition, the audience served
as judges for the competition, rating each contender in the
following areas:
- Ease of use
- Speed of development
- Robustness of simulation (feedback, guidance, etc.)
- Overall rating
The winners were determined by the vote of the audience judges.
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