There are many eLearning authoring tools that learning and development (L&D) teams can choose from, so why use Flare? The following outlines key benefits and capabilities.
[Menu Proxy — Headings — Online — Depth3 ]
Benefits of Using Flare for eLearning Content
-
Single-Sourcing Content You can reuse eLearning content (e.g., text, images, videos, audio) from one source location. Instructional designers, technical writers, subject matter experts, and others can productively collaborate, review, and share content across the enterprise.
-
Generating eLearning Packages You can generate SCORM-compliant (1.2 and 2004) and xAPI-compliant (Tin Can) zip file packages to upload to any external learning management system (LMS), or learning record store (LRS).
-
Organizing Content You can develop "chunks of training," or scalable topic-based eLearning content. Material can easily be arranged according to course, topic, product, table of contents, output, etc.
-
Using Templates You can create simple tests from project eLearning templates. There is no need for programming knowledge or multimedia tool expertise.
-
Building Output You can create your course to fit different purposes and devices with responsive HTML5 web design and multi-channel publishing. When a learner takes an online course, the output offers a modern web experience. You can also produce PDF output for your courses.
-
Streamlining Process You can create more efficient workflows; including anything from importing and managing content, creating interactive courses, to publishing in different languages—especially when using Flare with other MadCap Software products (e.g., Central, Capture, Lingo).
What Can Flare Do?
|
eLearning Capability |
What Flare Can Do |
|---|---|
|
Create Content |
Creates content for knowledge check and quiz courses composed of learning topics, interactive content, and question sections (e.g., adding a question, answers, and feedback). You can add videos, images, slideshows, drop-downs, hotspot popups, 3D models, audio, snippets, variables, conditions, tables, and more. When creating a gradable quiz, you can optionally randomize test answers, set a passing score, limit test attempts, and customize the results page. |
|
Interactivity |
Allows for linear course workflows and navigation. You can create interactive multiple choice, or multiple response questions, and add interactive content to learning topics. |
|
Templates |
Provides getting started eLearning templates, or you can create a course from scratch. |
|
Content Management |
Provides for single-sourcing (i.e., reusing content), and for the ability to easily assemble topic-based content, from one location. |
|
Collaboration |
Engages multiple authors at once. You can tie a project to source control for reviewing and sharing files. |
|
Assessment |
Measures efficacy through test results scoring, or a course completion percentage. To analyze progress and achievements, upload the generated zip package(s) to an external LMS. |
|
Accessibility |
Includes many features for making content accessible for those with disabilities. Some examples are ARIA tags, and alt text attributes for images and links. The HTML5 output from Flare is WCAG compliant. |
|
Building Output |
Builds output to HTML5 and to PDF (with the option to include correct answers for questions). Generates SCORM and xAPI files for tracking and uploading to any LMS. |
|
Administration |
Flare installs on a desktop where an author can work locally with a customized workspace |
|
Support |
MadCap Software provides a world-class support team, forums, and a large community base to use as resources. |
Example
Example As part of the L&D program at your company, you are the Training Manager. You know of at least two departments, documentation and training, that are constantly recreating the same type of information for clients. The two teams don’t normally communicate with one another, and they use different applications to present similar material in a slightly different way. Most members of each team are upset they can’t easily share information with each other.
You hear about Flare, and its single-sourcing capabilities. You were sold at words “reusing content,” and “centralized source of content.” You are very intrigued because as a content management tool, Flare is also an eLearning authoring tool. Your gut tells you that Flare can bridge the gap between the technical documentation and the L&D disciplines at your company, and offer effective solutions.
You know that if you implemented Flare for your organization, it could unite the teams, reduce duplicated work, streamline processes, reduce costs and frustrations, and deliver modern online content to customers.
Six months later… You are the Director of Technical Communication at your company. Your team consists of documentation, training, and L&D employees. The approach to delivering different levels of support has changed. Instead of viewing deliverables as separate departmental functions, you all work together to create the best learning experiences for the client.
Inefficient applications have been retired, and Flare is used by everyone. Multiple authors (technical writers, instructional designers, trainers, etc.) use the same content files (e.g., multimedia, text, images) to create HTML5 output targets, eLearning courses, or PDF training guides specific to their task.
You’ve noticed the following:
-
Improved workflow efficiency with the ability to share and review files
-
Higher productivity through topic-based authoring, and content reuse
-
eLearning content integrated with online Help
-
Quicker updates to project files as products evolve, or when branding changes
-
Newer employees contributing faster with the use of built-in templates and tutorials
-
Employees exploring advanced features for further innovation, design, and customization
-
Content is more accessible through multi-channel publishing
-
Content is ready for translation
-
Generated eLearning packages post to any external LMS
