Role-Based Authoring Tool for Computer Training
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current authoring tools for computer-based training courses are complex and user-unfriendly, making it difficult for novice authors to create effective training courses, leading to increased costs and reluctance in using these tools.
Innovation Solution
An authoring tool with a role allocation module that facilitates the allocation of specific functions to instructional design and content definition roles, along with a GUI customization module to tailor the user interface based on the user's role, simplifying the creation of computer-based training courses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If authoring tools provide extensive functionality to create effective training courses, then the quality and effectiveness of training courses is improved, but the complexity of the tool increases making it difficult for novice authors to use
Solution Approach 1:
The authoring tool is segmented into multiple predefined roles (e.g., instructional designer, content developer, reviewer) with specific function sets allocated to each role. This segmentation allows novice authors to access only the functions relevant to their role, reducing perceived complexity while maintaining comprehensive functionality across the entire authoring process.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool implements dynamic interface adaptation where the user interface and available functions change based on the user's assigned role. This dynamic customization presents a simplified view to novice users while preserving full functionality for advanced users, effectively resolving the contradiction between comprehensive features and ease of use.
2Ease of operation
If authoring tools are simplified for novice users, then ease of operation is improved, but the rich functionality that such authoring tools must provide is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The authoring tool implements a universal architecture where a single tool serves multiple user types with different skill levels and role requirements. Through role-based function allocation, the same tool provides simplified interfaces for novice users while maintaining access to comprehensive functionality for experienced users, eliminating the need for separate simplified and full-featured versions.
Solution Approach 2:
The role allocation system acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the full functionality of the authoring tool. This intermediary selectively exposes functions based on user role, providing a simplified experience for novices while preserving access to advanced features when needed, thus mediating between ease of operation and functional richness.
3Reliability
If extensive functionality is provided in authoring tools, then the quality of training courses can be improved, but training costs for authors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tool performs preliminary organization of extensive functionality into role-specific function sets before users need to access them. By pre-configuring appropriate functions for each user role, the system eliminates the need for novice authors to learn comprehensive tool functionality, reducing training time while ensuring they have access to all functions needed for their specific role in creating quality training courses.
Data Source
AI summary
An authoring tool to structure and create a computer-based training course includes a role allocation module to facilitate an allocation of a user to at least one of an instructional design role and a content definition role with respect to the authoring tool. A function allocation module facilitates an allocation of a first set of functions, provided by the authoring tool, to the instructional design role, and also facilitates an allocation of a second set of functions, provided by the authoring tool, to the content definition role.