PRO-FORM for building rapid on-line tutorials

Here is a product that makes life a little bit easier for those of us who are trying to put together a product, service or educational tutorial without any fuss: PRO-FORM (Version 3) from the Rapid Intake company.

I went through their excellent tutorial and liked what I saw. Here are the highlights:

• Four Quiz Question Types

You can have four quiz question types. The following question types also allow you to add audio or images to any multiple choice question:

Multiple Choice Audio Question
Multiple Correct Audio Question
Multiple Choice Image Question
Multiple Correct Image Question

• Specific Feedback for Multiple Choice Questions

For any of our Multiple Choice question types (Multiple Choice, Multiple Choice Audio, Multiple Choice Image) you can add a feedback field for each specific option. That means that if a learner picks a specific answer you can control what ProForm will display. There is now an extra field for each distractor.

• Printing and Email Functionality Added to Quiz

When the learner reaches the results page they will now have an option to print or email the results. There is also an option to include the learner's name if the course is connected to an LMS. The email button allows an email to be sent to a predetermined email address, using the learner's default email application.

• Four Course Style Templates

You can choose from the following four course style templates:

Red Default Style

Glossy Soft Edges Style

Deep Black Style

Steel Style

• 6 New Page Templates

Step by Step Template. This template allows you to teach any step-by-step interaction. The steps are listed on the left-hand side. The learner can click on any step for more detailed instructions. This interaction supports up to 9 steps. If you have more steps that this, you can split it into two interactions for more effective instruction.

Video Template. A new template that uses a Flash FLV video.

Jigsaw Puzzle Template. The jigsaw puzzle template is a flash-based interactive template which allows you to change your own image into a jigsaw puzzle. Simply select the image, choose the number of pieces for the puzzle, and let ProForm do the rest! Users then drag and drop the puzzle pieces together to create the image.

Term and Definitions Template. This template teaches definitions to specific terms and then quizzes learners. In this two-step interaction, the first step allows learners to review. In the second step the learners drag the terms to their correct definitions with a drag and drop activity.

Image Rollover Template. This template allows you to present the learner with up to five images. When the learner mouses over each image it enlarges and provides more detailed information.

Certificate Page Template. This page allows you to provide your learners with a certificate when successfully completing a ProForm course. You can choose from two different certificate types or upload your own art. You can restrict the certificate so that it will not display until the learner has visited every page or passed a quiz. Along with other options, you can prompt the learner to provide a name or pull it from an LMS.

For more information on PRO-FORM, click here

OpenOffice Draw Functions

OpenOffice (OO) is such a powerful office suite but it's a shame most people are not even aware of its power and functionalities, which all come for FREE!

Here are some of the drawing features that are unleashed when you select File > New > Drawing from the main OO menu.

General Drawing Window:



Drop-Down List of Arrows:




Drop-Down List of 3-D Effects (you can transform any shape into 3-D object):



You can arrange the layering (front/back) of multiple objects relative to one another:



You can align the edges of multiple objects relative to one another or center them vertically and horizontally:



You can fill selected objects with photographic binary images:



You can fill your shapes with built-in gradients:



You can fill your objects with pen hatching marks:



You can connect your shapes with many different connectors:



OO Draw comes with built-in drag-and-drop graphic images and exploding stars, etc. (perfect for ads, certificates, etc.)



You can tear individual graphic tabs from the menu and use them all at once on the same drawing!



This is just a snapshot of the few capabilities of this free drawing program. Do you still think you need MS Visio?