Request for ideas: What are good examples of good interactive online training (including exercises & quizzes) for how to use web apps?
We continue to look for ways to improve the ability of our users to add value to their organizations. We are always in the process of improving the software tools we provide.
The value proposition for using pairwise and combinatorial tools are huge. The biggest roadblocks we see in adoption are not being aware of the advantages and not being sure how to proceed once the advantages are seen.
We designed Hexawise to be very easy to use. But even so the concepts behind combinatorial testing take some people a bit of time to operationalize. To help with this we offer on site and off site personal training.
We are looking to create some online training to ease the transition into using Hexawise’s combinatorial software testing tools most effectively. We would love to know what good examples of interactive online training people have found useful.
Related: Why isn’t Software Testing Performed as Efficiently and Effecively as it could be? – In Praise of Data-Driven Management (AKA “Why You Should be Skeptical of HiPPO’s”)
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi John,
Take a good look through all these free online courses.
http://www.class-central.com
http://www.udacity.com
https://www.coursera.org/
http://mitx.mit.edu/
Kind Regards,
David
Paul,
Thanks for the suggestions. I was just looking at coursera yesterday. Excellent selection of professors, no doubt. I’ll check the other ones out.
As I think more about what would be best for our customer’s and users, along I’m especially interested in /interactive/ online learning, ideally if it is presented in short (~ 3 minute?) bursts. this variety:
1). “Here’s how you can do XYZ.”
2) User does an exercise and submits a multiple choice answer.
3) Explanation is provided.
4) Next problem or mini-lesson.
It would be an added bonus of the topic were “here’s how to use our software tool.”
I think Khan Academy does a great job with those kinds of lessons. I haven’t seen many software companies provide this kind of training.
Thanks again for posting.
Justin
FWIW, here is a very interesting example of a “game-ified” / highly interactive instructional presentation by the team at Google Maps: http://www.playmapscube.com/
While we’re probably looking for an approach that is: (a) more detailed, and (b) a bit more “traditional” for our needs, it has given us a few things to think about. I think the game is impressive when you think about the challenge they’re trying to address. While it’s not going to give Angry Birds or Plants vs. Zombies a run for their money, playmapscube.com serves as a really nice “hook” into the instructional aspects of Google Maps features that the vast majority of Google Maps users probably wouldn’t take the time to learn about in other ways. By being a “game” instead of “training,” playmapscube.com will probably bring in a significantly wider audience to learn about the advanced features of Google Maps.