Zenler (www.zenler.com), an eLearning authoring tool company and LMS provider, has advanced development of its new Zenler Studio Pro (ZSP) to the Beta phase. ZSP is a rapid authoring tool for production of interactive courseware, stand-alone game-based eLearning, and simulations, all within a single package operating in PowerPoint. (See Figures 1 through 3.) The company is seeking additional participants for the Beta group.

Figure 1: An avatar guides a tour in a ZSP interaction.

 Figure 2. Opening screen of a course built into a golf-themed game created in ZSP.

Figure 3. This is the “set” for a “put-it-together” game interaction.

Increasingly, designers use custom games and simulation-based eLearning to make training engaging and fun. Previously, eLearning tools took a piecemeal approach to game authoring. The mini-games that stand-alone tools produce can be difficult, at best, to integrate into a course, and can also be cost restrictive in price and application. Rather than simply insert mini-games within a course, designers would often like to create games that navigate the user through a course within the game. Unfortunately, there is no authoring tool currently available in the market that supports easy creation of such full-fledged end-to-end game- or simulation-based eLearning courses. Moreover, custom game-based eLearning content development with conventional programming tools is expensive and can require months to complete.

Zenler Studio Pro fills this gap. It gives users the flexibility to create rich interactive eLearning courses with added support for end-to-end game-based eLearning courses. “We have had some good input from our Beta group and we are making some changes that they have suggested,” said Zenler’s Tom Burton. “We have been listening to them, and are using their suggestions and comments to make ZSP better.” The Beta phase for ZSP will continue for a few more months, and Zenler is ready to add more people to the Beta should they care to join. While Burton anticipates ZSP’s release before year’s end, he also says that, “If our Beta group still sees things that they feel need to be addressed, we’ll yield to their wisdom.”

To participate in the ZSP Beta, go to http://www.zenler.com/zenler-studio-enterprise.php. For additional information about ZSP, please contact:

Tom Burton

Zenler USA

800-306-3208 ext 131

407-575-3285 Cell

tom.burton@zenler.com

@twb822