Before we delve into specific features of KoTrain, it might be helpful to get an overview of some of KoTrain's basic ideas.The KoTrain Tools
KoTrain is composed
of a series of tools and systems that work together to create, manage, and deliver an online training course. Here is a brief overview of the tools and systems that are available, the remainder of this document will go
into detail on each of these items (click on the highlighted words below for a more detailed explanation):
KoTrain Management Console
-- The management console is the central tool that is used by training managers. It has functions which give the manager complete control over the online courses being delivered, and provides complete reporting capabilities.
KoDiagram Builder
-- The KoDiagram Builder is primarily used by courseware authors who are creating interactive diagrams to be inserted into the course. Interactive diagrams are like miniature slide shows that can be embedded in a course to illustrate a concept.
KoQuiz Builder
-- The KoQuiz Builder tool is primarily used by courseware authors to create interactive quizzes. KoTrain automatically grades and logs all quiz results, and offers the quiz author a wide variety of options for different quiz purposes such as self-evaluation quizzes, end of lesson tests, or even tightly controlled certification tests.
KoChat Communication System
-- The KoChat system provides a one-on-one chat session between an instructor and a student. It has sophisticated features such as a frequently asked question archive, and can give student transcripts to the instructor in real time to help him or her gauge the level of the student. KoChat automatically connects a student with a subject expert on the course the student is currently taking.
AdManager System
-- The AdManager can be used to insert randomized advertisements into the training course. It can be used to generate revenue through advertising on a commercial training course, or can be used effectively even in internal training to advertise the availability of other courses offered by a training department.
Template System
-- The template system allows you to customize the look and feel of your courseware automatically without editing each lesson. A template can specify a look and feel for a lesson, course description page, or other pages on your training site. A template can draw fields from the management database, and merges them with the HTML body of your courseware. If you decide to change the look and feel of your courses, you need not edit every page of your web site a simple change to a template will suffice.
CGI Web Page Delivery System
-- KoTrain comes with all the CGI programs you need to fully run the course, and automatically logs all student activity back to the management database for use by the other tools in the system. The CGI system also creates all navigational aids, tables of contents, etc. necessary for the student.
Student Registration System
-- The KoTrain CGI system comes with a complete student registration and sign-on, and other security aspects of your training site. The registration system is completely customizable by the training manager, allowing for customization of prompts to the student at registration time. The registration system works hand-in-hand with the KoTrain security mechanism to allow for free courses, courses that require student login, courses that are paid for using the First Virtual™ commerce system, and other payment mechanisms. All of this is set up using intuitive graphical tools and Wizard interfaces.
CD-Assist Hybrid CDROM/Internet Delivery
-- KoTrain directly supports hybrid CDROM/Internet based courses. This feature allows you to use high-bandwidth multimedia objects such as video and audio clips even over low speed 28.8 modem connections by supplying students with a local CDROM. KoTrain will deliver the multimedia objects over the network if the end user is on a high speed network (such as a direct T1 or cable modem connection) but will generate references to the local CDROM otherwise. This flexibility gives you unparalleled ability to deliver rich multimedia content regardless of your student's network connection quality.
The KoTrain Difference: Course Management
-- KoTrain was designed to incorporate management of the online training program at every level of the software. For example, training managers who use KoTrain can get reports about every aspect of the live, running courses. KoTrain can do this because, unlike most products, it uses a real database to store every aspect of the courseware. But you don't have to be a database expert to use KoTrain: a simple, graphical user interface controls every part of the system using intuitive "wizard" interfaces, graphical charts, menus, "property" sheets, and other familiar graphical elements.
KoTrain: 100% Pure Java
-- KoTrain is Powered By Java , the standard language of the Internet. This means you get the exact same graphical interface regardless of whether you use Unix, NT, or Apple Macintosh environments.
KoTrain: Ease of Use
-- Users of KoTrain report being able to learn enough about the system to use it effectively in a matter of a few hours time. Given some existing content in computer readable form, some customers have had entire courses up and running in a matter of a few days! Contrast this to attempting to write all the supporting software required to field a commercial grade course using programmers and consultants, which would take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months (and would not have anything close to the feature content and manageability of KoTrain).
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