In Part 1 of this two-part series, you learned how to build a course comprising of Captivate-generated learning objects and set up data tracking for those learning objects within WBT Manager. Part 2 describes how to test a Captivate-generated learning object with WBT Manager and confirm that WBT Manager correctly receives and records data sent from the learning object.

Test learning objects early and often. Test individual learning objects as soon as they are completed and every time they are updated. Plan on using at least 20% of your total development time for testing. Remember that it may take several passes of testing, fixing, and testing again to ensure that each learning object functions correctly.

Requirements

To complete this tutorial you will need to install the following software and files:

Captivate

• Try
• Buy

Flash Player(version 6 or higher)

• Download Flash Player (480K)

Integrity eLearning WBT Manager

Prerequisite knowledge:

• Read Part 1 of the article series.
• This document is written for training managers, administrators, e-learning developers and designers, and any other personnel involved in building an eLearning infrastructure based on Captivate content and a standards-compliant LMS.
• Detailed knowledge of e-learning standards is not required. It is assumed that the reader has a basic knowledge of Macromedia Captivate.
• You can find details of how to develop Captivate quizzes in the Captivate Help files or in other articles on the Adobe Captivate Developer Center.
• Find further information on Macromedia’s E-Learning website.
• Get more information on e-learning standards in my book, "E-Learning Standards, A Guide to Purchasing, Developing and Deploying Standards-Conformant e-Learning" by Fallon, C. and Brown, S., Boca Raton, FL: St. Lucie Press, 2003

Tips for Effective Testing

Use the following tips to test your learning objects.

• Test early and often. Test your learning object upon its initial completion and re-test it every time you make a change. Test the entire learning object, not just the frames you have updated.
• Draw up a test plan. A test plan includes a flow chart of all the possible options and paths through the learning object that a learner can select and a test checklist of each frame, interaction, jump, button, and link.
• Test the learning object after you have uploaded your files to the web server by launching the learning object directly (outside of WBT Manager). This ensures that all required files are in place and that you have configured the web server correctly.
• Test the learning object on all target platforms. Ensure that the learning object runs correctly on each type of system that your target audience may use to access the web server, for example, Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows 2000 and so forth.
• Test the learning object on all target browsers. Check that your learning object functions correctly in all versions of all of the browsers that your target audience may use.
• Don’t test on the same computer that you use for development. To ensure of the integrity of URLs and other links, such as to another movie, you must test on a computer that doesn’t have the target files installed on its hard drive.

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