SimWriter 4.0 Now Available!

People love new technology, and those who develop training and educational simulations are passionate about using the very best software available. So, it’s no surprise that the recent release of SimWriter 4.0 has been a tremendous success. Customers routinely tell us that once they create a simulation with SimWriter, they can’t wait to start their next project and develop new ideas.

If you’re looking for a spark to ignite your internal creative generator, give SimWriter a test drive. It’s the perfect tool for transforming lackluster instructional material into inspired and engaging learning experiences users will want to revisit again and again.

SimWriter 4.0 includes the following enhancements that make it easier than ever to develop your own immersive learning simulations:

Micro Learning Objects:
The ability to create MLOs quickly and easily is perhaps the most anticipated SimWriter 4.0 feature. An MLO is a short, one to five minute learning activity extracted from a larger immersive learning simulation that targets a very specific objective. MLOs are stand-alone components that can be accessed via Internet, intranet, e-mail, or mobile device.

You can use MLOs as just-in-time learning reinforcement for your employees to reference while on the job, or as a Kirkpatrick Level 3 behavior measurement tool (I think all the department managers and human resource directors just perked up! If you’re tasked with determining training program ROI, keep reading.). By delivering a series of MLOs to employees every few months after they complete the initial training course, you can track changes in their work behavior. These performance scores will help you determine how well employees are retaining and transferring their new knowledge and skills to their jobs. You can then compare this information to other department data, such as production cycle time information, sales reports, quality/rework reports, and even accident reports to identify the effectiveness of your training program. SimWriter 4.0 and MLOs will give you the ammunition to prove to your boss, your boss’s boss, and all other stakeholders that you create successful training programs.

Paste Special:
This function gives rapid simulation development a whole new meaning (well, it’s technically the same meaning, but more rapid.) Save time and effort by copying and pasting graphics, content, map components, behavior script, memory points, audio and video files, and characters from one simulation to another. If you need to develop a series of training courses, this feature will save you weeks worth of work.

Custom Variables:
Add engineering power to your simulations (without hiring a team of engineering experts). Create your own variables for customized conditional statements. In other words, this feature lets you develop more simulation paths for deeper learning opportunities.

Map Add-ons:
This new function allows you to add multi-stage Help, Resource, and supplemental coaching sections. This feature may not have the same level of glitz as the Paste Special, but this is the backbone of the learning experience. Instructional designers will love the ability to insert instructional material exactly when users need it.

New Characters:
The SimWriter family of characters continues to grow. New characters include standing presenters and characters in industry-specific apparel.

New Backgrounds:
With so many new characters, we had to add new environments. Now you can place your characters in a variety of new offices and lobbies. We’ve even added exterior environments in case your characters need a breath of fresh air.

In case you haven’t heard, SimWriter won the 2009 Brandon Hall Gold Award for Best Advance in Technology for Game and Simulation Authoring. The release of SimWriter 4.0 means a great thing just got even better. If you want to see SimWriter in action for yourself, contact a NexLearn representative today. You (and your boss and your learners) will be extremely glad you did.