Course Navigation

You have the ability to move sequentially through the course using the Next/Back button in the content frame, or using the left navigation frame to randomly display learning objects that you want to access. The left frame of the content window (the Course Navigation Frame) displays the navigation controls for the course, which enable you to move through the course topics, display help, expand all learning objects and topics, collapse all learning objects and topics, or exit the course. The right frame of the content window (the Content Pane) displays the course content and the content navigation controls.

1. Course Navigation Frame

   The course navigation frame displays the learning objects and topics that are associated with the course, in a tree form. The tree operates like any Windows directory/file listing.
   When you enter the course, all learning objects and topics in the tree are collapsed, as indicated by the right arrow next to the learning object. To expand the learning object, click either the right arrow or the learning object title to display the topics under the learning object. To display a specific topic in the course content frame, click the topic title.
   To collapse a learning object, click the down arrow next to the appropriate learning object. Once the learning object is collapsed, the topics no longer display.
   

   Additional Tips
   A check mark next to the topic indicates that the topic has been completed.
   Any learning object associated with a topic that is displayed in the course content frame will automatically be expanded when the topic is launched.
   

2. Course Navigation Controls

   The Course Navigation Controls appear in the left frame (the Course Navigation Frame) of the content window. The options featured are explained below.

   • Help - Displays course navigation and course content help (if applicable).
   • Exit - Click this button to exit the course and return to the syllabus page.

     Note to Netscape Users: Click Exit when you finish a self-paced course topic. This action saves your progress and the course syllabus will update accordingly. Your latest progress may be lost if you click the Close button (X) in the top right corner of the window to exit.

   • Expand All - Expands all learning objects and topics that are collapsed in the tree.
   • Collapse All - Collapses all learning objects and topics that are expanded in the tree. Note: Any learning objects related to the topic that are currently displayed in the course content frame will not collapse.



3. Content Navigation Controls

   The Content Navigation Controls appear at the bottom of the content pane. The options featured are explained below:

   • Mute - Toggles the audio mute function. When the audio is muted, captions of the audio will be provided.
   • Closed Captioning - The closed captioning text is automatically displayed when the screen is launched. Click the button to activate or deactivate the closed captioning.
   • Replay - Click this button to replay the contents of the current screen.
   • Pause/Play - Click this toggle button to pause the playback of audio/video and animation on the current screen. When the content has been paused this button will be displayed as the Play button. You can click the Play button to resume playback of the current content.
   • Media Progression Bar - The percentage complete bar indicates your current position and the amount of content left on the current page.
   • Back - Takes you to the previous content screen.
   • Next - Takes you to the next content screen.
   • Topic Map - The Topics button links to the items covered within the topic. The Topic Map expands a list that displays the currently available topics. Clicking a topic title in the topic list will take you to the first page of that topic and collapse the topic list.



4. Tabs

   On the right edge of the content window are five tabs. Each tab slides open a panel that contains additional course content. The options featured are explained below:

   • My Notes - This tab provides an area to enter and print notes relevant to the topic.
   • Glossary - This tab displays a glossary of terms that may be used in the topic.
   • Resources - This tab displays links to supplemental resources, websites and downloadable utilities, and applications.
   • Additional Reading - Provides supplementary information to the content.
   • Text Version - This tab displays a printable text version of the topic.



5. Hotkeys

   All content navigation can be acessed via the keyboard using the following hotkey combinations:

   • Ctrl + Shift + PGUP = Next
   • Ctrl + Shift + PGDN = Back
   • Ctrl + Shift + BACKSPACE = Replay
   • Ctrl + Shift + e = Exit
   • Ctrl + Shift + m = Mute
   • Ctrl + Shift + p = Play/Pause
   • Ctrl + Shift + h = Help
   • Ctrl + Shift + g = Glossary
   • Ctrl + Shift + s = Resources Tab
   • Ctrl + Shift + n = My Notes
   • Ctrl + Shift + d = Additional reading
   • Ctrl + Shift + t = Text Version/Transcript



6. Activities

   Activities are provided to you in the course to test your knowledge and practice newly learned skills and procedures. There are two basic types of activities in a course: question-based activities and simulation-based activities. All activities are launched in a new window. The options featured are explained below:

   • Launch Activity - Click this button to launch a question-based activity.
   • Show Me Full Demo - Click this button to display a step-by-step demonstration of the current activity.
   • Guide Me Through - Click this button to display a demonstration of the steps required to complete the activity. After each step is demonstrated, the user is given the opportunity to perform the actions required for that step.
   • Let Me Try - Click this button to launch a simulation activity. Once the activity has been launched, you may attempt to perform the simulated activity. Simulation activities also provide their own set of navigation elements. The simulation activity elements featured are explained below.
     • Milestone tab - This tab contains the current milestone text. A milestone is a task that requires a series of actions for the user to complete. Click the milestone tab title bar to expand and collapse the Milestone tab. A simulation is comprised of one or more milestones and each milestone is comprised of one or more steps.
     • Instructions text box - This area contains instructions on how to complete the current step.
     • Exit - Click this button to return to the main course content. window
     • Mute - Toggles the audio mute function.
     • Back - Takes you to the previous content screen.
     • Next - Takes you to the next content screen.
     • Percentage Complete Bar - Indicates your current position and the amount of content left in the simulation.
     • Hint - Click this button to display support dialog. The support dialog offers two different support options: Show Me Demo and Show Me Clue. These options are explained below.
       • Show Me Demo - Click this button to see a demonstration of how to complete the current action.
       • Show Me Clue - Click this button to display information that will help you complete the current action.
     • Minimize Instruction Button - This appears in the upper-right of the Instructions Box. Clicking this button will expand and collapse the Instructions box.



7. Simulations

   Simulations provide a safe environment for practicing job-related tasks. These simulations typically take the form of a branching set of decisions. As with real life, there can be more than one right answer. There is, however, a single optimal path that will prove to be the most efficient. Simulation features are listed below.

   • Scenario - The Scenario page is the entry point into the Business Simulation. You will be presented with the storyline, characters, or other pertinent information to provide you the necessary context to complete the simulation. Click Start Activity to begin.
   • Decisions - Each page of the simulation requires you to make a decision regarding how you would proceed with the given problem. Click the decision choice that you feel is the most approprate for the situation.
   • Advice - At relevant times a Get Advice button will be available. This can provide you with hints or guidelines for choosing the best decision.
   • History - As you make decisions they are recorded in the Decision History area. This provides some useful tools as you are going through the simulation, such as:
     • Review - Clicking an item in the history will provide you with a review of what you did at that decision point and feedback on your choice.
     • Undo - While reviewing, you have the option of undoing one or more decisions you made previously. Important: There is no Redo option, so use the Undo option with care.
   • Summary - Once the simulation has been completed, a complete summary of your decisions will be displayed providing you with feedback and an overall gauge of how you performed.