Thursday, March 13, 2008

Online SoftChalk Version 4 Demos

If interested, SoftChalk will demo their next version of SoftChalk LessonBuilder (which we license at JCCC) this afternoon (March 13) from 3-4 PM. Three additional sessions are scheduled in the next couple of weeks. See http://www.softchalk.com/webinar/ for details and to register. Register early if you’d like to see the next version of this product.

New features include:
  • New Style Builder tool – create your own styles
  • Internationalization – new language options for generating lesson content
  • Two new activities: Interactive TimeLine, Slide Show
  • Create internal bookmark links within a lesson
  • Ability to name pages in the Table of Contents
  • New online score tracking options
  • New CD-ROM packaging option
  • 40 New pre-built style options
  • New Multi-page print option
  • Ability to integrate PodCasts and YouTube video as a media type
  • Ability to optimize image sizes and automatically convert image file types

Enhancements include:

  • Text wrapping around aligned images and image resizing in the editor window
  • Improved “list” handling, allowing nested lists and improved list editing
  • Equation Editor within activities
  • Increased image size provided in Hot Spot Image and Labeling activities
  • Option to increase text size in Flash Card activity
  • Crossword activity allows special and foreign characters
  • Improvements to table editing, including visible borders when the width is zero
  • Display of point values for quizpoppers and activities
  • New Keyboard shortcuts that match those in Microsoft Word
  • Page footers can now include links, text formatting and special characters, and images
  • New easier installation process
  • New software update process allows control of update by user

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am very, very disappointed in version 4. I don't think there is enough difference between 3 and 4 to warrant spending 500 bucks on this. The only real new option is the slideshow. And this version is much slower than 3 as well. I have been a big fan of SoftChalk up to now, giving presentations on it at my college and using it quite a git in my online courses, but now I feel like I have been overcharged for what should have been a free upgrade. I'm glad we didn't but the 10 pack! This is still good software, but there is no good reason for a person to upgrade from 3 to 4.

Brittany said...

SoftChalk V5 is scheduled for release May 2009. There are a lot of great new features including a media search tool, insert widget tool, and a publish to Blackboard option (which I have a feeling you would really like).

Sneak Peek webinars are being conducted right now. Check out http://www.softchalk.com/webinar for the schedule.