We are proud to announce the completion of the redesign for GSAPROPOSAL.COM. The GSA Proposal Web site was a redesign of an existing site with two goals in mind: Creating a custom, updated, professional look and feel Giving the client ease of use in updating the site These goals were accomplished by developing a custom design and converting it for Wordpress. Because of the large amount of content, the site was set up in blocks allowing the client to edit specific pieces of a page without worrying about the effect on the rest of the page or site. The client has full control of the site with the ability to add, edit, and delete content including pages of the site. The site in includes a blog, provides users with videos and audio (radio shows), and also integrates Twitter, posting the most recent tweet from the client. Please click here to view the site!

We're proud to announce that on January 1st 2010 we have launched our new company web site. Please feel free to browse the site to see what our talented team has developed throughout 2009. We look forward to 2010 and hope that all of our team members, and clients have a relaxing and enjoying holiday break!

We're proud to announce the development of an interactive simulation we completed over the holiday break for a University. This simulation allows you to get an in depth look at each stage of a Tsunami from an initial earthquake to the devastation left over by the wave. We have developed this as an interactive ride within the virtual world of Second Life. This simulation will be used by the oceanography department of the University and will allow the students to see what happens below and above the water line to help better understand the impact Tsunami's have on vegetation and the landscape. To learn about how we can develop a simulation for you contact us today!  

We are proud to announce the almost complete development of a music island for a university.  The university requested that we build serious game scenarios for their students to learn about music within Second Life.    This virtual world provides the ability for students to take multiple choice exams that are sent directly to the client’s learning management system to track the students’ progress throughout each exam on the island.   Not only are they able to take exams but we have built an interactive puzzle game in which they can put together the pieces of a musical instrument. By doing this they are awarded with that instrument which they are able to play virtually in Second Life.  Each instrument is customized to play for every avatar in world once they have completed assembling the instrument correctly. The virtual music island building was based off of a previous development we built a few years ago for the Disney Concert Hall. This building holds many interactive quizzes, puzzle-like games, and even a "name that tune" game for students to learn more about music appreciation. Contact us today to learn how we can build your serious game in Second Life.

With the relatively recent interest in moving to web based training more and more people are thinking about making a career change. The job of an instructional designer for computer based training is very interesting, highly rewarding but also not your average job. Individuals in this career have to be creative, have a comprehensive understanding of web based training development, training scenarios and scenario based training. They also have to know about e-learning development companies and how these companies provide services to the clients. While it may be hard to narrow down just three qualities of an instructional designer, the following are certainly at the top of the Designing Digitally, Inc. staff list. Communication Skills An instructional designer  has to be able to both talk and listen. He or she will meet with the client to determine their learning objectives and goals as well as ask the questions necessary to be clear about the training program desired. In addition communication within the vast number of professionals involved in developing the training is also a must. The instructional designer will work with the subject matter expert, the web based training developers, virtual world designers, project managers and the team in general. In addition to verbal communication the instructional designer will often be responsible for generating the copy or text that goes along with the training. This may include audio and video scripts as well as the trainer and participant manuals. Being able to develop games, simulations and training modules that people respond to emotionally will help with learning and motivation for training. Visualization Skills The instructional designer has to be able to visualize the end product before the first line of programming is ever generated. This really means seeing the big picture as well as all the details to provide a very accurate experience for the learner. This ability to visualize and see both from a designer as well as a user's perspective helps to ensure that the training is well structured, logical and at the appropriate level based on the target audience or training group. Designing Digitally, Inc. instructional designers definitely have these skills, resulting in amazingly lifelike serious games and 3D simulations. Knowledge Knowledge may seem like a big concept, and it really is when it comes to game based simulation and training. As the designer you will have to be able to know how people learn based on current research and approaches. You will also have to have a good foundation in a wide variety of theoretical and practical areas from the tools used in designing online trainings through to the most innovative of instructional strategies. While you don't need to be a subject matter expert in the specific field, having the knowledge what creative, unique and effective e-learning techniques best suit the training goals is going to be a key component of your job. Needless to say the instructional designer is also going need to have more than his or her fair share of creativity. If you think you have all these skills as well as some proven leadership abilities you may be a great match for this truly unique career. The highly skilled instructional designers at Designing Digitally, Inc. definitely have all these characteristics in our staff as well as the experience that has helped our company become an industry leader in the world of web based training. For more information on how we can build your web-based training modules contact us today!

There are lots of ways that businesses, schools, or government agencies offering online learning opportunities can cut their overhead costs. You may initially think about buying a software package that promises to allow you to do virtually anything in respect to e-learning development. However, just because there is the software available doesn't mean it is a good idea. Many companies, organizations, and agencies attempt to design their own e-learning modules only to find out they have spent considerable time, money and effort for a very low quality final product. Experience Counts Designing and developing e-learning modules and programs takes experience and a very particular set of skills. It is not just about putting information online; it is about creating an enjoyable, fun and entertaining learning experience for the participants. At Designing Digitally, Inc. our specialization is designing virtual training modules, simulations, serious games and virtual worlds. You simply cannot get that experience though using a software program no matter how comprehensive it may be. Experience also counts in knowing what your target audience finds engaging, entertaining and useful. This means that the e-learning developers have to have their finger on the pulse of what gaming and technology components can be used in the e-learning experience to ensure it is cutting edge and up to the expectations of the learners. If you put together a module on your own using the basic technology it is going to be out of date and behind the times before it ever comes online. Building in the Entertainment Factor The reason that most entities that use e-learning modules and game-based training is because these types of learning experiences are more interactive, less costly for long term use and have a higher satisfaction level for the target audience than traditional types of training and teaching. The higher satisfaction factor for the learner has to do with the entertainment aspect of an online learning experience. Adding serious games, virtual worlds and simulations make the entire training more like a video game, which is a familiar entertainment option for people of all ages. Unless you are a game developer, incorporating the entertainment component in a do-it-yourself type of e-learning software program is far too technical. Instead you will end up relying on the standard program offered by the software, which is the same as everyone else's e-learning program. Using a professional designing company provides you with the option to fully customize the e-learning program to create a unique, one of a kind training experience that is developed solely with your learning objectives and the target audience in mind. Creating the E-learning Experience Anyone that had participated in any type of game based training that wasn't professionally developed by specialists in the technology can tell you what was wrong with the game itself. Often the biggest problems reported is that there is no cohesive flow to the game and it doesn't address the learning objectives that it intended to cover. We have the experience that is needed to make the e-learning experience pleasant and captivating for the learner while ensuring the learning objectives are met. Your web-based training will be designed by our team to provide choices to user, give information in a structured manner, and to provide the learning opportunities that you want included. The way that the game flows will be entirely customized to your needs. Attention to every detail of the learner's experience is our specialization. This is certainly different than simply using a template which only provides so many options and learning experiences which may or may not make sense with your specific training requirements. We think of all the little things that you haven't. No detail is overlooked in the design and this ensures that the final product exceeds your expectations. Everything is considered when we work through the design and development including sound effects, backgrounds, additional features and elements to the learning experience. This framework for the e-learning experience and attention to each detail on every screen is just one of the many features that the professional e-learning developers at Designing Digitally, Inc. focuses on when creating the perfect match for your e-learning program. These professionals have years of experience in developing all types of training for small to large companies, organizations, schools and agencies. Cheap is Not Better Trying to envision, create and develop your own e-learning module will not result in a professional, high quality end product. While you may be able to get the basics done, dealing with the inevitable glitches, problems and issues that arise when the module actually goes live is more than most people can manage. In addition, as a developer you tend to focus in on what you like in an e-learning experience which may not be same technologies and options that your target audience for the training wants, needs or enjoys. What you are most likely to end up with is a training program that is web-based but not entertaining, engaging or effective. You have spent hundreds of dollars in software and hundreds of hours in development all for an e-learning module that is limited at best in its actual appeal. Working with the professionals at Designing Digitally, Inc. can prevent all these problems. Your information, your feedback and your ideas can be incorporated into the e-learning module but our experienced team of professionals will handle all the design, development and technical details. What you will end up with is an e-learning module that functions just as anticipated, runs without any glitches or problems and is set at a level that includes all relevant, new technology to provide a high level of both information and entertainment for the learner. This combination is sure to keep learners coming back for more and also provides you with the option to continue to do your job while we do ours. You will have a high rate of return on your investment in the training without any worries, hassles and the need to spend time learning about web-based development while also trying to do your own job.

If you’re interested in developing custom web-based training courses for your employees, but you’re having trouble getting upper management to buy-in, we can help. Knowing the strategic and tactical advantages of web-based training can help you convince decision makers that web-based training is appropriate for your team. It’s hard to list out all of the many advantages of web-based training, the following are the advantages we find most appealing. Strategic Advantages of Custom Web-Based Training   You can create a global workforce with customized instruction all over the world.   Custom web-based training is easy to adjust to employee wants and needs.   Companies can retain valued workers with continuing education, certifications, and more.   Your company will enjoy increased productivity and profitability by improving knowledge and skill levels.   Tactical Advantages of Custom Web-Based Training   Web-based training offers flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere, whether your employees are at the office, home or a hotel room.   Travel costs are reduced, including the cost of hotels, airfare, meals and other travel expenses associated with onsite training.   Edits and updates are easy to make without time lag or reprinting costs.   Tracking and management tools make it easy to evaluate and stay on top of trainee performance.   There are many more reasons why custom web-based training is beneficial for businesses, and Designing Digitally, Inc. can help you determine the best way to present your training materials in this format. For more information about how we can build your custom web-based training modules, contact us today for a free quote!

Designing Digitally, Inc. is excited to announce that they have completed and launched the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority’s new Find Financial Freedom program! The Find Financial Freedom website boasts nearly 10 hours of interactive e-learning in a fun and rewarding game-like setting. Using a board game concept, students work through a mock scenario of paying off their debt and saving their money to purchase a 3D car and house at the end of the program. The ability to customize their home through a web-based 3D simulation, including upgrading their yard, adding a garage or pool plus more, enhances the user experience. Throughout each lesson they can earn money by correctly answering preliminary questions, review questions, as well as bonus questions. The bonus questions at the end of each lesson can cause a gain or a loss depending on whether or not the question is answered correctly. If answered correctly, students receive a extra money for scenarios such as having a yard sale or inheriting money from their uncle. If answered incorrectly, money is deducted from their savings for an unexpected expense such as new tires or medical bills. To help students succeed, the website also includes a number of tools, such as an expense tracker, discussion board, periodic savings calculators and more. Additionally, coaches, who are assigned to each student, help guide users throughout their learning experience through an internal messaging system. For the website administrators, reporting features within the site to detail student progression and learning capacity. Designing Digitally, Inc. is proud to have helped New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority provide their target audience with the tools they need to be financially responsible and looks forward to a lasting partnership with NHHFA as they continue to expand on their online offerings.

Anyone that has taken an e-learning course or a web-based training knows that the attention to detail in the design of the program really does make a huge difference. There is nothing more frustrating to someone that has taken the time to take a web based training module to find out that the entire program isn't cohesive in design or it is difficult to read, understand and navigate. Having the professionals at Designing Digitally, Inc. design and develop your web-based learning will ensure that the learner has the best possible experience online without any of the glitches that are so common in poorly designed and developed online learning programs. The Visual Experience Designing and creating a visual experience for your web-based training that is appealing to the learner and easy on the eyes is critical. When people try to create their own e-learning programs they simply don't have the experience in knowing what is going to be visually appealing to the user. The result of a do-it-yourself interface design is often a collection of different colors, fonts, buttons, features and even backgrounds that are distracting to the learning experience and end up causing confusion and taking away from the message. Knowing what works in creating a web-based training interface takes experience. Using our professional design team ensures that your training will be visually appealing to the learner. It will capture their attention and keep them engaged in the training or simulation to ensure maximum learning and skill mastery. The interface design we create will be professional quality; allowing the users to focus in on the learning not on trying to learn how to use the interface. Learning Experience Many web-based training modules lack a clear direction as to the learning experience. While having a consistent visual presentation to the user is important, so is the actual learning or skill mastery that is the objective of completing the training. If the interface design is not consistent with the learning that is taking place it is not going to reinforce the knowledge or skills that are being developed. Having the right interface designs adds validity and reality to the web-based training that assists the user and enhances the learning potential. Themes Themes need to be maintained throughout the web-based training interface as well. This includes the issues discussed above as well as other components such as sound effects, the logo locations and menus. These themes can also include the best options for providing branding throughout the learning modules that is subtle and incorporated into the overall flow of the experience. Many web-based programs simply add a logo or branding component here and there that is more of a distraction to the flow of the experience. At Designing Digitally, Inc. we have years of experience in developing web-based training. The design rules that we incorporate are tried and true and have been developed over time to ensure the highest possible learning experience, which is what you want for your training.

Designing Digitally, Inc. is proud to announce that we are sponsoring the 2012 Virtual World Best Practices In Education conference March 15-17, 2012. The conference starts this week in Second Life at the Rockcliff University Second Life Campus with over 30 presenters including our President Andrew Hughes. On behalf of our entire team we are excited to help educate our industry on what has been happening and what is to come in the virtual world realm. This conference is free to the public and will provide vast knowledge on using virtual worlds for educational purposes. For more information regarding the conference please see the information below Virtual Worlds Best Practice In Education Website Virtual Worlds Best Practice In Education Schedule Virtual Worlds Best Practice In Education Location Designing Digitally, Inc. Exhibitors Booth Location Our President (Andrew Hughes) Presentation Topics: Time: Saturday March 17th at 9:00 AM Pacific Daylight-Savings Time (PDT) Topic:Taking a proactive approach to virtual campus tours - 3D Virtual Campus Tours Location:http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/EduCommons%20Bravo/5/235/40 Time: Saturday March 17th at 2:00 PMPacific Daylight-Savings Time (PDT) Topic:Approaching Training For Generations Entering The Workforce Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rockcliffe%20Library/245/11/31 Hats off to the Rockcliff University Consortium for once again hosting such an innovative virtual conference! We look forward to seeing you all there.