Recognised supplier on the Learning & Development and eLearning Solutions framework.
Used by the Department for Work Pensions (DWP) for systems training since 2006.
Why Emulation?
Systems Training
When it comes to systems training, simulation has long been recognised as the most effective tool.
However, in spite of the growing sophistication of ‘screen-copy’ and ‘software cloning’ tools, system simulation is a problematic enterprise for many large-scale organisations…
Simulation tools typically require a finished system before the simulation can be built. This means that once a system goes live, there is often a costly delay until simulation training is available.
Once the simulation is built, the problems don’t go away. Systems are constantly changing - which means that the simulations have to keep up with the changes. Even cosmetic changes take significant time and money.
But system simulation needn’t be a costly venture – and that’s why XOR developed the Emulation Toolkit, the optimum tool for sustainable, large-scale, end-user training.
Rather than cloning or copying, XOR review an original system and use the toolkit to re-create each system component in exact detail. Individual components are linked together to perfectly replicate the appearance and functionality of the original system.
The toolkit then allows the simulated system to be deployed in a variety of ways. Instructional training and tests can be overlaid and simulations can be exported for use within the client’s own training system. The advantages over more conventional simulation tools are clear.
XOR's Solution – the Emulation Toolkit
Simultaneous rollout
The Emulation Toolkit does not require a finished system as its basis. An accurate simulation can be made using specification documents for the original system. Systems which are still being built can be simulated – which means that system and simulation training can be rolled out simultaneously.
Easy to update and maintain simulation
The Emulation Toolkit’s component system makes modifying a simulation quick and easy. A change to a screen in the original system doesn’t necessitate having to change every instance of that screen in the simulation: the component is simply modified, once, and every instance of it in the simulation then reflects the changes.
Web-based for ease of access
Every part of the Emulation Toolkit is web-based, which means there’s no need for desktop installation. In organisations where authoring and learning communities might be large and widely dispersed, this can make for huge savings.
Simulation development is flexible
XOR typically build system components, create the simulations, and any training material to go on top of this. But the client can be trained to perform any of these functions, further reducing the cost of simulation in the long term.
The bottom line
XOR’s Emulation Toolkit was specifically designed to be cost effective. While the creation of components makes for a larger initial design period than with regular simulation tools, the component system ultimately reduces the time and cost incurred in maintaining the simulation over the life-cycle of the original system.
This saving in time and cost, along with the fact that the Emulation Toolkit unqiuely allows for simultaneous rollouts of system and simulation training, make it the most efficient and sustainable eLearning solution for end-user training in large scale organisations.
