Tools: SoftChalk

What is SoftChalk?

SoftChalk is a powerful web lesson editor that lets you easily create engaging, interactive web lessons for your e-learning classroom.

With SoftChalk you can....

• Create interactive web pages for your e-learning course. It's easy, quick, and your lessons will look like a professional designer created them.
• Engage your students with lessons that include pop-up text annotations, self-assessment quizzes, and interactive learning games.
• Package your lessons for delivery via CD-ROM, Intranet, Internet, or integrate with your LMS (Learning Management System).

If you can use a word-processing program, you can use SoftChalk. Designed for teachers and content-experts who don't have time to learn complex software, SoftChalk is simple, yet powerful, with only the features you need to create exciting, interactive, content for your online course.

SoftChalk Overview.

Getting Started with SoftChalk

SoftChalk offers free hands-on, online training. Learn about the features of SoftChalk by taking the feature tour. Check out the SoftChalk training calendar and register for online training workshops.

Recommended Workshops:

SoftChalk Basics

• Overview of SoftChalk (1 hour)
• TextPoppers, Images and Hyperlinks (1 hour)
• Navigation Features and the Sidebar (1 hour)

Register for SoftChalk online workshops

SoftChalk Advanced Features

• Interactive Learning Activities (1 hour)
• Quizzes and SoftChalk Score Tracker (1 hour)

Register for SoftChalk online workshops

Quick Ways to Learn More

• Pressed for time? Watch short video tutorials (5 minutes or less!)
• Need ideas? View sample lessons to get started

Online Help Resources

SoftChalk Support Center

Whether you’re looking for a quick way to learn more about SoftChalk or to get the answer to a question you have, SoftChalk’s online Support Center is the place for you.

From the Support Center, you can easily:

• Access the user guide
• Search for information in the FAQs/Knowledge Base
• Subscribe to a specific question to be notified by email if an update is made for the question
• Enter a help request

SoftChalk Training

SoftChalk Innovator Series

See how other instructors are using SoftChalk by watching the SoftChalk Innovators in Online Learning presentations. Check out brief vignettes of the presentations (5 - 10 minutes) SoftChalk Vignettes or view the full version of the presentations (1 hour each) SoftChalk Innovator Series.

StyleBuilder Template

(Editor Notes: Should we explain this more?)
Use the DTCC StyleBuilder template in your SoftChalk lessons:

1. Save: Save the Softchalk-style-DTCC.zip file to your computer by right clicking on the link and choosing Save Link As...
2. Import: Open SoftChalk, go to the Tools menu and choose StyleBuilder, click Import, find the Softchalk-style-DTCC.zip file saved to your computer
3. Add: Add the style to your SoftChalk lessons by opening SoftChalk, going to Properties, Style Properties, choose the DTCC template

Watch the StyleBuilder video for more help with StyleBuilder.

Adding SoftChalk Content to Blackboard Courses

(Editor Notes: This section needs work, can't remember which handouts these are?)

• Tutorial: [Blackboard and SoftChalk]
• Handout: [Quick Tips for using SoftChalk with Blackboard]