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Easy to access prototyping tools - PowerPoint and Sway (Heather G)

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Easy to access prototyping tools - PowerPoint and Sway (Heather G)

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Tool 1: PowerPoint (used for LFP/MFP currently)

Pros:
- SO well known!
- user-friendly (designers and stakeholders in most cases have familiarity)
- widely available (most businesses/institutions have Office365 access)
- low-cost considering additional systems are included in Office365 purchase
- the amount of (free) training resources available is extensive
- troubleshooting/professional development made easier because of widely available and free e-resources
- easily shareable (pdf versions if needed)
- functionality can be extensive if user has advanced PowerPoint training/knowledge

Cons:
- typically slides are not mobile-friendly unless additional steps are taken to do so
- design elements can be limiting and additional programs/files may need to be created externally and imported (such as graphics made and exported from Canva)
- for asynchronous viewing by stakeholders, audio/visual explanations of visuals/content may need to be added so the prototype can be understood in detail
- limited engagement from learners without incorporated other e-learning tools, which may come with challenges embedding the tools within the slides

Tool 2: Sway (tried for the first time this week to build upon my first prototype)

Pros:
-personally, it took only a few short articles and how-to videos to feel confident in my ability to create a project in Sway (low learning curve)
- because of point 1, I would say it is user-friendly
-similar to PowerPoint, there are many online resources available to troubleshoot and learn more functionality
- converts content to mobile-friendly seamlessly and looks good
- works well for LFP/MFP
- stakeholders could understand the flow easily synchronously or asynchronously
- accessible with Office365 (low/no additional cost to many)
- collaborative and easy real-time edits with stakeholders

Cons:
- limited functions, depending on the intended use (however for LFP/MFP, could be a great tool to outline learning experiences)
- limited engagement, however, embedding e-learning tools such as Flipgrid, Padlet, multiple choice questions in Microsoft forms are easy to embed
- limited customization, design, and layout
- does not track engagement/edits/feedback

My take:
As someone new to many e-learning tools, it felt safe and reliable to start with PowerPoint as a prototyping tool and I would suggest this to anyone who may be hesitant about learning curves for new technology or cost-hesitant to invest in new tools. For low, medium, or high fidelity prototyping, PowerPoint may meet your needs depending on your project. This week I tried Sway for the first time to build on my initial prototype and I found it very manageable to incorporate the feedback my stakeholders provided me and the tool met my needs (plus the project manager was impressed with Sway compared to the similar prototype in PowerPoint). Overall, I am enjoying Sway as a prototyping tool although I feel I am still very fresh in my Sway learning. I would suggest Sway for accessibility and quick-to-learn functionality. Thanks!

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Pat's Prototyping Tools - Concepts and Powerpoint

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Pat's Prototyping Tools - Concepts and Powerpoint

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My go-to prototyping tools:

Concepts
Pro version by TopHatch inc. is a downloadable iOS, Google,  MS app and now Galaxy.
NEW RELEASE: Concepts for MS Teams available in Beta (My yearly sub is reasonably priced at $5 Cdn a month)

Pros:
- 4.6 rating on the Apple Store
- Light download: 112 MB
- 11 languages (incl.  Korean, Russian and simplified Chinese)
- Handy, tablet-centric and always ready to sketch, brainstorm, design, wire-frame etc. with an Apple Pencil
- Writing on glass is not like writing on paper, so expect a little learning curve (solutions: hold the pencil a bit more tightly and you're good to go, or buy a transparency for your screen that feels like a paper surface)
- Provides an almost infinite canvas (layers, grid, snap, measure, guide) for wire-framing prototypes, drawing, etc.
- Basic features are almost endless, from font size to colour palettes to instrument selections to graphic elements, images, etc.
- Imports hundreds of templates to simplify the wire-framing process; can also import photos, camera, photos, files; create your own logos, preset images, etc.
- Exports JPG, PNG, SVG, DXF, PSD, PDF, Concepts native file.
Other pluses:
- I use Concepts (on a second screen) for Zoom teaching, and it saves on time, never glitches, or drops
- It's certainly a much more fluid, engaging and human experience than Share Screen in a video-conference call. :))

Cons:
-Free version no longer available
-On the rare occasion, the canvas did stick/slightly less responsive (but it's hardly noticeable)
-For wire-framing, I found it generally easy to use but there was a bit of lagginess when I would cut and paste my graphic elements from the Concepts library - very minor issue
-Accessibility: unclear if the main tool bar circle in the upper-left hand corner of the canvas is moveable - not ideal for lefties)

Powerpoint
Pros:
- If you're a linear person (like me), PP is a reliable, surprisingly nimble and creative tool for scaffolding an elearning module prototype from beginning to end
- Integrates almost any file format, incl. audio and video (but there's a catch with the video)

Cons:
- The 90s image graphics library is due for a change (Has MS developed their own stock images??)
- Videos do not integrate after a certain size format (c'mon, MS, it's the 2020s)
- .pps version is more stable for sharing than the .ppx version- Issues with the tablet version is a headache

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Prototyping Tools (Powerpoint and Boords) - Jay Reid 

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Prototyping Tools (Powerpoint and Boords) - Jay Reid 

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Prototyping Tool 1: Powerpoint (using currently)

Pros:
- Can be used for a wide range of prototyping fidelities and into finished products

- Easy to integrate layered and flat graphics (ie. jpeg vs svg)

- Can export read-only formats that still allow for stakeholders to understand user interactivity

- Generally ubiquitous and no monthly fee

- Can be used to prototype a variety of LX

Cons:
- Some animations can appear very cheesy at first. There is a learning curve to understanding how to use the animations effectively - or at least there was for me - but once you do, they can be impressive.
- If you’re not working from a template, the design time can be long starting from scratch

Prototyping Tool 2: Boords (exploring this for the first time)

What is it? A collaborative video storyboarding app that could be used for prototyping video learning content.

Pros:
- Online sharing, commenting and role-based access (in paid versions)

- 3-100 users depending on subscription ($29/month - $100/month)

- 800,000+ stock images and icons

- Can export in variety of forms including
like 1) .doc script (ie. a table with: frame, action, text, sound) 2) storyboard PDF (visually quite attractive), 3) video “Animatic” that flashes through each board

- Overall a surprising short learning curve

Cons:

- Only suitable for video prototyping

- “Free version” exists but does not allow you to export the full version in certain formats. However you can “present” in the program itself)

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Prototyping Tools/Resources: Miro & Figma

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Prototyping Tools/Resources: Miro & Figma

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Prototyping tool 1: Figma - mid- high fidelity prototyping tool (collaborative interface design tool)
pros:
+provides a free plan (max team of two designers working on a product)
+cloud-based design tool
+allows for real-time collaboration
+all in one tool from design, prototyping and handing off to the development team
+great resource of plugins
+the feature 'Figma mirror' allows designer to do a self-check - they can see how the design looks and interacts before proceeding

cons:
-as it is cloud based, if you have no internet, you can't access Figma
-requires a decent RAM & Graphic Cards to run smoothly - if you client doesn't have these specs in their laptop/device then they may not be able to open the Figma link

Prototyping tool 2:  Miro - low- mid fidelity prototyping tool (visual collaboration platform to create, collaborate and centralise communication)

pros:
+Provides 3 boards on the free plan
+Easy to create flows and templates on Miro, including one for storyboarding
+Ability to create multiple working areas on one "canvas" and print/PDF sections individually
+ability to wireframe components and put together UI quickly
+able to host a large audience without the tool lagging

cons:
-some learners of the tool might find the learning curve a little steep
-the icons are not intuitive, so you will have to test these several times
- tracking across the screen can be difficult
- resizing the elements is sometimes confusing

Conclusion:
As the learning experience I am designing continues to evolve, my preference would fall with Miro for the time being as it is a tool I am familiar with, and a tool that is widely used with my team. As we are in a space of rapid growth and evolution, the ability to collaborate on a tool that is known to the organisation and the team has its advantages, and will allow for rapid prototyping to occur in my instance (even though the tool is not intended for this). The ability to quickly and easily collaborate is key at present.

I would love to shift to Figma once the requirements for the LXD is confirmed through stakeholder feedback. There's still a question mark whether this should be an asynchronous learning experience or a live-online workshop. If this becomes asynchronous and module based, then the preference will shift to Figma.

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1) Miro (tool I have some experience with)

Miro is a perfect tool to use for low fidelity prototyping. There is three available pricing packages within Canada. First package is Free which is perfect for getting started. Next pricing is  $8/month and with this Team package there is a stronger capability for collaboration. The third price is $16/month and this Business package has advanced collaborative and security capabilities. With the two packages with associated costs there is a 20% rebate if you pay it annually instead of monthly.

Pros
-Cloud based
-Collaborative
-Easy to lay out ideas (brainstorming)
-Available templates
-Good value for the cost
-Ease of use ( I know for someone not tech savvy)
-Many great features
-Web based,iOS,Android supported

Cons
-Hard to zoom in
-A few bugs
-Initially visually not attractive (empty space)
-Tough to use on the phone

2) PowerPoint (tool I use more often)

PowerPoint is a tool to create presentations but it can be used for prototyping. It has the capability is create high,medium and low fidelity content. The cost of PowerPoint here in Canada has two price options. It has a one time price of $159.00 for PC or Mac or you can purchase Microsoft 365 which include it and Word, Excel, Outlook, and OneDrive all for $8.00/month or $79/year.

Pros
-User friendly up to medium fidelity
-Well known, go to for presentations(almost expected)
-Easy hands on
-Very customizable
-Most companies buy Microsoft 365 for office computers
-Potential to make powerful content

Cons
-Not very collaborative
-Easy to get started but difficult to level up skills
-Made for presentations and not for prototyping
-Technical difficulties

Overall PowerPoint is my go to software for presentations but Miro I use and the company I work for uses for prototyping and brainstorming. I am not super tech savvy person and I can use both tools with ease at a basic level. During this course I have increased my PP skills quit a bit I look forward to continuing skills development.

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The branching capacities of Twine in action

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Lauren Fournier's Prototyping Tools: Twine and Balsamiq

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Lauren Fournier's Prototyping Tools: Twine and Balsamiq

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My previous prototyping tool: Keynote

I would say that this tool is best suited for medium fidelity prototypes, though both low and high fidelity prototypes are possible (albeit limited) with this tool.

Pros
- Mac users are familiar with it, and most PC users are too (as you can work between Keynote and Powerpoint)
- Functional and flexible; I find it very easy to use based on my familiarity having used this tool for years

Cons
- Exporting between Keynote and Powerpoint/Microsoft is not always functional or compatible
- It is fundamentally limited: it works best for more straightforward, linear presentations. Even with animations added, you still risk having a learning experience that is a "fancy powerpoint"

My new prototyping tool #1: Twine

I would say that this tool is best suited for low to medium fidelity prototypes.

Pros
- Because it is optimized for branching scenarios, it has high functionality for non-linear storytelling and other forms that involve branching or user choice
- It has the possibility of gamification built into it via user interactivity
- It is free and open source, and can be either downloaded as an app or used in-browser
- I found it easy to learn and accessible to use for low-fidelity prototyping
- A great resource for interactive narratives, providing options for gamification
- Financially accessible: you can download it for free or use it in-browser

Cons
- You are limited to working in text, and not visuals

As someone interested in branching scenarios and choose-your-own-adventure storytelling structure for my learning experiences, I will be working with Twine
The use of double square brackets provides a very simple—even more simple, in my experience, than the CYOA branching functionalities in Powerpoint or Keynote

My new prototyping tool #2: Balsamiq

I would say that this tool is best suited for low to medium fidelity prototypes.

Pros
- User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality that is intuitive and easy to learn
- You can create wireframes for desktop, iPhone, iPad, or Android, with the wireframes including both text and visuals
- Ready to use icons
- Collaborative
- Free 30-day trial, and after that a fairly accessible price point if you are only working on a few projects (2 projects at a time: $9/month)

Cons
- No colour, so limits the ability to make a high-fidelity prototype
- No animation
- It gets pricey if you want to use this tool for multiple projects: for 20 projects, their most popular plan, you are paying $49/month or $490/year. For 200 projects, you're paying $199/month or $1,990/year!

Conclusion:

Twine is a better tool than Keynote or Powerpoint when it comes to creating branching scenarios and choose-your-own-adventure types of learning experiences. Therefore, I will be working with Twine as a scripting tool for the text component of my prototype. I was looking for a free and accessible tool to create a wireframe for my prototype that shows its proposed visual design on a mobile app and/or desktop app. I ended up trying Balsamiq’s 30 day free trial and have been very happy with it at this stage (LF-MF prototype): it seems like a great tool for UI/LX wireframing.

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I am going to use Sway for my content however for activities and presentations I am considering using Power Point and Canva.

Prototyping Tool #1: Canva Free version

PROS:

- We can start from scratches or use pre-existing templates

- Free version is having a huge library of images and other elements to create high quality presentations and posters

- It gives option to upload own images, videos, and audios

- Created designs can be downloaded in any file format

- As I am using Sway for the content deliverable, I use mp4 files as they render in the content greatly

- Canva is a user-friendly tool and tutorials with various tutorials all available in one place

- Canva allows sharing your images directly to some social networks

CONS:

- Images of the same theme are limited so you must plan well your presentations

- Fonts used in Canva cannot be found in Power Point

- Animation in free version are limited

- Canva has photo editor features, however its options are limited comparing to tools such as Photoshop can.

- User experience on a desktop computer is better that using the mobile app

Prototyping Tool #2: Power Point

PROS:

- Tool that most users have experience with

- Free for O365 users

- Great source of images, icons, shapes

- Shapes and pretty much everything can be edited, resized, reshaped, and customized

- Allows creating pretty much everything (animations, interactive activities)

- Can be previewed at anytime

- Many YouTube free tutorials demonstrating creation of complex presentations

CONS:

- Creating complex designs is time consuming especially for users not having much experience

- Not intuitive

- In Sway PPT files can only be added as links. This requires storing PPT files in Cloud and adding sharing permissions to the audience
- In some LMS', PPT files render as PDFs and as such any dynamic presentations or audios are not playing as intended

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Emese's Prototyping Tools: PowerPoint | Figma

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Emese's Prototyping Tools: PowerPoint | Figma

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Prototyping tool 1: PowerPoint

Pros (+):
+can be used virtually anywhere (on both PC & macOS)
+collaborative due to its online storage
+PPT-to-SCORM conversion is available
+the majority of people are familiar with it
+easy to use

Cons (-):
-office 365 requires macOS 10.15 or later. (This was a pain point for me as I had a later version of macOS, so I needed to switch to PC)
-it can't do it all (eg.: drag-and-drop function is limited)
-while Microsoft offers a free basic version of PPT online, you likely need to pay for an annual subscription if you want to use the desktop and mobile apps and gain access to all features.

Prototyping tool 2:  Figma
Low-Mid fidelity

Pros (+):
+allows developers and designers to work on the same file
+free version available but the subscription is affordable, too
+vector design tools available
+cloud software with auto-save and no lag
+third-party plugins can be used while designing

Cons (-):
-UI is not very intuitive, it takes some time to get used to it
-with larger files, Figma tends to run a little slowly (downside of an online tool)
-lack of animation functionality (can't build a prototype with animations)
-access to Figma can be problematic if the user's internet isn't working
-limited tutorials and best-practices for new designers

Comment:

I have explored PowerPoint for prototyping and it worked very well for me. Nevertheless, I am open to discover more prototyping tools such as Figma, in order to increase my knowledge and effectiveness as an LX Designer.

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Miro (App Wireframe)
-seems well suited to low fidelity prototyping for learning experience design
-free trial with seamless introduction to "how to" videos; boards can be shared for viewing and comments (big plus)
-cost goes up with more team members collaborating but still relatively affordable (baby plus)
-it will take me at least 2 hours of video learning and 2 more hours of playing around for me to get reasonably competent at this tool (baby minus)
-graphical elements are easy to understand and move around
-graphical elements are not dynamic or reactive; doesn't look like many creative design elements can be added
-time needs to be invested in learning but seems relatively easy to use and simple, therefore the learning investment needed is not too high for low fidelity prototyping
-the work required to learn MIRO seems worth it as its not too onerous.

Figma (low-fi wireframe kit)
-identified as for low fi prototypes; this particular template seemed most closely related to learning experience design
-easy to sign up for free trial; the free version seems to allow you to do and make more than Miro (baby plus)
-I was not immediately directed to video/pop ups that taught me how to navigate use of Figma (big minus)
-Feeling very frustrated with not understanding how to navigate this tool and the fact that I can't even navigate to where I can learn; completely lost here :) (big minus)
-First impression = a heavy (probably painful) amount of time and energy would be required for me to use this tool capably
-graphical elements are highly detailed; seems like a needless amount of detail/features for creating a low-fi prototype
-I don't see why I should invest so much time in learning how to use Figma (with all of these features and graphical detail) when I can sketch a story board with my hand and my hand immediately does what I want it to with no effort :)

MIRO wins in this side-by-side evaluation.

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Invision Vs PowerPoint

Prototyping Tool 1- Invision

Invision Freehand is part of the Invision suite of applications. A comprehensive prototyping software supporting the process of designing. There are various templates for Brainstorming, Whiteboards, Creating flow charts and diagrams, Prototyping, workflows and developing roadmaps.

It is fast and easy to create a live prototype. One can add transitions test buttons and analyze the layout on a mock-up interface.

Main features of Invision:

·        Code-free design prototyping tools: pre-build templates, freehand drawing and animation

·        Design sharing and presentation: real-time meetings and whiteboarding

·        Design organization and collaboration: mind mapping, marker colours to indicate who is designing

·        Design feedback and comment on specific content

·        User testing and research

·        Integration testing: export whiteboards to other software

Pros

·        Simple and accessible- easy for people of all technical levels

·        Great Learning tools- Number of tutorials and resources to learn

·        Scalable-can be used by individuals and enterprises

·        Free plan

·        Great for collaboration and feedback- easy review comments, pdf sharing

·        Multiple Options of Integration- can be integrated with Slack, Sketch, Microsoft Teams and Adobe

·        Keeps version history of the product design

·        Prototypes can be fully animated and can be used for demos and testing

Cons

·        Integrations can be unreliable- sometimes integration with other software is problematic

·        Not fully collaborative- Comments can be provided but does not allow real-time editing

The design tool isn't incorporated- No browser-based access. Only available on Mac and Windows.

Pricing:

Free version

Pro version

$7.95 per user per month (billed annually)
$9.95 per user per month (billed monthly)

Enterprise:

Cost tailored to business with discounts available: charged per user
(between $25-$35 per user per month)

Prototype tool : (Currently Using): PowerPoint

A familiar tool, widely used, easily accessible. When it comes to Prototyping, here are the pros and cons of PowerPoint

Pros:

·        Easily available -Mac and Windows

·        Easy to learn

·        I think for Face to face learning and blended solutions it is the perfect prototyping tool. Stakeholders are familiar with PowerPoint

·        Can do storyboarding easily-Smart Art and imbibed shapes and designs help

Cons:

·        For e-learning, one cannot add the branching scenarios

·        Can’t have complex interactions, review mechanisms

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Kerry's Prototyping Tools: Figma | Adobe XD

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Kerry's Prototyping Tools: Figma | Adobe XD

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Prototyping Tool 1: Figma

Pros:

+Browser-based so you can access from anywhere- not limited to your own device.

+ Collaboration is easy and seamless, especially when you are sharing projects with different stakeholders who can access the project to view and comment in real time through a single link.

+ The learning curve for those new to design and prototyping software is low as it is not complicated to get started and there are lessons and exercises available to learn as the user is doing

+Free for students and educators; free version is available for up to 3 projects;; Cost for full version is lower than competitors

+Figma uses vector networks (connect multiple lines to a single point) which is unique compared to other apps

+ From my experience in the web design side,Figma does make it pretty easy to design for a responsive web, and the auto layout feature is great

Cons:

- Not available offline (beta desktop available)

- It is limited on the devices it can properly run on ( 4GB of RAM and an Intel HD 3000 (or similar) Graphic Card), so if you do not have the tech specs to run the app, then you are out of luck.

Prototyping Tool 2:  Adobe XD

Pros:

+Available to work with local files offline; can sync to CC and connect to user’s library

+If you have experience using other Adobe CC apps, the learning curve for Adobe XD is minimal.

+Integration with other Adobe CC apps, like Photoshop and Illustrator

+Auto-animate feature

Cons:

- If you are not an Adobe CC aficionado, then there will be more of a learning curve.

- While you can collaborate with others in real time, the downside is that when one user saves their file, the other user will have to sync. Some changes between the two versions may be lost.

No free option available (Trial Only)

Final Thoughts

Figma and Adobe XD share a number of similar great features. For those who have not used a prototyping tool before, both apps provide great self help training tools to help in getting started. I would say that those with more experience using Adobe products would enjoy XD because it has the same look and feel of all Adobe products, but Figma is a great option for those who are looking not just to collaborate with other team members but share the work with various stakeholders.

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Prototyping tool 1: Microsoft Sway

Pros
-Super easy to use
-Free with MS Office subscriptions
-Graphically nimble--it's easy to make it look attractive
-Good for low or medium fidelity prototypes

Cons
-Maybe less appropriate for high-fi prototyping
-Not built to be a prototyping tool (after reading all these other posts, I might switch...) so it doesn't offer versioning
-Not easy to collect feedback
-Looks good graphically, but doesn't offer much customizability

All in all, it's more appropriate for low-fi prototyping.

Prototyping tool 2: UXPin

Pros
-Lots and lots of features
-Can include video and audio
-Offers complexity wrt the ways you can demonstrate interactivity
-Offers versioning for easy updates/version comparison
-Highly customizable when it comes to graphical features
-Can upload Sketch files into it, so easy to move between your low-fi and high-fi prototype (if you use Sketch for that)

Cons
-There's a learning curve to using it
-More appropriate for apps and other designs that are more complex than what I'm doing--potential features overload!
-Expensive

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This is not so much a battle to the death but more like a friendly joust between two prototyping knights

Presenting the contenders:

TWINE: A tool for telling stories (in our case, learning stories). Think about it this way, your LX is the movie and Twine allows you to write the script and do a table reading with your team.

FIGMA: A robust design engine that enables you to write the script but also showcase what the movie is pretty much gonna look like in the end.

TWINE PROS
+ A great way to push yourself to design the narrative and flow of your learning experience only with text, therefore helping you to concentrate on learning goals vs. being distracted by visual considerations.
+ Especially useful for creating functional prototypes of branching-scenarios where there are interconnections between scenes and different possible outcomes.
+ Open-source and web-based
+ Fairly easy to learn

TWINE CONS:
- As mentioned before, it serves mostly only one purpose: displaying a "scripted" version of your LX. But again, if you're thinking about your LX as something that tells a story, it's a great way to visualise just the message.
- It does not have collaboration features
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

FIGMA PROS:
+ Allows you to give your prototype advanced degrees of complexity: create a low-res version of your LX or a responsive, interactive, and visually striking look n' feel version of it.
+ Powerful collaboration functionality that supports the creative process. With FigJam (an associated online whiteboard) you can brainstorm side-by-side with your team, with Figma you can create feedback loops for all the intricate features of your LX design.
+ Free starter membership (Monthly subscription is $15/month)

FIGMA CONS:
- Learning curve steepness? Well it all depends on your goals but as with any tool which is this robust, it does require extensive exploration so you can get the most out of it.
- Because it's web-based, the full functionality requires an internet connection.

So again, no winner here, just two very useful prototyping tools that serve their own purposes royally.

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For this activity, I wanted to compare tools to help us (myself and my associate) make a decision to subscibe (or not) to Articulate 360 for upcoming projects on our newly launched LMS (we are using Thinkific).

Tool 1 (currently using) - PowerPoint

Pros (+):
+ Familiar tool for us and our clients: This makes it easy to share files and content, no need to explain the tool as it is known by (almost!) all.

+ Easy  to use (building on above ''pro''): Easy to navigate in PPT and create what we want + make adjustments if needed. Small learning curve for advanced functions to create more impactful experiences, but overall ready to use.

+ Various functionality and designs available: Large media library (images, clips, icons, etc.) to create engaging content.

Cons (-):
- Not specifically a prototyping tool: Might be limited in its functions, depending on the use intended.

- Less collaborative: Not meant to collect feedback from various sources.

- Good but not great: Good for more ''basic'' presentations (more linear) but not for more complex projects with lots of interactions and branching scenarios...might not create the ''Wow Factor'' we are looking for our learners over time.

Tool 2 (currently exploring) - Articulate Storyline 360

Pros (+):
+ Rapid prototyping options: Gives reviewers a interactive experience by letting them click and see the flow of the course/activity.

+ Project review app available: Makes it easier to collaborate with stakeholders and simplify project reviews.

+ Great for mid to high-fidelity design creations: Provides great visual prototype to the client/reviewer, even if fillers are used.

Cons (-):
- Pricy ($$): 1,299 USD/per user/annually. This needs to be seen as an investment!

- High learning curve: We need to keep in mind that time will need to be invested to get to know the tool before we are comfortable with it.

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When examining tools for prototyping, I wanted to find tools that would have multiple functions. EdTech can get rather expensive, so finding a tool that can fit multiple purposes would be best for my own situation. Two of the tools that I narrowed in on were: Miro and Canva.

Miro
- It is not a prototyping tool. In fact it is an infinite whiteboard. But it has such flexibility and usability that I can see it being used in prototyping.
- It is an excellent tool for collaborating with both colleagues and clients
- It is cloud based and has many templates within the miroverse (with more constantly being made)
- Simple shapes (as well as connectors) are easy enough to achieve, making it effective for mostly low or mid fidelity prototypes. It does provide the opportunity to import graphical elements and it has many plug ins that can facilitate this.
- This tool can be used for so many diverse activities (within face to face classes or training for brainstorming, group work, presentations, games and more)
- Some of the cons are the following: since it wasn't designed as a prototyping tool, a user is truly building from a blank canvas. There isn't much for a repository of figures, images, and the like which will make prototyping more labour intensive.
- The free version allows for 3 infinite boards which makes it cost effective.
- With regard to user friendliness, Miro can be overwhelming when beginning a board. Building one's skills with Miro slowly is necessary as their is a steep learning curve.
- In terms of evaluation, I would use this option for initial brainstorming, collaboration, and low fidelity prototypes and then move into a more specialized prototyping tool for high fidelity prototype.

Canva
- This tool, again, isn't a prototyping tool per se. However, its versitility makes it ideal for low to mid fidelity prototypes.
- In fact, Canva is simply a graphical design interface. This will mean that this particular tool can not only prototype but it can also be used to make final assets for learning experience. This opportunity to have one tool do "double duty" makes it mores cost effective (as the pro version is about $180 a year)
- It has a large bank of graphical elements (particularly the pro version) as well as photo elements making prototyping easier than Miro
- In addition, Canva has specific templates for desktop and smartphone prototyping which makes it closer to a prototyping tool than Miro.
- Canva is simple to use and working with templates can help to generate ideas.
- The drawback is that it doesn't have animations like a traditional prototyping tool. However, its versatility overshadows this.
- I would evaluate this EdTech tool as very functional for prototyping and cost effective.

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Module 1 Activity: Co-curate Prototyping Tools Crysi Popowich 

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Module 1 Activity: Co-curate Prototyping Tools Crysi Popowich 

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Prototyping Tool #1 Vectr

Pros:

·        Free Forever – and only free, no upgrade needed, what you see is what you get

o   Intuitive format makes Vectr easy to pick up and use without any experience

o   Draw custom shapes with the pen tool or free form pencil tool; or you can also select pre-loaded shapes or upload external content

o   Several tutorials available – caution, there are 2 versions of Vectr and both are fully functional, but if you feel you need the tutorials, go for the old version of Vectr, as the new version shows the tutorials are in production

·        Plays well with others

o   Content can be exported to png, jpg, and svg and because this is a vector design tool, the images will be clean, crisp, clear, and scalable if you want to use any of your custom creations in your final design

o   You use Vectr from your browser, so it will work for both Mac and Windows

·        Share content in real time

o   Vectr has a really neat feature that allows you to send a link to someone, so they can watch you work in real time; ideal for ideation and/or editing with colleagues or even a great way to include stakeholders in the design process, if they are so inclined

Cons:

·        Prototyping is not the intended purpose of the tool

o   There are no templated designs; so you have to pull your inspiration from outside sources

o   Since this is vector creation software, there is no option to create clickable or animated content to demonstrate or re-create the final user experience

·        There is no such thing as free

o   The tool is ad heavy with a portion of your work screen dedicated to ads that are regularly refreshing

Recommended Use: Low-Fidelity Design Creation

·        The fact that there are no templated designs could be a ‘con’ for someone new to design, seeking structured support, but an experienced designer wanting to explore their creativity, could consider the absence of structure a ‘pro’

·        In either case, Vectr is essentially a digital equivalent to a pen and paper prototype and will only yield Low-Fidelity prototypes as the tool options are very basic and as noted, there is no option to add in or create any clickable or animated content, similar to a pen and paper designed prototype, but with the added benefit of being able to pull in some of the colors, images, and themes from your style guide

·        Also, the unique ‘watch in real-time’ feature, which allows you to share your Vectr work board via a link with anyone, so they can observe your process in real-time, could make this tool a really fun way to ideate on a Low-Fidelity prototype during preliminary brainstorming sessions and while you cannot add clickable or animated content, some of the pre-loaded vectors include action buttons for video, audio, etc; which could be used as placeholders while you ideate in a group early on in your design journey

Prototyping Tool #2 JUSTINMIND

Pros:

·        Free Forever – the free version includes:

o   Unlimited projects and viewers

o   Design templates and tools for web and mobile designs

o   Interactive input forms

o   Unlimited wireframes, pages, and users with no limits, codes, or cost, for web and mobile app wire framing

o   Content can be exported to png,jpg, and svg

o   The 15 day trial includes the advanced features, so you can determine what suits your needs best

o   Tutorials – not just for the software either, JUSTINMIND offers great design content in general, including this gem The Ultimate Guide to Prototyping

·        Plays well with others

o   Even with the Free version - JUSTINMIND can be integrated into Sketch, Adobe XD, and Figma and you can easily cut and past content between the platforms

o   Available for MacOS and Windows

·        The pricing is reasonable with 4 options:

o   Free with the features above

o   Standard for $9/month if you pay for 1 year and with advanced features for individuals and teams

o   Professional for $19/month if you pay for 1 year with more advanced features including the ability to export documents and HTML along with JIRA and AzureDevops integration

o   Enterprise allows for use on internal servers with LDAP and SAML integration and the development of multiple administration accounts

Cons:

·        Free version has feature limitations – to publish, export, or add enhanced design features you must subscribe. For example:

o   Limited Design Elements – the free version does not allow the creation of clickable content, transitions, animations, etc

o   Publish/Export – the free version only allows the export of png, which was does not allow you to publish your wireframe in an HTML to share with users or stakeholders

o   These limitations may impact your ability to share/test the actual ‘user experience’ of your content, which could create inefficiency in your design process later on, especially if your prototype design concepts do not actually work once you transfer your concept into you ed tech tool

Recommended Use: Mid-Fidelity Design Creation

·        The free version of JUSTINMIND allows you to create high quality shareable png,jpg, or svg wireframe/storyboard pictures of your design concept

·        However, what limits the free version of this tool to the Mid-Fidelity category are the design limitations on creating clickable content and adding transitions/animations which could limit your ability to accurately share/test the end user experience as well as the actually functionality of your design concepts if you are designing any type of e-based solution that is meant to be interactive.

·        If you are short on timelines and working on an interactive e-based solution, you may wish to upgrade to the Standard or Professional subscriptions to unlock the advance features to really test your concept. If you are working on an info graphic or the early iterations of proof of concept, then the Free version may serve you well and be useful tool, for your iterative tool box.

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Current Prototyping Tool: PowerPoint

Pros +

Accessible to both Mac and PC

A familiar tool most users have had some experience using

A growing library of add-ins can facilitate a meaningful learning experience

Complex functionality is easily explored through support of online tutorials and user support

Use of triggers and animation effects create a gamified experience

Total customization helps to avoid the ‘sameness’ of other tools

Full access to media libraries

Easily incorporate company style guides

Easily convert files to html, flash, pdf, and SCORM

Cons -

Slide management for branching scenarios can become overwhelming

Non-linear storytelling is not intuitive and requires more effort to organize

Basic functionality is relatively user-friendly, but complex branching scenarios require a learning curve

Collaboration is possible, but not intuitive

SCORM conversion requires outside authoring or conversion tool

Has ‘stigma’ for being predictable or boring (but clever usage can break this stereotype!)

New Prototyping Tool: Twine

Pros +

Free and accessible to both Mac and PC

Online and desktop versions available

Very lightweight—requires little RAM for full accessibility of desktop version

No limitations to use or size of prototype

Optimized for complex branching scenarios

Easy creation of both linear and non-linear stories

Customizable and functional at every step of development process

Both intuitive and user-friendly

Extensive collection of samples, online support, and user forums

Cons -

Ideal for low to medium fidelity prototypes due to output limitations

Not SCORM compliant

Not ideal for LMS

Basic understanding of HTML required

Publishing requires images, videos, and sound to be personally hosted online

All final products are hosted on open source unless self-hosted

Open-source tool = questionable reliability in the future

Though it is easily shared, there is no collaborative functionality

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(if:$score >= 8)[''Good job'' You did a good job advocating for your audience and using solid instructional writing techniques. Addressing learners directly, using a conversational tone, and aiming for plain language all help learners. Helping stakeholders see the benefits of better design will ultimately give them better results.]

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Prototyping Tool 1: Figma

Pros:

- Web-based (easily accessible due to browser application)

- Free starter membership

-  Everything is stored in the Cloud (automatic saving and synching)

-  Good for co-editing (google docs level collaboration, team libraries)

-  Smart animations for prototyping (sliding tabs, pull to refresh, hamburger menu)

-  Plug ins like Autoflow and Figmotion make it possible to illustrate user flow and create animations

-  Runs on Mac OS, Windows, Chrome OS and Linux

-  Files are saved as URLS  easy sharing (others can be invited to view, edit or collaborate)

Cons:

-  Free trial has a limit of 3 projects

-  Need an internet connection (offline option is limited)

Prototyping Tool 2: Adobe XD

Pros:

- Works well with other Adobe apps including Illustrator and Photoshop

-  Good for prototyping (lots of interactions, like speech play

-  Free membership

-  Can bookmark different versions (beneficial for co-editing when designers are working on different versions

-  Ability for users to define 2 interactions per element (e.g. click and hover)

-  Desktop and mobile app

-  Supports website wireframing

-  Makes voice audio recording possible

Cons:

-  Limited features for free membership

-  Only runs on Windows and Mac OS

-  Not as intuitive when selecting multiple elements

-  Designers have to create either an offline or an online file (can’t simply open the online file and create an offline copy with one simple click)

-  No real-time collaboration

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Prototyping Tool #1: IsEazy (displayed in video above)

https://iseazy.com/en

Pros:

+ Free trial available
+ Subscriptions start at $69/month
+ Great for medium-high fidelity protoypes
+ Easy to use
+ Variety of templates to choose from
+ Interactive features for testers, including flip cards, activities, hot spots, linked scenes
+ Can embed videos
+ Can share with testers through a direct link (no registration required)
+ Includes a library of stock images to choose within the tool
+ Do not need to download additional software
+ Can be used to create final product

Cons:

- Collaborative editing is only available with most expensive subscription
- Testers are not able to add comments directly within the tool
- Cloud based (require internet connection)
- Need to choose from slide layouts available (not customizable)

Prototyping Tool #2:  proto.io

https://proto.io/

Pros:

+ 15 day free trial
+ Subscriptions start at $24/month
+ Mix-and-match ready-made, customizable templates to create your prototype and wireframes
+ Easy to share prototype with testers
+ Can integrate with Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD
+ Can export as PDF or PNG or publish through a link
+ Library of graphics, icons, sound effects, animated icons

Cons:

- Some prototyping workflows are complicated
- May take up too much time to develop a prototype as there is a steep learning curve
- Used to create high-fidelity prototypes
- Unable to collaborate with others in real-time

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Prototyping Tool #1: Balsamiq

Pros:
+30 day free trial
+Cloud version is monthly subscription $9/mo
+minimal learning curve - graphic elements and artboard templates are intuitive drag and drop, premade elements
+real time collaboration on cloud files, has a chat function so you can communicate with other editors as you work together
+super fast to knock together multiple wireframes if you want to try different options for course flow
+the low-fidelity sketchy look keeps people focused on conceptual design instead of jumping ahead and nit picking on style/graphic design

Cons:
-very crude, low-fidelity. Interaction is possible - simple click-through from one art board to another - but I question how long a LXD designer might want to stay at sketchy B+W prototype, since interactions are mostly limited to whatever course authoring tool you will be using. We probably want to jump to style/designing quickly. UI designers probably want to spend more time in lo-fi because they have to code their prototypes.
-at $9 a month for a low-fi output only, doesn't seem worth it. Might as well go for a free app like Figma, just use PowerPoint if you have to redo all your work anyways to create med/high fidelity prototype, or build your prototype in your course authoring software so you can upgrade it into higher fidelity prototype.

Prototyping Tool #2: Adobe XD

Pros:
+if you have an Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps subscription, it is included
+modest monthly cost $12.99 for XD on its own.
+you can create low and medium fidelity prototypes
+you can create custom elements or import them from other Adobe apps (Photoshop, Illustrator)
+there is a library of elements including 3rd part elements from Facebook, Google etc.
+you can select and export elements as JPEG or PNG for reuse in your course authoring software.
+you can export your prototype files with design specs in a side panel, so developers can see what colors, fonts, typefaces, dimensions etc. were used.
+easy to insert interactions between art boards
+real time collaboration on the cloud
+if you have basic skills with any graphics program (Illustrator etc.) learning curve is small
+excellent if you want control over every design element, are already a Creative Suite user
+streamlines workflow if you will be delegating med/high fidelity prototype to other developers
+saves time by seamlessly moving into medium fidelity

Cons:
-free trial is only 14 days
-collaborators without an XD subscription can only edit a file for 30 days then they have to get their own subscription
-if you don't have graphics program experience, learning curve is steeper. Most of the elements must be created from scratch instead of premade drag and drop like Balsamiq
-complete overkill if you just want quick, low fidelity sketching.

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Prototyping Tool 1:  Zeplin (cause I love Led Zepplin :)

Pros:
+you can integrate communication tools like slack
+collaborative - team can add comments to design/prototype
+ensures designs are consistent i.e remembers colours and fonts etc

Cons:
+interface is not intuitive
+steep learning curve for new users
+bad tutorials provided

Prototyping Tool 2: Figma

Pros:
+responsive theme capability so that you can see how the prototype looks on various
devices
+real time collaboration with team
+quick and easy file sharing
+all in one tool
+cloud based
+can try it for free

Cons:
+version control not that good
+no more cons Figma is a great product
+no internet no figma

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Exploring Figma - Draft prototype sample of my course

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Activity 1 - Sarah Lawrence's Prototyping Tools

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Activity 1 - Sarah Lawrence's Prototyping Tools

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Prototyping Tool 1: PowerPoint (use regularly)

Pros:
+ User friendly and does not have much of a learning curve
+ Many people are familiar with PowerPoint
+ Fairly easy to share files
+ Does not require internet and works on any platform/operating system
+ Allows for the development of low, medium and high fidelity prototypes
+ Various customizable design elements

Cons:
- Less collaborative in nature and difficult to consolidate feedback from various sources
- Must be purchased (desktop application)
- Its main purpose is not specifically for prototyping
- Lacks sophisticated branching logic and can be difficult to simulate complex interactions

Prototyping Tool 2: Figma (just started exploring)

Pros:
+ Supports enhanced design teamwork and collaboration with the ability to collaborate in real-time and supports in-app commenting

+ Fairly user friendly and easy to share files
+ Works on any platform/operating system (browser-based)
+ Free starter account
+ One of its main purposes is prototyping

+ Facilitates the development of low, medium and high fidelity prototypes
+ Various graphical elements and customizable design features (i.e., colours, fonts, shapes, icons, images, etc.)
+ Option to include various third-party plugins

Cons:
- A bit of a learning curve and stakeholders/clients might not be familiar with Figma
- Not as many training resources available as other tools
- More oriented towards high-fidelity prototypes as it does not offer pre-made components for low-fidelity prototypes
- Unable to use without internet/offline and requires a Graphic Card and RAM

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Prototyping tool 1: Rise 360 (used regularly)
pros:
+ You can easily build a clean, professional, and interactive learning experience
+ Easy to collaborate and share with stakeholders for feedback and testing

cons:
- Customization is limited (but there are ways around this)
- Only suitable for text heavy courses

Prototyping tool 2: Figma (Haven't used this one yet but it seems to be really popular)
pros:
+ Realtime collaboration - Just hit refresh and see everyone’s changes
+ It’s an all in one tool (design, prototype, hand off)

cons:
- Cloud based – need internet connection
- You need decent RAM and a good graphics card – if sharing files with someone who is not a designer they may not have the right specs to properly view them. (lagging/loading issues)

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Prototyping Tool 1: Articulate Storyline 360

Pros:

+ It’s “clickable”, allowing testers to get a sense of interactivity

+ Text-to-speech allows for testers/stakeholders to give feedback before lengthy process of recording voice overs

+ Can be published to Articulate Review to allow testers to leave comments

Cons:

- There is some learning curve depending on the level of interactivity wanted from stakeholders

- Not ideal for text-heavy courses

- It doesn’t allow for real time collaboration

Prototyping Tool 2:  Adobe XD

Link: https://www.adobe.com/ca/products/xd.html

Pros:

+ Able to add interactivity and triggers into the prototype to give a realistic sense of the experience

+ Able to work collaboratively on the prototype

Cons:

- As you cannot build an eLearning in Adobe XD it can be a lengthy process for just a prototype

- It is not designed for building eLearnings or full learning experiences so there are limitations in what you can prototype

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Co-curate Prototyping Tools/Resource:                 EXAMPLE POST

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Co-curate Prototyping Tools/Resource:                 EXAMPLE POST

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Prototyping tool 1: (Using now ex. Ppt. or other new tool/resource)
pros:
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+

cons:
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Prototyping tool 2:  SKETCH (new tool/resource)

pros:
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+

cons:
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