e-Learning Blog

iSpring Suite is an e-learning toolkit that is used as an add-in software integrated into PowerPoint.
In addition to iSpring Suite, there is a package called iSpring Suite MAX that offers various features and resource collections.

*Add-in software: Software that adds features and provides extensions when installed. Installing iSpring Suite adds a tab to PowerPoint.

(As of December 2023)

iSpring Suite MAX offers a wealth of materials such as illustrations, icons, and characters, many of which are customizable. Additionally, it can automatically generate narration audio in various languages from text. In other words, you can complete the entire process of creating educational materials using only the features of iSpring Suite MAX, without needing to request work from illustrators or professional narrators.

Using iSpring Suite MAX, you can create educational materials like the following.

• ・Animation materials with narration
• ・Interactive materials that change their behavior in response to learner actions
• ・Video materials that record on-screen operations and add explanations and supplements
• ・Quizzes that can determine correctness, display explanations, and assess pass/fail status
• ・Selection of HTML5 format or mp4 format
• ・SCORM compliant

＞ Related Column: What is iSpring Suite? Features, Pricing, and Benefits of Implementation
＞ Related Column: A Strong Ally for Creating e-Learning Materials - "e-Learning Creation Tools"
＞ Create Rich e-Learning Materials with Familiar PowerPoint - iSpring Implementation Support

Now, let's take a look at the specific usage.
First, we will perform the installation.

1) Installation and Activation

Once you obtain iSpring Suite, you will install and activate it.
Activation means getting online authentication as a formal license, allowing you to use it without time or feature limitations (in the case of a subscription, there is an expiration date for the license).

For information necessary for application download and activation, please refer to the email sent to users by iSpring.
You can also check the operation procedures in the User Guide published by iSpring.
For installation and activation, please click here.

Once the installation and activation are complete, a tab for iSpring Suite 11 will be added to PowerPoint, and the user's name will be displayed in the "Workspace" (as of December 2023).

2) "iSpring Suite 11" Tab

From the "iSpring Suite 11" tab, you can utilize each feature.

The "Narration" group includes features such as recording narration, automatic generation, and synchronization with PowerPoint animations.
The audio can be created using the microphone or camera functions of the user's computer, either by recording actual spoken audio with video or by generating synthetic speech from a text file.

The "Insert" group adds "parts" that cannot be created with PowerPoint alone.
In "Quizzes", "Interactions", and "Dialogue Simulations", you can create content that progresses based on learner interactions.
In "Screen Recording", you can record on-screen actions, add annotations, cut out NG scenes, and perform video editing such as inserting other videos.
"YouTube" and "Web Objects" are features that allow you to insert videos from YouTube and websites from the internet into your content.

In the "Content Library" group, you can use parts that make up slides.
In the "Slide Template," you set the overall design of the PowerPoint.
In the "Characters," you can use photos and illustrations of people from various races, age groups, professions, emotions (expressions), poses, and angles. Illustrations can be customized as needed.
The "Background" includes backgrounds (offices, stores, cityscapes) that can be used for case studies, as well as designs that can be used in slide templates.
The "Objects" refer to what are commonly known as "props" and "set pieces." Materials such as illustrations and photos of computer monitors, surgical masks, and wheelchairs are available.
In the "Icons," you can select pictogram-style illustrations and designs of buttons called "controls." Icons and controls inserted into PowerPoint using this feature can be edited for color, size, and more within PowerPoint.

In the "Presentation" group, we handle the settings for delivering e-learning materials and translating them into other languages.
In "Slide Properties", you can create slide hierarchies and set transition methods to the next slide. You can also configure the visibility of slides.
In "Translation", you can extract the text information necessary for translation.
In "Player", you set the "look" of the materials. You configure which elements (table of contents, subtitles) to display within the materials, the extent of permissions for learners, and the content displayed when learning is paused and resumed.

From the "Public" group, you can use the export-related features for teaching materials, that is, the functionality to finalize them into a distributable format.
You can check the completed image in the "Preview".
In "Public", you can set the file format, screen size, and SCORM compatibility for the completed teaching materials and export them.

The "About iSpring" group displays update information and more.
If there is an application update, an icon will be displayed in the "Update Count".

In the "Workspace" group, you can check if your application is activated. If the user's name is displayed, it means you are properly authenticated.
You can also launch iSpring Space and manage your team from here.

3) Procedure for Creating Training Videos

Now, let's take a look at the specific operations to create training videos using iSpring Suite MAX.
Here, we will consider a case of turning group training into teaching materials.
In this example, we will assume that the following has already been completed.

• ●PowerPoint presentation materials to be projected during group training
• ●Instructor's Explanation Content (Narration Text)

The completed image of the teaching materials is a resource where you can watch a video of the instructor explaining based on the materials while looking at the presentation materials.
Here is the finished image. On the left side is the instructor's video, and on the right side are the PowerPoint slides.

So, what kind of operations are necessary?

1. (1) Open the PowerPoint presentation materials and display the 'iSpring Suite 11' tab
2. (2) Select "Narration Management" from the "Narration" group
3. (3) In the narration editor, insert the instructor's commentary script into the "Slide Annotations"
   The content entered here can be used as subtitles.

1. (4) In the narration editor, select "Record Video" to record and capture the instructor's explanation
   The recording will be displayed on the right side of the slides in the narration editor.
   Once you start recording, you will be able to set synchronization with PowerPoint animations.

1. (5) Edit as necessary, such as removing NG takes and unnecessary pauses, and applying screen transition effects
   After selecting the "Video" on the timeline, you can launch the video editor by clicking on "Edit Clip" to make edits.

1. (6) Select "Save and Close" in the narration editor and return to the PowerPoint screen
2. (7) Export from the 'Publish' tab of 'iSpring Suite 11' in PowerPoint

In the previous chapter, we introduced an overview of how to create educational materials using the "Video Recording" feature of iSpring Suite.
iSpring Suite MAX also offers a wealth of features for creating rich content.

Images, icons, and buttons are available ("Content Library" group)

Background images for offices, stores, and images of furniture, stationery, masks, and icons, as well as buttons, are provided as freely usable materials.
Icons and buttons can also be edited for color and borders using PowerPoint features.

You can create characters (in the "Content Library" under "Characters")

Characters (people) are also abundantly available as materials.
You can choose from photos and illustrations.
Among these, for illustrations, by utilizing the "Character Builder" feature, you can create original characters by specifying hairstyles, skin and eye colors, clothing, and poses.

You can create quizzes ("Quiz" in the "Insert" group)

By using the "Quiz Maker", you can create assessments such as confirmation tests.
There are a variety of templates available, including multiple-choice questions, keyword selection questions, and sorting tasks, allowing you to construct quizzes simply by selecting from the menu.
The correctness judgment is also done automatically, and if you input explanations, they can be displayed after the answers are submitted.
If you set the criteria for passing or failing, the total score will be evaluated, and the result can be displayed as well.

You can create tutorials using screen recording ("Screen Recording" in the "Insert" group)

You can also record operations on the screen.
By recording a series of steps and making them public, users can access and review them as many times as needed.
Not only can you record the state of the screen, but you can also supplement the content of the operations with speech bubbles, making it easier to understand. Supplementary explanations are automatically inserted at the timing of the operation, so the creator only needs to make appropriate modifications or deletions to complete it.
Additionally, even if you make a mistake during the operation, you can edit it later, allowing for efficient work.

Human Science Co., Ltd. is a certified reseller of iSpring Suite and iSpring Suite MAX.
If you are interested in implementation, please feel free to contact us.

In addition to business plans, we also offer plans for non-profit organizations/educational institutions and freelancers.
Furthermore, we have plans and volume discounts tailored to your needs and requests, including multi-year contracts and licenses that can be used collaboratively by multiple users.
We also co-host seminars with iSpring on an irregular basis. The seminars from the perspective of a production company have been well received, thanks to your support.

We also offer course creation support services using iSpring Suite MAX.
One of the advantages of creating materials with iSpring Suite MAX is that the source files become PowerPoint files, making it easier for customers to manage, operate, and update them.

We also support material production using tools other than iSpring Suite, so if you have materials you want to create but would like to consult on how to proceed, please feel free to reach out to us.

We also have a Translation and Manual department in-house, so we can provide one-stop support for multilingual deployment. We also respond to inquiries from corporate clients and educational institutions regarding LMS for delivering e-learning materials.
Since starting operations in 2000, we have assisted in the development of over 2,800 educational materials, so please trust Human Science with your needs.