Learning DEScribe Session 2 - Download and Install
Today, I came to the MAFLT website via the WiFi link at a local coffee shop. Once at the site I did not login as administrator. Instead, I viewed it as “the public” would see it. I wanted to confirm your experience of downloading and installing DEScribe without any special insider tricks. I navigated to the DEScribe page via the Products tab then clicked on the DEScribe link. By the way, the correct pronunciation is “D - E - Scribe” which includes word play for “DE” as a moniker for Distance Education and “Scribe” as an ancient writer.
I clicked first on the “Training Materials” link and got a surprise - the site asked me for another user name and password. After a couple of quick back-and-forths I read the text below the links to discover instructions that included the required codes. At this point I doffed my outside user hat, logged in as the administrator and edited the instructions. Now, it’s clear before clicking the links that registration is required.
Returning once again to the DEScribe page, I registered as an outside user. At first the process appeared cumbersome. Submit a form then wait for a secret code via email. Submit that form then wait for a second email with your chosen user name and temporary password. Then, finally login as a registered user. In fact, the whole procedure ate up less than 5 minutes.
The Training Materials download page offered 3 training documents plus a Readme.txt file.
UsingDEScribe.ppsx (requires PowerPoint 2007®)
UsingDEScribe.pdf (pdf version of the above PowerPoint® file)
UsingDEScribeScreenCast.wmv (video about DEScribe basics)
I downloaded the video and the pdf file (our world wide IT policy excludes using Vista® at this time). The 5:59 minute video gave a quick, very clear overview of using DEScribe. If DEScribe is as easy to use as the video makes it appear, the program will achieve a major design goal - fast learning for the minimally computer literate course writer.
The 54 page pdf file could use a table of contents. One with links that jumped to the appropriate section would be even better. However, the clean presentation contains all the information necessary to install and begin using the program. The instructions also include details for downloading from the internet as well as installation from CD/DVD.
I chose to download the 20Mb file, though the CD/DVD option would be necessary for an off line installation. Clicking on MAF DEScribe 1.2.3.0 Setup.msi started a process that completed in less than 2 minutes. The installation proved quicker - about 1:30. Clearly DEScribe is not a huge application.
So, will DEScribe be as easy to use as the instructions and painless installation suggest? We’ll find out next time.
