Designing an interactive Web tutorial with cross‐browser dynamic HTML

Texas A&M University Libraries developed a Web‐based training (WBT) application for LandView III, a federal depository CD‐ROM publication using cross‐browser dynamic HTML (DHTML) and other Web technologies. The interactive and self‐paced tutorial demonstrates the major features of the CD‐ROM and shows how to navigate the programs. The tutorial features dynamic HTML techniques, such as hiding, showing and moving layers; dragging objects; and windows‐style drop‐down menus. It also integrates interactive forms, common gateway interface (CGI), frames, and animated GIF images in the design of the WBT. After describing the design and implementation of the tutorial project, an evaluation of usage statistics and user feedback was conducted, as well as an assessment of its strengths and weaknesses, and a comparison of this tutorial with other common types of training methods. The present article describes an innovative approach for CD‐ROM training using advanced Web technologies such as dynamic HTML, which can simulate and demonstrate the interactive use of the CD‐ROM, as well as the actual search process of a database.