What is iSpring?
iSpring Solutions Is a long-standing LMS. It was launched in 2001 as a simple PowerPoint tool. Today it has become a online learning system fully fledged for schools and workplaces.
The flagship iSpring suite, now in its tenth major release, allows educators to create everything they need, media-rich courses to the base slides. You can manage and monitor them to check their progress and success with iSpring Learn, a learning management system (LMS).
In addition, a cloud service allows collaboration between several designers and stakeholders. Producing online courses has never been easier!
Currently, there is no official iSpring for Mac due to its relationship with Microsoft.
Features
Let's take a closer look at all the powerful tools allowing you to create and distribute your eLearning content:
PowerPoint integration
The iSpring software is based on PowerPoint. Although it has evolved a lot over the years, you still need PowerPoint to make the most of its features. These are accessible via a tab and ribbon additional items within the Microsoft program.
As we already mentioned, one of the features that were most appreciated in the reviews on iSpring Suite is theintegration with PowerPoint, which has virtually no learning curve for those who know and use this program.
You'll get an additional tab in PowerPoint where you can choose templates and create your course, your presentation, quiz, etc. It elevates the core functionalities of PowerPoint and allows you to quickly, easily, and effectively create engaging and motivating educational content.
However, for those who don't use PowerPoint, this great advantage of the iSpring suite can be a disadvantage, as it requires some knowledge of PowerPoint.
Micro-course creation tool
The advantage of this function is that You only need access to the internet to create engaging educational content using various tools and templates and insert your text.
iSpring Space makes it easy for you to share and collaborate with your team, get feedback, and make the necessary adjustments.
After checking out a few videos uploaded to the iSpring Space reviews and trying out the function myself, I found that it was quick and easy - everything What you have to do is click on the button”Upload“and choose the file you want to download from your computer. iSpring supports various file formats.
Dialog simulations
I really enjoyed all the possibilities offered by this feature. It allows create different scenarios and to offer different dialog boxes in depending on the answer chosen, as well as including feedback messages, role-playing, awarding points for correct answers or introducing penalties.
What I found most interesting was the possibility ofrecord a voiceover or to download one to accompany the dialogue, making it more realistic and more accessible.
All of this is supported by a background and character tailored to your brand or area of expertise. It's no wonder that it's one of the absolute favorites in most reviews about iSpring solutions.
Microcourses
The iSpring suite aims to Render the courses, the quizzes and the very attractive presentations and easy to understand. You can break up your course or presentation into smaller pieces that are more concise and easier to watch.
The content is very adaptive, mobile-ready and visible on various platforms. You can preview each of the display versions.
Flexible testing and scoring
And as the icing on the cake of a good presentation, you can test the learner's knowledge and do evaluations in a way that is convenient for you.
You can choose from 14 types of questions, or group and combine them so that each participant has a different version of the quiz.
You can easily create quizzes, of surveys or other forms of assessment, and provide reviews generals or focused on one issue, followed by additional information about the response. In this way, you ensure a more memorable learning experience through interactive assessments.
Multi-language
The current version of iSpring Suite is available in seven languages : English, german, russian, italian, frenchmen, spanish and portuguese.
If you have learners from different countries, you can easily translate the course by exporting the text, translating it, and re-importing it.
Narration
The PowerPoint narration panel opens theiSpring audio-video editor. It allows you to record high-quality video and audio from your computer's microphone and webcam. Although it is not the most advanced editor, it is sufficient for creating simple course content.
You can apply fades, remove noise, silence parts of the track, and move items around.
It is intended for Slide narration. The text of your project is therefore displayed in the editor for easy reading. Record your narration or video yourself doing the presentation and it will be seamlessly inserted into the appropriate slides.
As long as you're not too ambitious, this tool is incredibly useful. Boring slides quickly come to life. Also, the editing process often requires you to improve a text that you may have already approved.
Screen recorder
Capturing what's happening on your screen is a creative way to demonstrate computing tasks. It can be a tutorial for software or a visit to a system in the workplace. You can also use the iSpring video recorder for your webcam and include video narration alongside the on-screen steps.
Dialog simulator
The iSpring TalkMaster tool allows you to create fun dialogue simulations between characters and learners. Select a character avatar, their behavior, and then type in what they say. This sets the scene for interaction. In response, the learner must choose from multiple response options.
It is often cited in iSpring user reviews as one of the software's most remarkable features.
Depending on their choice, conversations can branch out and lead to different results. Did they handle the situation properly or did they cause a nuclear collapse? Include as many scenes or characters as your scenario requires.
It also takes care of backgrounds And the images personalized in order to better reflect your brand image.
Quiz creator
The iSpring quiz generator has been a mainstay since the software's early days. Choose survey-type questions for data collection or scoring questions, for traditional quizzes and interactive tests.
There is no limit to the number of quizzes you can include in a single PowerPoint file. A common approach: include one at the end of different topics to test the user's knowledge and reinforce what they've learned.
However, this tool is versatile enough to meet everyone's needs. You will find 14 different types of questions, including multiple choice questions, multiple answer questions, drag-and-drop questions, and essays. There are also introductory templates, which include forms for entering user contact information and slides with instructions.
To keep things fresh, the order of the questions can be random. On the other hand, you can group together a series of related questions that should be kept in a specific order. You can also import quiz questions to from an Excel sheet.
iSpring stores each quiz on the master slide regardless of how many questions you include.
Interactions
Another user favorite, judging by iSpring reviews.
Interactions are a creative way to engage the learner so that they retain important information. PowerPoint already has a process for hyperlinks and triggers, but iSpring improves it with choice of engaging models. Not to mention the time saved by trying to create something from scratch.
Interactions are right next to the quiz builder and include steps, timelines, pyramids, catalogs, FAQs, and more.
Once you've found the one that's right for you, simply enter your text and images and then insert it into your slides.
Content library
The huge content library of iSpring is one of the reasons for its power. Gone are the days when you had to rush through an ordinary or unappealing PowerPoint presentation. You have 68,000 pieces of content, including professional models, images, icons, and human characters for tools like the dialog simulator.
It's actually surprising how much of a difference a good content library can make to your creations. Plus, you don't need to pay a designer if you want to impress the audience.
iSpring Pro Converter
The original goal of iSpring was to convert PowerPoint to Flash. While Flash fell out of fashion, HTML5 and MP4 have taken his place. Today, the iSpring PowerPoint converter is available as a single tool or as a final step in the suite creation process. It also supports cmi5, xAPI (Tin Can), SCORM 2004, SCORM 1.2, and AICC.
HTML5 is the most flexible option. She keep all your PowerPoint effects, such as animations, triggers, transitions, and links. In addition, it also maintains iSpring additions such as advanced quizzes and dialog simulations.
It's as if you were still using PowerPoint. But above all, the format can be consulted from any device with a browser. This means that when you're giving a presentation or when users are accessing documents online, PowerPoint is not needed.
It's perfect for congested workplaces or disparate learners who don't always have access to the program. It is also compatible with the main LMSs, allowing you to publish directly to your preferred eLearning platform.
MP4 is more limited because viewers can't physically interact with the slides. However, as universal video format, it's still more accessible than PowerPoint. Also, it's a good secondary format for sharing content on sites like YouTube.
He preserves the elements such as slide length, transitions, and animations, but in a linear manner. Plus, you have full control over how each item looks before exporting. The MP4 format is ideal for conferences and presentations that don't require real-time audience participation.
iSpring Flip
The Flip tool is a derivative of the usual publishing method. You can take any existing PowerPoint, Word, or PDF file and convert it to Flipsheet.
But what is it?
It is a page that you publish on a website or an LMS in HTML5 format.
In fact, it is a e-book with a simple page browser, thumbnail page previews, and the ability to zoom in and out. Additionally, readers can switch to full screen on any device and swipe between pages.
Flip is a great way to deploy content quickly in an accessible way, without worrying about file formats. You can use it for course materials, corporate policies, or real e-books. The difference between this method and publishing a course is that the content remains flat, with no multimedia or interactive features.
iSpring space
Modern software wouldn't be complete without access to the cloud. iSpring Space provides users with the suite 20GB storage And a online creation tool. While this tool allows you to create courses and quizzes in your browser, it does not offer all the features of Windows software.
The advantage is that it is entirely compatible with mobile phones. So instead of needing a computer, you can edit projects on the go with your iPhone.
It is particularly useful as a platform for stakeholders and collaborators. You can sharing projects or grant full account access, allowing for seamless contributions and feedback. If a collaborator needs all the power of the software, they can download the project, modify it with Suite, and then redownload it.
Next, we'll discuss iSpring's native LMS, but there's nothing stopping you from using Space to share content with learners. Sharing is as easy assending a link by email. Additionally, you can manage your entire team and their permissions. Roles includeauthor, reviewer and attendee.
iSpring Learn
iSpring is a learning management system that can be integrated with iSpring Suite but must be purchased separately. It is compatible with more than 150 learning management systems, including Moodle, Canvas, CourseMill, and Digital Chalk. For those who don't know them, schools, universities, and businesses use them as internal platforms for online learning.
When you press the iSpring publish button in PowerPoint, you can export to a profile that is compatible with your LMS. These include:
- SCORM
- AICC
- CMI5
- API experience
Learn is iSpring's native LMS solution, which combines course creation and publishing. under one roof. It is suitable for welcoming new employees, training and certification. It is also perfect as part of the education system. Everyone gets their own profile with the appropriate permissions.
Staff or students can log into the online portal, check their alerts, and access their online courses. They also benefit from a mobile-friendly experience thanks to apps for iOS and Android. Meanwhile, administrators and educators upload content, assign courses, and manage the backend.
What's more, the data can be integrated into your HRM systems, customer relationship management and other existing computer systems. In addition, it complies with GDPR in Europe and other regulations in the United States.
It is a comprehensive online learning platform.
Customer Support
The iSpring software has a lot of moving parts and may require support from time to time. Fortunately, the assistants and tutorials affect you from the start.
Open iSpring Space for the first time to watch a beginner's guide on YouTube. This one shows the entire suite, not just its cloud features. Likewise, launching the software on Windows brings you to a course template, while a “quick start” guide opens in your browser.
One live demonstration teaches new customers how to transform current PowerPoint presentations, create different materials, and upload content to an LMS.
If you still need help after consulting the instructions and the knowledge base, you can choose between email, telephone, and online chat. The staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is always prompt and helpful.
Other support options include Facebook Messenger and Twitter. Also, the community forum is a good place to get information from other users.
All in all, you'll have no trouble getting answers from iSpring Solutions.
Pricing
iSpring pricing varies depending on whether you want the full suite or individual features. The Learn platform is also subject to a completely separate pricing structure. Here is a breakdown of each plan:
iSpring Free
It is a scaled-down version of the PowerPoint suite, which can be used for free forever. It includes the Quiz Maker and the possibility toembed YouTube videos and web objects. However, there's no audio-video editor, dialogue simulator, content library, eBook creator, or any of the other tools found in the suites.
Max Suite
- $970/year/author - Includes all features, the content library, iSpring Space, and an author.
- $820 per year/ author - Three authors.
- $770/ year/ author - Five authors.
Suite only
- $770/year/author - Includes most features, but no content library or cloud services. A single author.
- $650/ year/ author - Three authors.
- $620/ year/ author - Five authors.
iSpring Learn LMS
- $3.66/month/user (annual billing) - 100 users, 50 courses, one creation tool.
- $3/month/user (annual billing) - 300 users, unlimited courses, one creation tool.
- $2.82/month/user (annual billing) - 500 users, unlimited courses, two creation tools.
Individual tools
- Presenter: $470-/year - All free features plus video tools.
- Page : $97/year - Cloud creation tool only.
- QuizMaker: $370/year - Quizzes and interactions only.
- iSpring Pro Convertor : $270/year - PowerPoint to HTML5 and SCORM converter.
- Cam Pro : $227/year - Video tools only.
- Flip : $227/year - Flip-book creator only.
When it comes to the prices of the iSpring suite, you get a 30-day free trial for Regular and Max editions. You also benefit from a 30-day money back guarantee for all plans.
Overall, the cost of the suite is in an average range compared to other educational content creation solutions. Some cost more but are completely autonomous software. In this sense, she is Reasonably affordable.
Alternatives to iSpring
While iSpring has its strengths, there may be other platforms that are better suited to your specific needs. So let's take a look at some of the alternatives and how they compare to iSpring:
ActivePresenter
- More affordable option: 199 dollars for a license or 399 dollars for a pro version.
- No free version or free trial
- Educational content option with support for the Mac platform
Adobe Captivate
- Great features including a VR option
- No live customer support
- Software simulations
Access Learning Solutions
- A wide range of courses and pre-prepared reports are available.
- Fewer options for creating your course
Businesses that can use pre-established courses
Compared to other iSpring solutions, this toolkit offers one of the best content libraries and editing options, as well as test options for learners and export opportunities.
FAQs
Is iSpring free?
There is a free version that limits you to creating quizzes and integrating certain web content. It gives you a taste of the software, but doesn't offer templates or most of the engaging multimedia tools.
What is included in iSpring Suite?
iSpring is not just a PowerPoint tool, although it plays a major role in creating courses. Max edition tools include:
- Video and audio editing
- Webcam recording
- Screen recording
- Conducting quizzes
- Dialog simulation
- PowerPoint file converter
And more.
The software brings all of these elements together seamlessly to create exciting interactive courses. For more information, see the iSpring review above.
Final Verdict
There's not much you can't do with this powerful PowerPoint partner. Together, they help you create all sorts of yards and supports simple or complex pedagogies.
It's also extremely intuitive to use if you've already mastered PowerPoint.
The addition of the cloud environment means that you can not only share content with your team, but also create basic projects on the web.
Combine it all with iSpring LMS Learn, and you have absolutely everything you need to create, collaborate, and manage an online curriculum. All for a competitive price!
The main downside, which has always been the case, is that it still won't appeal to non-PowerPoint users. But they probably left the magazine a while ago;)