Frequently
Asked Questions
For assistance with technical difficulties view the technical and platform faqs, for issues and questions on how the skillsoft courses operate view the course content faqs.
Technical and Platform FAQs
- Who do I contact for Technical Support?
- How do I register for a SkillSoft License?
- How do I access SkillSoft courses after registering for the SkillSoft license?
- How do I search for a course on a certain topic?
- Should I have other applications open when running the courses?
- What browser version is required for playing courses?
- How do I know if my web browser is configured correctly?
- When attempting to Play a course, it is taking an unusually long time for the course to start.
- When I try to play a course, nothing happens or I just get a gray screen?
- Does the SkillSoft courseware support proxies and firewalls?
Q. Who do I contact for Technical Support?
A. If you encounter any technical difficulties, please contact the GeoLearning Helpdesk at (866) 466-1998 or doilearn@geolearning.com.
Q. How do I register for a SkillSoft license?
A. For instructions on how to register for a SkillSoft license click here.
Q. How do I access SkillSoft courses after registering for the SkillSoft license?
A. After you have registered and paid for a license you will soon gain access to the library. For instructions on how to begin to take courses in SkillSoft click here. Please note: Those employees who have purchased licenses in September will not gain access to the library until October 1. Users who register after the first of the month will have their licenses activated approximately one week after they have registered and paid.
Q. How do I search for a course on a certain topic?
A. There are three primary methods to search for a course:
- Instructions for Searching the SkillSoft Excel Catalog
This method is probably easiest to use. It allows you to see all the courses in each of the major SkillSoft sub-categories in one spreadsheet without browsing up and down through various lower level sub-categories or entering a search term and having SkillSoft courses mixed in with courses from other sources.- Instructions for Browsing the Catalog on DOI Learn
- Instructions for Searching on a Key Word in DOI Learn
Q. Should I have other applications open when running the courses?
A. Occasionally, having other applications open on the desktop can affect course performance. We recommend closing all non-essential applications when playing courses.
Q. What browser version is required for playing courses?
A. It is recommended you use Internet Explorer. 5. 0 (or greater).
Q. How do I know if my web browser is configured correctly?
A. You can use SkillSoft's Browser Capabilities Check to insure that your computer and web browser are configured correclty to enable you to access the SkillSoft platform and e-Learning content. You can access this at: http://browser.skillport.com/bh/default.asp
Below is a list of basic recommended browser settings. For a more comprehensive list view the DOI LEARN Browser Settings Document
Minimum Requirements for Plug-ins:
- Flash 6.0 through 8.x Mozilla 1.6 and 1.7.2 require Flash 7.0 r19 and r25 or higher, respectively
- Enable browser caching
- Enable Active Scripting and Scripting of Java Applets
- Supports JavaScript 1.0 and Java 1.0.2
- Supports .ZIP, .JAR, or .CAB Java Applets
- Recommended: Enable Java Console
- A browser enabled with a pop-up blocker or similar window blocking tool may interfere with the launch of the Job Aids, NASBA, Help, and SkillBriefs windows from the SkillSoft Course Player. If this occurs, SkillSoft recommends you set the blocking tool to "Always allow". An additional technique is to use the CTRL or SHIFT key when selecting the link from the Player. If both of these fail, SkillSoft recommends disabling the blocking tool during course play and re-enabling it after completing your play session.
Q. When attempting to Play a course, it is taking an unusually long time for the course to start.
A. Do you use McAfee VirusScan version 4.x or higher, and do you use VShield with Download Scan set to Scan All Files? This has been found to slow the download of the Java Applet when starting the course. You can set VShield Download Scan to Scan Program Files only instead of All Files.
Q. When I try to play a course, nothing happens or I just get a gray screen.
A. The most common cause of this symptom is an outdated Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The JVM that ships with Internet Explorer has problems that sometimes impact the execution of our Java Applet. The solution is to update the JVM. This update is available from the Sun Microsystems web site at http://www.java.com/.
Q. Does the SkillSoft courseware support proxies and firewalls?
A. Yes, the only exception to this is if the firewall or proxy server at your site is filtering Java Applets or compiled code. In this case the SkillSoft course Player will not be able to load properly. Check with your Network Administrator to see if this applies to you.
Course Content FAQs
- Can I turn the audio off?
- Can I play two courses simultaneously?
- How do I bookmark my place?
- What are job aids?
- What are SkillBriefs?
- When do I know when I have completed a course?
- I have been in and out of a course multiple times, how do I know what lessons I've completed?
- How do I get a SkillSim marked as complete?
- Do
I get credit for multiple part test questions if I don't answer all the
questions correctly?
Q. Can I turn the audio off?
A. Yes. You can turn the audio off at any time by clicking the turn off audio button located in the bottom navigation bar. You can turn it back on by clicking the same button.
Q. Can I play two courses simultaneously?
A. No. You can only play one course at a time.
Q. How do I bookmark my place?
A. Using the Exit button to close the SkillSoft course player "bookmarks" your place in the course. When you leave a course using the Exit button, you place a bookmark. Then when you return to that course, you are given the option to return to where you left off.
You’ll also notice that if you leave a course to visit the Course Menu, that you’ll find a Return to Bookmark button in the lower right corner. Click on the Return to Bookmark button to return to your last place in the course.
Q. What are Job Aids?
A. Each SkillSoft Business Skills course typically has several job aids associated with it. Job Aids can be used whenever you need support on a new skill - while taking a course…or many months later when you need a quick refresher. They are handy highlights of a course, you can print out and refer back to in the workplace.
Q. What are SkillBriefs?
A. Most SkillSoft Business Skills courses have numerous SkillBriefs associated with the course. They provide a summary of the key points covered in the related course. SkillBriefs a great resource of "just in time" learning, either on their own, or as a refresher of the course objectives.
Q. When do I know when I have completed a course?
A. The completion requirement for your courses is if the overall high score is 70% or greater and if all assessments have been attempted.
Note: The overall high score is found under the column titled ‘Mastery Results’ ‘High’ on the ‘Learner Records Progress Report’.
Q. I have been in and out of a course multiple times, how do I know what lessons I've completed?
A. The Course Menu lists all your lessons. The Status icons to the right of the lesson indicate their status. The icon is next to any lesson you have paged through. Lessons that are not yet started are indicated by the icon. Lessons that have been started, but not completely paged through are indicated by the icon. The test scores for each lesson are available to the right of the Status icon.
Q. How do I get a SkillSim marked as complete?
A. You must enter the SkillSim through "SCORE" mode in order to have the Sim marked as complete. Once in this mode, you must move through the entire SkillSim without a catastrophic failure. Entering through "EXPLORE" mode will result in no score. Your score is determined using the examples below:
- You complete the simulation making all "Appropriate" choices. Your score is 100
- You complete the simulation and some of the choices are rated "Fair" or "Inappropriate." Your score is less than 100 but greater than 0.
- You fail the simulation. Even though you may have made "Appropriate" choices, you selected an "Inappropriate" choice that terminated the simulation early. A Final Summary feedback page is displayed and you are not presented with the remaining material in the simulation. Your score is 0.
The SkillSim counts the number of objectives in Score mode that the user answers correctly vs. the number of objectives that the user was presented with and assigns a percentage. (For example: If you answer 'Appropriate' rather than 'Inappropriate' or 'Fair' 67% of the time, then your score for the SkillSim is 67%).
Q. Do I get credit for multiple part test questions if I don't answer all the questions correctly?
A. In multiple part test questions, you will receive partial credit for those questions you answered correctly. The score is calculated by the number of correct answers divided by the total number of choices.