On This Page:

• General Learning Snack Information
• Creating a Learning Snack

General Learning Snack Information

Q. What is a Learning Snack?
A. Microsoft Silverlight Learning Snacks are short, interactive presentations about popular topics created by Microsoft Learning experts or members of the community.  Each Snack is delivered by using innovative Microsoft Silverlight technology and includes various media, such as animations and recorded demos.

Q. Where can I view current Microsoft Learning Snacks?
A. A full listing of Microsoft-created Learning Snacks is available in the Training Catalog.  You can see both Microsoft- and community-created Snacks in SnackBox.

• View Learning Snacks created by Microsoft (Training Catalog)
• Visit SnackBox to view Snacks created by both Microsoft and the community

Q. Is it free to create or view a Snack?
A. You can both view and create a Snack for free.   To view a Snack, simply click the Launch button and the Snack will open in a new window.   To learn more about how to create a Snack, see the "Creating a Learning Snack" section later on this page.

Q. Do I need any special qualifications to create a Snack?
A. Anyone can create a Snack by using the Learning Content Development System (LCDS) and the Snack Converter tool (a Silverlight Learning Snack plug-in for the LCDS).  If you are an expert in using a particular Microsoft product or technology, join this growing and vibrant community and create your own Learning Snack.

• Download the Learning Content Development System (LCDS)
• Download the Snack Converter tool

Q. Where do I find the tools to create a Snack?
A. To create a Snack, you must download and install both of the following tools:

• Download the Learning Content Development System (LCDS)
• Download the Snack Converter tool

Q. Are the Snacks aimed at a beginner, intermediate, or expert user audience?
A. Snacks can be aimed at any type of user, ranging from beginners, to intermediate users, to experts.

Q. Why don't you have any Learning Snacks for X?
A. We have Learning Snacks for many products, technologies, and topics, but would also encourage you to create one to fill in any information gaps! If you're an expert in a Microsoft technology or subject, follow the steps on the Create a Snack page to start.

Creating Learning Snacks

Q. What makes a good snack?
A.The following guidelines will help ensure that you create a quality Snack:

• Keep it short!  Ideally, a Snack should not run longer than 10 minutes.
• Use a storyboard.  Lay out your Learning Snack on a whiteboard or in a document before using the LCDS tool.
• Mix it up!  Snacks are designed to contain text, slides, games, and videos.   Keep your viewer's attention by using more than one kind of media.
• Keep it clear.  Make sure your writing, graphics, and videos are clear.  You have a broad audience, and many of your viewers may not be familiar with your topics.
• Call to action:  At the end of the Snack, please include a link to the Microsoft Learning site (http://www.microsoft.com/learning) so that people can find additional training.

Q. What size should the thumbnail graphic be?
A.  The thumbnail graphic should be 313x230 pixels, and in JPG format.  Be sure to place it in the Build directory before you compress the folder for upload.

Q. I used eight templates, and the tool won't let me create my Snack.
Why?
A.  The Snack Converter only allows up to six templates for each Snack.  If your Snack has more than six, it won't work.

• For more information, visit the Create a Snack page

Q. I've uploaded my snack. Now what happens?
A.  After you upload your Snack, it is checked for viruses.  Then the site administrator reviews it to ensure that it runs properly on our platform.  The Snack will go live within 24 hours (weekdays only).

If you have any questions, please send an email message to snacksup@microsoft.com.