eLearning Examples

AI-Powered Software Simulations & Workflow Guides

Problem

Teaching SaaS workflows usually means screen-recorded videos or Storyline simulations. Both are slow to build, break whenever the interface changes, and give learners only one way to learn: watch, or click through. Just-in-time support, the quick “how do I do this right now” help, typically doesn’t get built at all because there’s no time left over.

Solution

I proposed and built an AI pipeline (custom Claude skill) that turns screenshots of a workflow into an interactive simulation of the platform. Each step is recorded once, with the screen, the action, and the instruction. From that single set of steps, the pipeline produces two tools:

A guide for just-in-time support. Learners move through numbered steps or jump to any step from a menu, with a pointer and spotlight showing exactly where to select. A “Play” mode walks through the whole workflow with narration.

A practice simulation for building skill. Instead of following instructions, learners get goals such as “Show only the accounts you own” and work out the steps themselves on a working facsimile of the workflow. A single hint reveals the answer when they’re stuck, and a completion screen shows tasks done, hints used, and missed clicks.

Design decisions

Goals, not instructions, in practice. The guide tells learners what to select. The simulation asks what they’re trying to accomplish, which is the transfer they need on the job.

No live system needed. The simulations run on rebuilt screens with sample data, so they never touch the real application. This protects customer data and data security with no need for a vendor contract.

Out of the learner’s way. The task card can be dragged, snapped to any corner, or minimized, and it moves automatically when it would cover the next target.

Accessible by default. Everything works by keyboard, with screen-reader announcements, reduced-motion support, and “select” rather than “click” in instructions.

Results

Cut simulation development time by 75%.

Produces the guide, a new just-in-time support tool, with no added developer time.

Expected to cost one-third of current authoring-tool costs over a year.