MUMBAI: Tata Interactive Systems' Graphic Novel Approach for Holland America Line's Lifeboat Assistant Program Won the APEX 2010 Award in the Electronic Media & Video - Education & Training category.

Holland America Line's (HAL) e-learning program titled Lifeboat Assistant, designed and developed by Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), was announced the winner of the APEX 2010 award in the Electronic Media & Video - Education & Training category earlier this month.

The solution was designed using a unique Graphic Novel approach where the learning objectives are met with the help of a story that unfolds through the course. The program, targeted at all lifeboat assistants serving in a support capacity, gives them further knowledge and helps polish their skills on the procedures of launching and recovering a lifeboat, mustering and embarking passengers, and surviving at sea.

The award-winning program was designed to cover the essential concepts of emergency readiness at sea, such as the key steps of recovering lifeboats, identifying the procedures of starting and operating a lifeboat engine, recognizing basic principles of crowd management, and understanding survival equipment.

According to Lalit P. Pulekar, Design Head at TIS' Kolkata Development Centre, "The Lifeboat Assistant course is a classic example where serious learning has been imparted through the simple and enjoyable approach of story-telling through visuals. This unique Graphic Novel Design used in the course is based on our Story-based Learning Objects approach. It ensures users' cognitive engagement and promotes active learning while simplifying the complexity of the subject."

"The excellent visual design is another high point of this course. True to the Graphic Novel theme, each screen is conceptually and visually rich. Some of the breathtaking backgrounds and illustrations make the whole learning experience truly exciting and engaging", adds Lalit.

The APEX 2010 award winners were selected based on the program's excellence in graphic design, editorial content, and success in achieving overall communications effectiveness and excellence. This year 3,711 entries were evaluated at APEX 2010 of which Video & Electronic Publications accounted for 328.

(c) 2010 Tata Interactive Systems