Adobe Captivate Tutorial: 2 Ways to Show User Acknowledgment In this Adobe Captivate Tutorial, I answer a viewer’s question on how to have a button that makes a check mark appear when the user clicks it, but then have the button disappear immediately after. Also I show you two different ways to accomplish this. First by simply using the timeline of the slide and ensuring the correct placement of when the various objects appear and second by using advanced actions to control when the same objects appear and disappear. The post Adobe Captivate Tutorial: 2 Ways to Show User Acknowledgment appeared first on VivaeLearning: The Best Free Video Tutorials Online.

The purpose of choosing a design approach is to improve the efficacy of your online course. If an appropriate strategy is not employed, the efficacy of the course may be affected. There are many methods to finalize the design of a learning program. At CommLab, we believe that design comprises three learning elements i.e., instructional, visual and audio. Our approach to design is basically to finalize the specifications in terms of handling these elements. In this blog, we will be discussing about the first element i.e. instructional design strategy or instructional design approach. The instructional design approach states how the content needs to be presented in the e-learning course.Your course may end up ineffective and mislead the learner if a proper strategy is not followed. To ensure that your content flows smoothly, you must to comprehend the contentand follow/adopt the right instructional approach.  Instructional design strategy determines the approach to be taken to achieve the desired learning objective. This strategy is again divided into two segments i.e. learner-centric and course-centric. Let’s have a look at them. 1. Learner-centric Strategy: It focuses on the intellectual, emotionaland physical participation of the learner and helps strengthen the learner’s knowledge, therebyimproving on-the-job performance. i. Intellectual Participation: It defines the strategies to engage learners by providing mental stimulus. Some examples of intellectual participation are: Providing textual instructions in a manner that triggers thought Using interactivities to engage learners Including practice exercises such as formative and summative assessments that test their understanding/ knowledge and giving theme sense of achievement ii. Emotional Participation: It defines the strategies to connect with learners emotionally or by evoking emotions and creating long lasting impressions in the learners’ minds. Some of the examples are: Scenarios,case-studies and visuals that learners encounter in their work Tone and style of instruction that is persuasive and convincing while having the command of an expert Visuals which learners can relate to their daily lives Audio narration which engages the learners iii. Physical Participation: It defines the strategies to enable learners to engage with the instruction and to provide control. Allowing learners to make certain choices while learning Including interactivities that ensure learners physically interact with the course Including exercises so that learners get adequate practice, and thereby, have better retention 2. Course-centric Strategy: This refers to the course content and the best way to present it so that it is engaging and effective. There are two aspects to it, the physical structure of the course content and the logical structure. Let’s learn about them in brief. These two aspects explain the strategies for structuring instruction to ensure effective learning and easy recall. Physical Structure Logical Structure Setting the course topics in a highly organizedmethod Logical content chunks Laying out the page content to give the experience of a structure Instructions that help build effective mental models and patterns Using the technique of visual mind mapping Cue-based instructions that enable learners to retain chunks of content using cues Hope you find this blog informative. We will discuss about the other two elements in the upcoming blogs. Do share your views. Related PostsInstructional Design Strategies for Developing Online Compliance Training Programs5 Elements of Effective E-learning Design - An InfographicFive Elements of Motivation for Games in E-Learning

No doubt, many researchers have proved that visuals in online courses help in enhancing the learning experience. People often say that a picture is worth a thousand words. I believe the original quote was actually ‘A picture is worth ten thousand words’. The main objective of any online course is to create a strong impact on the learner; it should be able to communicate the key concepts of the course effectively. This can be done easily by focusing more on visuals. Visuals help the learner learn faster and better, and they help him retain information and apply it to his job. So, how can you formulate the right visual design strategy for your online course? Well, to create a visually appealing eLearning course, you need to understand the various types of visuals and their functions. These are some of the visual elements that had helped me create an incredible online course. Please share your thoughts. Related Posts4 Effective Ways of Presenting Scenarios in E-learning Courses4 Elements in E-learning that Excite and Engage Your Learners!6 Common Visual Design Mistakes Made by Instructional Designers [Infographic]

In eLearning, we use two types of assessments to assess the learning. Summative assessments are used at the end of the course to evaluate the learners’ complete understanding of the topic. We use them as the final test where you give them a grade after but not feedback. Formative assessments, on the other hand, are used after each learning objective to assess how much the learner has understood. Here, we provide feedback to reinforce his learning and help him retain the information for a longer period of time. Many eLearning courses provide feedback for the formative assessments which only says ‘Yes! That’s right’ or ‘No, that’s incorrect’. But, it is necessary for us to provide appropriate and explanatory feedback for each assessment because feedback also helps the learner develop the capability to self-evaluate their own learning. The explanatory feedback must go beyond indicating what the correct answer is. It should also consist of information that tells why it is correct. Similarly, for a wrong answer, the feedback should explain why the answer is not correct. Recently, one of our clients came up with such a requirement. He wanted us to display different feedback for each option. This would have been a challenge if the assessment were not developed in Articulate Storyline. Yes, Storyline provides us with an option that makes it possible to display different feedback for each option of the question without any customization in the functionality. Today, in this blog, let us know how this is possible in Articulate Storyline. Step01: Insert a new Multiple choice question. Click New Slide. Step02: In the Insert Slides wizard, select Quizzing from the categories given on the left. Step03: Select Multiple Choice from the types of quizzing slides and click Insert. Step04: Type in the question and options. Step05: Now, set Feedback option as By Choice. Step06: After selecting the By Choice option, you can see that the space for giving feedback has been provided opposite to the respective option. Type in the relevant feedback in each space. Click Save & Close. You can see that a different layer is provided for the feedback of each option. That’s it! This is how you can provide different feedback for each option of the question in Articulate Storyline without any customization in the functionality. So, what are you waiting for? Start using this wonderful option in Articulate Storyline and help the learner reinforce his learning better. Hope you find this tip helpful. Please share your thoughts through your valuable comments. Related PostsRapid E-learning through Storyline Tool: 5 Infographics Sharing Key FeaturesCreating Graded Multiple Blanks Assessment Type in Articulate StorylineHow to Combine Your Adobe Captivate Projects Into Single Course?

E-learning courses on orientation training, safety training, etc., can be made interesting, instructionally and visually, by adding scenarios and ‘real’ images. But, how can you make product training courses interesting and engaging, apart from using product images? We, as online course designers, usually have a mindset that product training courses are simple and straight forward with less scope for creativity. This is completely wrong. Product training courses can also be made engaging. Let’s see how. In this post, I will share my experience of developing an engaging and interactive e-learning course to deliver product training. The first important thing was to gain the learner’s attention. So, we started the course with a small video on dos and don’ts of using the product. The second thing was to engage the learner on every screen. But, the client had a requirement that the course should not have audio. Here, the main challenge was to avoid content overload. We chunked the content thoroughly and presented the ‘need-to-know’ content as info-graphics and ‘nice-to-know’ content as click-to-reveal interactivities and as PDFs in resources section of the course. There is a thumb rule that every 3rd screen should be an interactive screen; we followed the same in the course to strike a balance between static and interactive screens. The next important thing was to reinforce learning. At the end of each topic, we used formative assessments. Here, to keep the learners’ interest high, we used game-based formative assessments. Games enable courses to be more interactive and ensure deeper involvement in the learning process. Instructionally, the course was going well. Then came a big challenge of improving the course visually. We created a real laboratory environment where the product is actually used. We used this as the background theme throughout the course in various styles. We also created characters and their attire to suit their real workplace. We used video bits to provide guidelines for using the product. In some places, where videos were not provided, we created animations. All these visuals elements added a lot of value to the learning process. Here are some screenshots from the course. Creating instructionally and visually rich product training courses is not so difficult. I think, if we pay attention to these small things, we can to create engaging product training courses. Do share your thoughts. Related PostsGuidelines for Content Chunking to Design Effective Online CoursesHow to Create Section 508 E-learning Course Using Flash3 Reasons Why Problem-based Learning Is Effective Learning

In today’s corporate training scenario, eLearning courses serve multiple purposes. They facilitate knowledge transfer, improve performance by targeting specific areas and also provide just-in-time, bite-sized learning modules, on-the-move. Thus, they don’t just impart knowledge, they make knowledge specific and result-oriented by making it available where and when it is needed the most. For instance, a short module on a new product can be provided to the sales people before they talk to a client. Given this context, e-learning courses need to be effective and efficient in two aspects - getting across the learning points to learners and doing so in a manner that facilitates quick knowledge absorption, retention, and recall. The Challenge Enabling efficient knowledge absorption lies at the heart of e-learning. This is where instructional designers need to bring in their teaching skills. They can present the matter in a logical, easy-to-understand way only if they have a clear idea of it. Presenting the subject in a way that best facilitates knowledge transfer is often a challenge. Often, we tend to complicate the topic by presenting it with too many "effects" which distract learning, or we over-simplify things and make the e-learning mundane. The Solution We have an effective tool at our disposal. It is very simple but yields powerful results. That is ‘Content Comprehension’. It is the process of becoming familiar with the content, understanding the flow and what it says. Instructional designers need to spend ample time on this activity to gain this familiarity. But content COMPREHENSION is often relegated to the background in the quest for finishing projects and designing courses with the "wow" factor. We forget the fact that only a thorough understanding of the subject will show us the most appropriate way of presenting it. For instance, for a training course, at the first glance, adding videos demonstrating the product usage and benefits might seem the best option. But, after spending time on understanding the content, you might actually identify the potential to add secnarios or ‘click-and-explore’ interactivities that add make learning more relevant. Having a clear idea of the content will ease the subsequent steps (such as deciding the course strategy, tone and extent of the audio) and make them more impactful. Since the content will be your guide, you will not loose sight of the goal. This will help you define your main strategy and select the auxillary elements. Tips for Content Comprehension Skim the entire content rapidly Identify content that needs to be read in detail Make notes or annotations according to your preference - this will prove to be a big help in understanding Ask yourself questions and see how the content answers them (you can convert sub-headings into questions) Put yourself in the learners’ shoes - this will help you select the best way to teach  So, ensure you understand the content thoroughly and develop courses which will answer your learners’ learning needs anywhere, anytime. Related Posts4 Effective Ways of Presenting Scenarios in E-learning CoursesWays to Use Emotional Design in eLearning4 Tips to Design Learner-centric E-learning Courses

According to a survey conducted by E-Learning Guild in the year 2013, Articulate Storyline is the most frequently used authoring tool. It’s because Articulate Storyline is very easy to use and comes with many in-built interactivities. Articulate Storyline has a wide range of features such as triggers, motion paths, eyedropper tool, animation painter etc. Its default features help online course developers create a course in quick time. It enables you to design a customized GUI (Graphic User Interface), in order to make the job of GUI designers easy. Articulate Storyline makes the learner’s life easier by providing a free-flowing menu which tells the learner about the modules in the online course. This tool is highly customizable and has many in-built interactivities. Activities are an integral part of an online curriculum.This is because at the end of each module, you would test your learner only by conducting an activity. Now, let us see why Articulate Storyline is the ideal authoring tool to develop curricula? Hope you find this post interesting. Do share your views. Related PostsRapid E-learning through Storyline Tool: 5 Infographics Sharing Key FeaturesHow to Combine Your Adobe Captivate Projects Into Single Course?Revealing 3 Hidden Features of Articulate Storyline - An Infographic

Are your learners feeling bored of the online courses you have created? In spite of creating highly interactive courses, are you learners dropping out of the course half way? The e-learning world today uses many powerful rapid authoring tools, which have built-in interactivities, for creating interactive courses in very less time. But, do you really think only having interactivities in the course would ensure learner engagement? If no, then what else can be done to ensure your learners are completely engaged in your course? The answer is simple - a good instruction. But, how can you design an online course that provides good instruction? Well, you need to have a good instructional strategy and focus on other important aspects. Today, I will share 5 tips to provide good instruction which ensures learner engagement. 1. A crisp and meaningful course title Long titles can pull off the learner’s attention and make him feel overburdened. So, you must ensure that your course title is crisp and meaningful avoiding unnecessary information. For example, the title "Safety in Sheet Metal Handling during Stamping Operation" can be written as "Sheet Metal Handling Safety". 2. Effective and motivating learning objectives Adults feel the need to know why they have to take the course. They should be told what they will be able to do after taking the course. So, showing appealing and motivating objectives right at the beginning ensures the beginning of a good instruction. For example, a learning objective like "By the end of this eLearning course, you will be able to handle and dispose data based on its type" can be more effective and motivating rather than the learning objective like "This eLearning course deals with the types of data and the process to handle and dispose them". 3. Audio only where necessary We create e-learning courses for adults who can read the content for themselves faster than a narrator. It would be distracting, if the narrator slowly reads out the complete on-screen content. So, it is better to provide detailed audio only for slides that need explanation. For example, you can provide detailed audio explanation for complex graphics. But, for simple and self-explanatory slides, you need to only introduce the learner to the learning point and ask him to read the rest of the information. 4. Natural and conversational tone of narrator To ensure a better and an immediate connection with your audience, it is important that the narration sounds authentic and is informative. You need to see that a sense of ‘reliability’ is created. . This goes a long way in making the learner feel that you are an expert in the topic. Your online course would be more effective if the narration is natural, personable and conversational and not unnatural and self-reading. 5. Learner interaction with content Interaction with the content means much more than clicking on tabs or numbers. You need to make sure the interaction makes the learner think. For this, you need to add activities and use scenarios and ask him what he would do in such cases. It is also a good idea to start with ice breakers. You can find many more innovative ways to make him interact with the course. These tips will help you make your instruction effective to engage the learner and ensure that the objectives of your course are met. So, what are you waiting for? Start designing online courses with these tips in mind, and if you have more of such tips, please share them through your comments. Related Posts4 Effective Ways of Presenting Scenarios in E-learning Courses4 Tips for Developing E-learning Course Using Rapid Authoring Tools5 Undeniable Reasons to Love Interactivities in E-learning

Technology has permeated into all aspects of our lives, and today, it plays a major role in the way we obtain information and learn new things. It has also enabled us to stay current, relevant and informed about aspects that matter to us, giving us more control and power to make informed decisions. Just as it has impacted all aspects of our lives, it has also influenced the instructional or training format adopted by learning and training professionals. Today, teachers, instructors and facilitators are expected to know and use technological tools as part of their jobs. Some may have already started doing it while others may be lost in the deluge of tools and applications available to them. Here is an eBook that compiles the list of technological tools and applications that today’s training managers can use to expedite their tasks and job responsibilities. Related PostsCreative Ways to Present Click on Tab Interactivity in E-learning Courses - An InfographicHelp! Answering the cry of ‘eLearners’The Limitations of Instructor Led Trainings

Welcome to today’s blog post. It’s been quite some time since something really interesting happened in the eLearning industry; something that could bring in a new face to the domain, something that could leave a mark for years to come. A couple of months ago, the renowned career skills educator company Lynda.com has been purchased by LinkedIn for an amount of $1.5 billion. The amount and the acquisition has taken many experts by surprise, leaving a few that have already visualized the learning revolution which could surface only through social media integration into learning. Let’s dig a little deep into the origins of Lynda and try to understand what this acquisition means to the future of the training industry. What is Lynda? Back in 1995, Lynda Susan Weinman, a 40 year old multimedia professor started a website to help her students with her books on web design. Today, the website serves all the training needs of its users with hundreds of videos on several categories such as business, design & development, photography, video and many more. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynda_Weinman) Why Lynda’s special? There are several hundreds of video-based courses on the web that teach the same subjects as Lynda offers. But what makes Lynda special? Lynda always had a special place when it comes to product quality. The quality of the content produced is regarded as the best in the industry. The content producers at Lynda are the secret behind this accomplishment. Lynda always focused on employing industry experts with profound knowledge that take learners through the subject with ease. Every e-learning company puts its heart and soul in developing courses that engage learners especially when the training is mandatory. Lynda hits a home run here with the unmatched quality standards in terms of content and clarity. LinkedIn with Lynda; what could this mean? The main aim of LinkedIn is to serve working professionals and connect them with job opportunities. But the users can make good use of these opportunities only if their skillset matches the requirements. And Lynda offers nothing but skill development courses. With their missions aligned, these two companies together could be a helping hand for job-aspirants globally. Imagine the redesigned job-search feature in LinkedIn that not only connects you to the job matching your skills, but also will notify you of additional skills you can acquire(from Lynda) in order to receive a better opportunity. Looking from another perspective, this acquisition will also emphasize the effectiveness of video-based learning in skill development. Even after the rise of advanced e-learning programs such as simulations and virtual/augmented reality based learning, videos stand as a great resource for learning. Post the acquisition, Lynda’s instructional methods have become even more popular and, this could mean a deviation in learning trends towards video-based learning or what I would like to call v-learning. Finally, integration of social media into learning is the best thing any learning professional can wish for right now, and this acquisition has made it a reality. Let me end this blog post with a reference to one good v-learning website I’ve come across recently, examfear. This site hosts a huge number of educational video lessons to help the students of classes IX to XII at no cost. Hope this blog post is informative. Please share your views in the comments section below. Happy Reading!! Related PostsIs Google Wave a flop?Creative Ways to Present Click on Tab Interactivity in E-learning Courses - An InfographicAre you Ready for eLearning with the Right Infrastructure?