A compilation of commonly used eLearning authoring tools. What's your take?
When I use it..., Simple/short screen capture with audio
What I like about it, Quick free way to get screen captures., Simple to use, focused only on one thing
What I like about it, Quick free way to get screen captures., Simple to use, focused only on one thing
What I don't like about it..., Can't edit
When I use it, Screen capture with audio, still image capture, create 'how to' demo of software and site navigation
What I like about it, cheap, easy to use, sound / video quality fine for web, video has easy pause facility during capture
What I don't like about it...
When I use it, When I need a quick video recording of my screen, Presentations, Demonstrations
What I like about it, Easy of use, Free, Download .mov or publish to Youtube
What I don't like about it, 3 min limit, difficult to edit or add features (text, zoom), Can only publish one way, so only download .mov or post to Youtube, not both
When I use it
What I like about it
What I don't like about it
When I use it
What I like about it
What I don't like about it
When I use it..., Rapid eLearning, Demonstrate on-screen processes, Creating Recruiting Video, New node
What I like about it..., Very accurate recordings, Outputs to lots of different formats, Editor is fairly full-featured, Easy to Use/Intuitive, has a Mac version
What I don't like about it..., Preset callout boxes look hokey - agree!, A few minor head-scratchers in the Editor, can't overlay graphics very easily, hard to make click-throughs
When I use it, New system launches, Major releases of existing systems
What I don't like about it
What I like about it, Very accurate system captures, saving editing time, Can re-use the same capture in different formats to suit different learning situations
when I use it, for compliance training, to create rapid e-Learning, to produce quick, effective courses, to produce assessments - (lots of testing capabilities), when I want to integrate text, movies, tests into one course
what I like about it, quick and easy to use, produces real web content (small fast pages that don't bog down my network), courses work on PC's, tablets, and SmartPhones, Is not flash based, I can create flash, movies, pictures, audio in other tools and bring them into the course, great customer support, lots of good information on their web site, I decide if the course needs audio or video, then add it in (the tool doesn't require flash, audio or other media for courses to work well), Great SCORM support - sends all the info to an LMS that the LMS can take (other tools I have worked with only send the minimum amount of info), Copy/paste to bring PPT, Word, Excel docs into the tool maintaining formating, I bring SCORM objects I create with other tools into ReadyGo WCB to create a complete course, Instructional design is built in - helps me build effective courses, license is inexpensive ($500) no per student fees
what I don't like about it, User interface is not WYSIWYG - but it lets me build courses quickly
When I use it..., Rapid eLearning, Expo loops, Branching & Scenario learning, quizzes
What I like about it..., Ease of use, Flash-based output, I can convert PPT, extensible - can include lots of file types together, excellent support team, forums, Very responsive, SDK allows for custom players, Navigation/branching and hidden slide features
What I don't like about it..., Engage loading times, No player for embedded movies, Publishing times are slow, can't output to one file, can't place objects on top of an embedded flash movie., No support for AS3
When I use it..., Quick tests and self checks
What I like..., Tracking works well when published to SCORM, Very flexible options for screen layout, Speed, Custom feedback, Randomization/grouping feature
What i don't like..., Font handling not ideal
When I use it..., To display several similar pieces of info on 1 screen eg. case studies, Great for a quick timeline, FAQ, glossary
What I like..., Engage SDK, Ability to display in slide or as a tab
What I don't like..., Difficult to match up style used in rest of Presenter course, Template designs not easy to modify
Ease of use
Speedy demos, sims, assessments
Integration with other Adobe tools
Screen recording (software demos)
Easy to create interactive software sims
easy image edit for software simulations
publishes fairly quickly
Good for non-training professionals new to eLearning development
Record audio as your walk through demonstration and then go back and edit audio later. Easy on-the-fly demos that can be polished and re-purposed.
Version 5 is now available. It was rebuild from the ground up to support the Mac and AS3.
Edit, delete, duplicate advanced actions and apply them to slides or interactive objects
Allows users to upload custom buttons easily using the object styles feature
The Master Slide for interface development
Publish to various size outputs
Roundtrip into Photoshop and Flash for advanced customization
Custom interactions
Animated characters
Custom buttons & navigation
2D Game Based learning
Customized and complex assessment
Complex scenario based learning
Mobile Disturbution
Complex ISD development
To build complex assets to integrate into other authoring tools that support rapid development
Flexibility
Unlimited possibilities
vector graphics reduce file size
custom fonts are bundled with .swf file
video/audio distribution is supported without the need for other client-side video plugin
Supports Multiple Distribution
Excellent support from online forums and communities
You have to be a programmer
ActionScript learning curve
Drawing tools still need work
Rapid eLearning
New node
A lot of very flexible templates are provided
Project management features help with rapid authoring development
Fully online authoring, giving access to shared resources
New node
Rapid e-Learning
Web-based collaborative development
Standard courseware for LMS
XML driven templates rather than embedded text
Ability to externalize assets
ease of use, web-access, interactivity of elearning modules
Good SCORM export
Source code available for customization (if you have a flash developer)
The Review tool is great for SME and client reviews
Licensing is affordable
Web interface can be slow
Previewing can be complicated (often requires cache-clearing)
Provided templates are kind of clunky
Not standard-compliant
Can't import from standard quiz/content formats
Doesn't support AS3 files
Sometimes their upgrades have adverse consequences to your courses, at no fault of your own. At times has taken days to get fixed.
Updating course files is very time consuming for adding PDFs
Support from the company
Flexibility to do just about anything you need to do
Lots of templates for common activites
I can incorporate content developed in other tools into it
When I want to create a navigateable set of HTML pages that can include quiz questions and some other basic interactivity.
Free, simple to use,
Open source
can export to a range of formats (SCORM, HTML)
Doesn't add flash based content, no way (that I know of) to import content from elsewhere.
problematic to inlcude larger screenshots
When I want to create HTML content with some animation and interactivity.
Free, powerful.
Rapid elearning projects
When I don't have time (or the need) to start from scratch and specify how a module should work
When I know the content will need to be kept up-to-date by someone else (a non-programmer)
Ease of use, Easy to add questions and interactions, Built in design templates and themes mean I don't have to be a designer to produce professional-looking modules
Exports to web just like it's authored (WYSIWYG)
I can easily add Articulate Engage and Adobe Captivate content, Students can easy understand e-learning, Integrates with online review which speeds our review cycles (MySeminar Review), New node
Speeds review process
Exports to SCORM 1.2, CD, web, script, etc
Not ideal for heavy video and sound (but what web pages really are?), I tend to use native Flash if I'm building modules with a lot of video and audio
New node
New node
EXPENSIVE license
Sims are image based; meaning sim maintenance can be a pain when systems change.
Difficult/Impossible to pass interaction data out of sim to LMS for analytics.
New node
To get away from dire, conventional e-learning
Any discovery-based learning
When the audience suits a 3D game approach
I control design and production
I explore, produce, iterate
Easy to produce stunning, challenging game-based content
A bit version 1'ish (even though it's v3)
Can be clumsy to do things a conventional package does easily
Rapid e-learning
Product training
Create assessments, exams, surveys
When developing content with team
When content needs to be maintained by customers
Easy integration of (Flash) plugins
Various methods of publications (SCORM, HTML, CD-ROM) directly available
Content is stored on server
Client application is fast
Easy integration of voice overs, video files, screencasts
True WYSIWYG editor even previews questions and interactions
Only Windows client available
Requires (internet) connection to the server
What I don't like about it..., Buggy, some unclear documentation, Output always looks like "captivate", unless you customize the buttons through the object styles feature, Difficult to support constructivist learning, It has a problem with font aliasing: fonts on transparent captions look either ulgy or not aliased.
When I use it..., Rapid eLearning, Branching & Scenario based learning, New node
What I like about it..., Able to incorporate JavaScript, Book, Chapter, Page metaphor structure, Can get someone building content in just a few minutes - WYSIWYG, Parent / Child content and functionality, easy export to different formats (eg scorm, cd, web) with error testing as part of process - highlights what content doesn't work in that format
What I don't like about it..., So many fields to fill out!, HTML output, Huge learning curve - disagree with this viewpoint it's one of the easiest as the complex interactivity is done in the background - user can just add content, Friendly interface for beginners, but once you start using advanced features, the user interface is limiting., Output looks, well, sort of 1992ish, Crazy expensive, Only alerts to content problem (eg not scorm compliant) at publishing stage, Need Lectora to re-edit published content - locks into using the software
As a replacement for Authorware
For a visual, icon-based authoring environment
Branching, multiple scenario learning that Captivate can not support
Need Flash output for eLearning
Need a full range of eLearning functionality
Quick development project
Motion is not built in (but can be done in Flash)
Video must be converted to Flash before importing
Uses a logic metaphor, flowline; easier to use than a timeline
Supports high complex interactivity
Supports variables, uses learning objects
FREE (open-source)
Icons similar to Authorware
SCORM, can author content for a LMS
Easily combine all types of media without programming
Premade templates for use as examples
Not unnecessarily complex and overbuilt
support questions not organized well to search through.
Quick publish/preview process
When a training team needs to develop work instructions or interactive software simulations for ERP training
Develop a help site and help documentation for end-users
When I need to create end-user training exercises and job aids for SAP users
For managing a team of content developers or have SMEs review training materials
Developing assessments and converting PowerPoint to linear e-learning
When content management and change control is needed for hundreds of training documents
Single-step capture of screen actions that publish in multiple formats including playback movies, job aids, exercises, work instructions, cue cards, etc . . ., I explore, produce, iterate
Electronic workflow, review, and approval features with built-in e-mail notification
Good change control features for controlled/regulated/restricted content
Authoring, Admin, Publishing, and Reviewer roles, New node
Much more accurate than Captivate for screen captures, recognizes names of buttons, icons, and functions while recording in SAP
Good support site
Expensive unless used to support a large number of end-users
Audio files must be imported, can't record audio directly into content
Use it with Adobe Connect
Trade show attract loop
SCORM tools
Easy to use
Inflexable
Conflicts with other PowerPoint plug ins
Create short screencast
It's free
It's simple
It does what it says on the tin.
Limited output format (esp video)
Sound quality not brilliant
Create online courses to LMS
Create printable version of online courses
Create presentations easily
Free and open source
Personalizable
Strong architeture
Multisupport output (web, pdf, scorm...)
documentation french-only
requires training level to use fully
Quick prototyping of flow
New node
Quick and Easy
Free
Sometimes restrictive
SCORM/Flash only
Complex e-learning
Custom interactions
Simulations
3D models required in training/learning
Online collaboration within virtual world
Game Based Learning
Learning and motivational animations
Rapid prototyping
Debugging tools
Rapid 3D development with Google Sketch-up
Rapid animation and interactions using behaviours
Multi Distribution formats
Multi Scripting language support (lingo or javascript)
Programming Skills require for complex/custom interactions
High learning curve
plugin (shockwave) required to view through browser
file sizes can be large compared to the swf format
To engage learners with 3d animation
storyboarding (eg a film)
Free
Fairly intuitive to use
easy to customise characters (like wii me but more options)
Easily changeable branching tree
Ability to storyboard, write content, design, play and test all in one tool
Export Review feature to export all text content into a Track Changes enabled Word document.
Ability to easily import the changes in Export Review word document into the tool.
Easy integration with any LMS (SCORM 2004, SCORM 1.2 & AICC, So easy to manage changes to a simulation
Sophisticated tool - Training is required to become a proficient user of the tool
create courses for Web, CD and LMS (SCORM)
New node
When I need a lot of interactivity
I can create my own layout individual navigation can build a structure can use multiple master pages have a lot of test-options
Rapid eLearning
Software Demonstration
Help videos
New functionality announcements
Very fast development
Low ramp up
Easy to use
Multiple layers of automatic annotation
No H.264 export option
Limited choice of characters / backdrops / props
Time consuming (same as any animation)
export format is only AVI
When I use it, Need to deliver final product in HTML, For iPad
What I like about it, Complete flexability, Stable, SCORM output
What I don't like about it, Requires Programming
For producing professional e-learning
Flash based/ iphone version out soon
3D
SCORM output
Video Presenters
Requires Flash to design own new templates
To create Rapid e-learning
For compliance training
For soft skills simulations
For complex branching scenarios or roleplays
Ease of use - takes technology skills out of development
Fast development & updating
Publish to multiple formats - Web, LMS, standalone, tablet, mobile
Tool manages all media for you - converts, resizes, optimises and imports content for you.
SCORM & AICC
A great set of features - adds realism and delivers more effective training
Reflects contructivist learning theories
End products learner experience
Online so no updates
Tracking and reporting - provides ROI data
Really a product for Corporate users (premium end)
Learning curve to utilise advance features - though training is provided
autoSuite v2.0, When I use it..., Rapid eLearning, Expo loops, Branching & Scenario learning, quizzes, What I like about it..., Ease of use, Flash-based output, I can convert PPT, extensible - can include lots of file types together, Publishing times are slow, excellent support team, forums, Very responsive, SDK allows for custom players, Navigation/branching and hidden slide features, What I don't like about it..., can't output to one file, can't place objects on top of an embedded flash movie., No support for AS3
CourseBuilder
Accessible
Easy to use
Saas tool, (web based and hosted)
Dont need programming skills, Does have the ability for does with Action script skills to build their own interactions if needed
Collaborative, Share content with other users building content, Give review access to people who don't have access to use the tool for building purposes, Page level commenting for reviewers, Share project documents
Price model
Good work flow system
Scalable
Different levels of author access, Author, text editor, Administrator
PENS compliant
SCORM 1.2, 2004 AICC compliant
Range of elearning course, System training, Rapid, Bespoke, Assessments
What I like about it..., A good choice of features, to add variety to courses
What I don't like about it..., Only works on PCs for authoring.
When I use it..., Rapid development of soft skills learning, Can insert system simulations into main course, Demonstrate ideas
What I don't like about it..., Difficult to learn, has scripting language, documentation is in Russian, and really is a dog of a thing to learn for a newbie.
Wimba Create, When I use it..., When I need to convert an existing Word document into a set of HTML pages and add some interactivity like quizzes etc., To create cross-platform course content, What I like about it..., Ease of use, allows quick conversion of Word documents., Exports to HTML IMS CP without clunky flash or custom UIs!, Doesn't add flash based content., Accessibility checking for 508 compliance, What I don't like about it..., Feels outdated and unsupported by Wimba