Comparing Online Authoring Tools

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Choosing the right e-learning authoring tool for the job is a daunting process . Not only do you have to take stock of your existing L&D assets and liabilities, you’ve also got to figure out which tool will work best for your overall vision. Our experience in the training and development industry has given us a unique perspective on two of the most popular authoring tools on the market—Articulate’s Storyline series and Adobe’s Captivate. We’ve also developed our own in-house authoring tool called DesignLab. Each tool is built to handle specific training and development tasks, so we will outline all three.

Choosing the right e-learning authoring tool for the job is a daunting process. Not only do you have to take stock of your existing L&D assets and liabilities, you’ve also got to figure out which tool will work best for your overall vision. Our experience in the training and development industry has given us a unique perspective on two of the most popular authoring tools on the market—Articulate’s Storyline series and Adobe’s Captivate. We’ve also developed our own in-house authoring tool called DesignLab. Each tool is built to handle specific training and development tasks, so we will outline all three.

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Before we get into the nuts and bolts of each tool, here are some big-picture questions that should be addressed during the selection process:

Before we get into the nuts and bolts of each tool, here are some big-picture questions that should be addressed during the selection process:

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• Is convenience and ease of use more important than total creative freedom?

• Is convenience and ease of use more important than total creative freedom?

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• Does your design team have the skills and knowledge base for complex authoring tools, or are you better off with something that anyone can pick up and learn?

• Does your design team have the skills and knowledge base for complex authoring tools, or are you better off with something that anyone can pick up and learn?

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• Do you know your audience’s needs and wants?

• Do you know your audience’s needs and wants?

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• Do you need to track user data?

• Do you need to track user data?

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• Is mobile-friendly training a priority?

• Is mobile-friendly training a priority?

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• Does the price include updates and technical support?

• Does the price include updates and technical support?

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• Are there training resources available?

• Are there training resources available?

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With those considerations in mind, let’s discuss the nuances of these three authoring tools.

With those considerations in mind, let’s discuss the nuances of these three authoring tools.

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Articulate Storyline

Articulate Storyline

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Storyline 360 is a foundational e-learning authoring tool that allows instructional designers to deliver customized, interactive courses to every device. With Storyline, designers can create effective and engaging courses and presentations that include voice-overs, video, animation, and dynamic user interaction using a PowerPoint-style interface.

Storyline 360 is a foundational e-learning authoring tool that allows instructional designers to deliver customized, interactive courses to every device. With Storyline, designers can create effective and engaging courses and presentations that include voice-overs, video, animation, and dynamic user interaction using a PowerPoint-style interface.

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Benefits:

Benefits:

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  The interface is similar to Microsoft PowerPoint.

  The interface is similar to Microsoft PowerPoint.

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  Screen adjusts to fit all mobile devices, including landscape- and portrait-view options.

  Screen adjusts to fit all mobile devices, including landscape- and portrait-view options.

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  The responsive player supports touchscreen gestures.

  The responsive player supports touchscreen gestures.

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  A content library of over 3 million images, icons, and videos.

  A content library of over 3 million images, icons, and videos.

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  Character animation templates that can change expressions and poses.

  Character animation templates that can change expressions and poses.

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Adobe Captivate

Adobe Captivate

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Adobe Captivate is an authoring tool that is used for creating e-learning content such as software demonstrations and simulations, branched scenarios, and randomized quizzes. The 2019 release adds new features including creating VR projects for immersive e-learning.

Adobe Captivate is an authoring tool that is used for creating e-learning content such as software demonstrations and simulations, branched scenarios, and randomized quizzes. The 2019 release adds new features including creating VR projects for immersive e-learning.

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Benefits:

Benefits:

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  Voice-over narration.

  Voice-over narration.

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  Compatible with Photoshop.

  Compatible with Photoshop.

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  Accessible on both PCs and Macs.

  Accessible on both PCs and Macs.

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  Monthly subscription option of $30.

  Monthly subscription option of $30.

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  Mobile-friendly display and content previews.

  Mobile-friendly display and content previews.

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AllenComm DesignLab

AllenComm DesignLab

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DesignLab is built to optimize flexibility. Its utilization of HTML5 makes it intuitive on mobile and desktop platforms, and the AllenComm team of instructional designers and programmers has created a wide range of activities that allow developers a lot of creative freedom.

DesignLab is built to optimize flexibility. Its utilization of HTML5 makes it intuitive on mobile and desktop platforms, and the AllenComm team of instructional designers and programmers has created a wide range of activities that allow developers a lot of creative freedom.

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Advantages:

Advantages:

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  Access to courseware experts.

  Access to courseware experts.

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  Branded templates.

  Branded templates.

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  Ever-expanding activity library.

  Ever-expanding activity library.

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  Responsive, web-based, interactive, media rich.

  Responsive, web-based, interactive, media rich.

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  User-friendly interface.

  User-friendly interface.

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We’ve had success designing learning solutions in each of the previous authoring tools, but that success depends on a solid plan and strategic resources before implementation. Gaining an understanding of each tool and coupling that understanding with your own assessment of professional goals is the best way to develop an engaging and effective learning solution.

We’ve had success designing learning solutions in each of the previous authoring tools, but that success depends on a solid plan and strategic resources before implementation. Gaining an understanding of each tool and coupling that understanding with your own assessment of professional goals is the best way to develop an engaging and effective learning solution.