Rapid Development Authoring Tools – Lectora, Captivate or Articulate

“ According to The eLearning Guild’s 2006 Rapid eLearning Development Research Report, demand for rapid eLearning solutions has increased from 70 percent in 2005 to a whopping 82 percent among the companies surveyed for the report”- Elizabeth West(2007), Rapid eLearning: Maturing Technology Brings Balance and Possibilities. Why Rapid eLearning Development?

Why Rapid eLearning Development?

Rapid development authoring tools have become synonymous with the very concept of rapid e-learning. Way back in the ‘80s, the only authoring tool people were talking about was Authorware, developed by Dr.Michael Allen (It was later acquired by Macromedia, now Adobe) for the convenience of the non-technical instructional designers. Authoring Tools ?

Today, we use a number of Authoring Tools – Lectora of Trivantis, Articulate of Articulate, Captivate of Adobe, Camtasia of TechSmith, ToolBook of SumTotal…the list goes on.

Authoring tools ease the development of multimedia titles. These tools also include simple drawing tools, along with the tools for creating simple path based animation. A few authoring tools also allow to certain extent editing and sound recording capabilities. Authoring tools facilitate in the development of an interface, explain the interactions allowed, and allow to place the media where we want them. Functions of Authoring Tools

Authoring tools ease the development of multimedia titles.

These tools also include simple drawing tools, along with the tools for creating simple path based animation.

A few authoring tools also allow to certain extent editing and sound recording capabilities.

Authoring tools facilitate in the development of an interface, explain the interactions allowed, and allow to place the media where we want them.

Pros and Cons of Authoring Tools

Lectora: Can develop multiple HTML pages simultaneously. Can develop simple interactive elements without knowing either Flash or JavaScript. Can develop multi-lingual courses easily. Can publish courses which are SCORM/AICC compatible.

Can develop multiple HTML pages simultaneously.

Can develop simple interactive elements without knowing either Flash or JavaScript.

Can develop multi-lingual courses easily.

Can publish courses which are SCORM/AICC compatible.

The flip side is that the screens load rather slowly as it does not have the facility of background loading.

The flip side is that the screens load rather slowly as it does not have the facility of background loading.

Captivate: Very good for capturing screen-based simulations. Ease of developing interactive elements without using Flash. Good collection of assessments.

Very good for capturing screen-based simulations.

Ease of developing interactive elements without using Flash.

Good collection of assessments.

On the flip side that as each screen is considered as an image, the file size is relatively high.

On the flip side that as each screen is considered as an image, the file size is relatively high.

Articulate: Excellent Quiz maker. Easy, intuitive navigation. Pages load fast as there is background loading.

Excellent Quiz maker.

Easy, intuitive navigation.

Pages load fast as there is background loading.

However, there is a limitation of design flexibility.

However, there is a limitation of design flexibility.

Conclusion: Though we gain in time and ease of use in using authoring tools, it robs us of the rich graphic and interactive capability of Adobe Flash. If you have Flash capability and combine it with using an authoring tool, it will be the best of both worlds.

Though we gain in time and ease of use in using authoring tools, it robs us of the rich graphic and interactive capability of Adobe Flash.

If you have Flash capability and combine it with using an authoring tool, it will be the best of both worlds.

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