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Animation

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse with Style

Give Your E-Learning Designs a Halloween Makeover is Articulate’s eLearning Challenge #480. The idea for this demo came from Tim Slade, who also runs eLearning Challenges on his website, the eLearning Designer’s Academy.

It’s a little known fact that a good fashion sense can save your life during the impending Zombie Apocalypse. In this short, interactive course, Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse with Style, we’ll explore how to live through these trying times with flair! Do yourself a favor and check out the presentation by clicking the link, or on the image below.

”Experience a panic-free lifestyle again! Come on down to the Zom-B-Gone Shelter, in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. You'll receive personalized care, based on your particular needs.

- Dave and Betty, shelter managers.

Tip for the day:

Practice radical self-care, even during the Zombie Apocalypse. You’ll feel better and live longer if you dress fashionably.

Shop Urban Zombie today!

Authoring Tools:

  • Articulate Rise
  • CreateStudioPro
  • Canva
  • Camtasia
  • Photofunia
  • Mighty text editor (replaces the Articulate Rise rich text editor for enhanced styling options)
  • AI tools: ChatGPT, Microsoft Designer, & Synthesia (for easy AI video development)
Tracy Carroll
In All, Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Gamification

Keep Your Teeth!

Did you know that more than 36 million Americans do not have any teeth? Many more have lost at least one tooth. The purpose of the eLearning game Can You Keep Your Teeth, is (not surprisingly) to keep your teeth.

You can keep them if you answer the dental hygiene questions correctly! Make a mistake, and lose a tooth. Click the image below to play the game.

Update

I originally created this game in 2016, using Storyline 2. This version, submitted to Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #311 – Using Dials and Sliders to Select E-Learning Characters, has been completely updated in Storyline 360, with new graphics and a new video.

The animated video introduction was created with Powtoon, an online, easy-to-use video software application.

Authoring Tools: Powtoon animation, Camtasia, Articulate Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Gamification

Immunity Game

Articulate E-Learning Challenge: Use Animation in E-Learning #201

Click the image below to view  my short eLearning Game Demo for Mobile Devices: Can You Get Immunity?

I created this demo specifically to be viewed on phones, by altering the default slide size and orientation in Articulate Storyline 360. The game features videos created with Plotagon animation, edited with Camtasia.

Authoring tools for this presentation: Storyline 360, Plotagon, Camtasia

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Scenario-Based E-Learning

ChatGPT as SME, Part 3

Creating images with Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In the lesson below, the video script and the questions were written by me; the question feedback was written by ChatGPT. I used the Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications Microsoft Designer & Adobe Firefly to create the video images. This blog post is another response to Articulate eLearning Challenge #416: Using AI to Build Online Training.

Click the image below to view the Rise microlesson: Homicide Investigation, Part I.

Working with Microsoft Designer & Adobe Firefly

What sets both Designer and Firefly apart from other design tools is that they are types of AI applications that allow you to create images and artwork simply by entering a text description of what you want.

Designer is part of Microsoft Office 365, while Firefly is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of tools. As of this writing, Designer has been available for several months, while Firefly has only been available for a few weeks.

Both tools are easy to use, and are quite addicting! I used each tool to produce images for my video. Below you can see how each tool produced different versions of two of the characters in the video.

Three Hands?

One glitch I noticed is that both tools frequently produced images of humans with added arms, hands, and/or legs. This might be a plus for anyone writing science fiction, but it was slightly irritating for me.

Another issue was that it was difficult to produce an image with an authentic old-fashioned typywriter.

I used PowerPoint to edit the images and create the video. In PowerPoint, I would remove the background around the characters and replace it with another image, or change the colors, soften the focus, etc. Since it’s part of the MS Office suite of tools, most people already have access to the tool. In my experience, organizations funded by local government, such as police departments, frequently operate on a shoestring budget.

Authoring Tools:

  • ChatGPT
  • Microsoft Designer
  • Adobe Firefly
  • PowerPoint
  • Articulate Rise – Microlesson format

In Part 2, I asked ChatGPT to create a course outline with learning objectives for this course.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

ChatGPT as SME, Part 1

Policewoman hugs a little girl.

Creating a Video Script with ChatGPT

Cool Tool: I used Artificial Intelligence (AI), in the form of ChatGPT, to create the video script for the short promo video above. This blog post is a response to Articulate eLearning Challenge #416: Using AI to Build Online Training. It’s Part 1 in a short series about AI tools.

ChatGPT is a chatbot that creates AI-generated content. It can create an answer or response to whatever prompt you give it. I decided to see if I could get ChatGPT to generate a coherent short script for a promotional video for police who want to upgrade their skills to become detectives.

I chose the topic because I know virtually nothing about police or detective work, and I wanted to see if ChatGPT could act as my Subject Matter Expert (SME) on the subject.

The assignment I gave myself was to create a prompt that would cause ChatGPT to write me a short script to promote a course offering police a pathway to becoming a detective. Just about the only thing I know about detective work is that they create a Murder Book to store evidence on homicide cases, so I used that in my prompt.

The prompt: Act as a marketer. You will write me a video script to promote an upcoming webinar. Make it educational with a professional tone. My requested target audience: Police who want to become detectives. Webinar topic: Murder Book Essentials.

Policewoman hugs a little girl.

In the video, answer the following questions:

  • Why keep a Murder Book?
  • What information goes into a Murder Book?

In less than a minute, ChatGPT produced the following script for the Murder Book Essentials promo:

Opening shot of a police badge with the words “Murder Book” written over it.

Narrator: “Being a police officer is a challenging and rewarding career, but have you ever considered taking the next step and becoming a detective? One crucial aspect of being a detective is keeping a thorough and organized Murder Book.”

Cut to animation of a detective writing in a notebook.

Narrator: “A Murder Book is a collection of all the evidence and information related to a murder case. It’s the foundation of any investigation and is used to keep track of leads, suspects, and the progress of the case.”

Cut to animation of a detective flipping through pages of a notebook, highlighting different sections such as “suspects,” “witnesses,” and “forensic evidence.”

Narrator: “A well-maintained Murder Book can mean the difference between solving a case, and it going cold. It’s a vital tool for detectives to use, in order to keep a clear overview of the investigation, and to ensure that no detail is missed.”

Cut to animation of a detective holding up a completed Murder Book with the words “Case Closed” written on the cover.

Narrator: “Join our upcoming webinar, ‘Murder Book Essentials,’ and learn from experienced detectives how to organize and maintain a Murder Book that will help you to become a successful detective. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the best and take your detective career to the next level.”

Closing shot of the police badge with the webinar information and registration link overlaid.

Narrator: “Register now and take the first step towards your detective career.”

Evidence of a crime

My Assessment

I think ChatGPT did a very good job of producing a short video script, based on my prompt. I was surprised to see that it gave me tips for visuals to go along with the script!

Unfortunately, focusing on the murder book in my prompt has narrowed the course. Without a human SME, I didn’t catch this error. The course was supposed to be about police who want to upgrade their general skills to become detectives, not just about murder books, specifically.

Ultimately I didn’t follow the specific visual suggestions offered by ChatGPT, because it was faster to use whatever came to mind as I was creating the video in Canva, rather than hunt for specific images and graphics. I used a Murf.ai text-to-speech voice as a quick alternative to human narration, which would be my preference for a finished product.

Although of course I wouldn’t actually rely on ChatGPT as a SME, I was impressed at how quickly it came up with a usable script. I can see using the tool as a way to produce first drafts of documents and scripts, and to spark creativity.

Authoring Tools:

  • ChatGPT
  • Canva
  • Camtasia
  • Murf.ai text-to-speech voices

In Part 2, I ask ChatGPT to create a course outline with learning objectives for this course.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Sexual Harassment Training

Each year Articulate issues a challenge based on using Pantone’s Color of the Year in an eLearning example. Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year is Viva Magenta.

Pantone says Viva Magenta:

“… vibrates with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.”

I decided to see how well Viva Magenta works as a “wake-up” color in a Sexual Harassment Training mini-course, rather than using the more typical blues and greys that usually accompany HR training. This course was developed in Articulate Rise. It includes an opening video I created in Powtoon, and edited with Camtasia. Click the image below to view the demo.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Articulate Challenge: TikTok Style Videos

Articulate’s eLearning Challenge #400 is Using TikTok-Style Videos in Online Corporate Training.

My demo is the fictional ACME Corporation’s FAQs site. It’s a menu template featuring three short Tiktok-style videos, giving answers to some of their FAQs about working from home, signing up for healthcare, and who to call when you need help. It’s best viewed on a desktop or laptop.

Authoring Tools:

  • CreateStudioPro
  • Canva
  • Camtasia
  • Articulate Storyline
Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

AI Generated Images – MS Designer

Articulate eLearning Challenge #416  is Using AI (Artificial Intelligence) to Build Online Training. Microsoft Designer is a new tool that allows you to create custom AI-generated images for your designs. Right now it’s free with an Office 365 subscription. I just tried it, and it’s really fun to work with!

The short, silly video I created, Bobo’s Revenge, is the result of typing in four sentences, and choosing from the images Designer offered.

The four sentences:

1. Chimp plays a flute, comic book style.

2. Chimp orchestra, comic book style.

3. Angry chimp playing the bongos,
comic book style.

4. Chimp in despair, comic book style.

Why these 4 sentences? I have no idea, just playing around!

Bobo's Revenge

Authoring Tools:

  • Microsoft Designer
  • PowerPoint
  • Camtasia
Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Home

Science Fiction Generator

Click the image above to give the Science Fiction Generator a spin! You can personalize your sci fi story by choosing the locations, characters, and actions. The sci fi generator is my entry for Articulate’s Scrolling Panels in E-Learning Challenge #387.

Instructions

To use the generator, simply click each button as many times as you need to choose your desired components: characters, locations, and actions. Clicking the buttons will generate random words or phrases for each category.

Then, click NEXT to view your customized science fiction story. Want to make changes? Click BACK to go back to change the components, then advance the slide again to see how your fairytale has changed.

Choose Your Villain!

JavaScript

The generator uses JavaScript with Storyline variables to generate the random words. In the example below, the button associated with the Storyline variable “character2” will generate random villains (the Rabbit, Jabez, Bright Eyes, Gorgoneau) when clicked.

Authoring Tools:

  • Articulate Storyline 360
  • CreateStudioPro animation
  • Camtasia video editor
Tracy Carroll
In All, Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Home

Employee Benefits

I create animated explainer videos promoting various programs that employers want to highlight for their employees. ConglomCo Cares is an interactive demo that informs employees in the fictional ConglomCo workplace about two new benefits: ConglomCo Fit and ConglomCo Kitchen.

I created the animated videos in this demo with a new tool I’ve been playing around with: CreateStudio. It creates 3D animated videos, and other styles as well. This demo was submitted to Articulate’s Choose Your Own E-Learning Challenge (2022) #378.
Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Free Templates, Tutorial

3D Velociraptor

The Velociraptor is my submission to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #347: Using 3D Models in E-Learning.

Authoring Tools

To create the LinkedIn promo for this demo, I used an animation application new to me, called CreateStudio.

I created the Velociraptor demo in PowerPoint, using the application’s 3D Model Tools, morph slide transitions, & applied zoom & fly-in animations to the text boxes.

I did a screen capture of the PowerPoint slide show with Camtasia, then added music, sound effects, and an animated end title sequence with the video-editing software. (I’ve found that saving a PowerPoint slide show as a video does not give me as high a quality video as doing a screen capture, when there are many slide transitions and animations in the presentation.)

Free Download!

PowerPoint comes with plenty of free templates and themes. When you open the application, you can search for templates in various categories, as shown in the image below. I searched in the Education category, and found this school report template, which I modified for this presentation. To check out how the morph transition works, you can download the template here: Velociraptor PowerPoint template.

Bonus Download!

It is possible to create 3D promos for your work, using PowerPoint. The example above was made with PowerPoint and exported to video.

Download the editable PowerPoint version here.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Organize the Animals

Accessing Prior Knowledge

In this eLearning demo, Organize the Animals with Carolus Linnaeus, the learner can customize their own learning experience based on their prior knowledge of the subject. Answer correctly, and you have the choice to skip ahead without having to view the “Learn More” lesson. Or, you can learn more just for fun! Answer incorrectly, and the Learn More lesson becomes mandatory.

This short demo is a submission to E-Learning Heroes Challenge #382: Using Pre-Test Activities to Tailor Content in E-Learning.

Authoring tools

  • Plotagon animation
  • Camtasia video editing
  • Murf text-to-speech voiceover
  • Storyline 360
Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Master Mixologist

Become a Master Mixologist! Cool off with a refreshing Frozen Daiquiri. Learn a bit about the history of the famous cocktail, and get the classic recipe in How to Make a Frozen Daiquiri, the interactive version of this eLearning demo.

I created the animated video with a new tool I’ve been playing around with: CreateStudio. Although I’ve only had it for a short time, it looks promising! This demo was submitted to Articulate’s eLearning Mixology Challenge #381.

Authoring Tools

  • Articulate Rise 360 – Rise Apex theme was used for the interactive demo
  • CreateStudio – used to create the animated video
  • Murf Studio – text-to-speech voice in the animated video
  • Canva – icons and images
Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Become a Space Cadet!

Click the image above to view the Articulate Rise demo.

Become a Space Cadet was submitted to Articulate’s eLearning Drag-and-Drop Challenge #380.

Authoring Tools

  • Articulate Rise 360 – I used the new Rise Horizon theme for this demo
  • Articulate Storyline 360 – the Solar System drag-and-drop interaction was created in Storyline
  • Powtoon – the two videos in this demo were created in Powtoon, and edited in Camtasia
Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Work from Home Tips

Check out the demo by clicking the image above!

If you’re working from home, do you feel like you’re losing the right work/life balance? Here are 4 tips to help!

4 Tips for Working from Home is an Articulate Storyline interaction I created as a response to Articulate’s eLearning Heroes Challenge #374, Zooming and Magnifying Parts of an Image in eLearning.

Users select each employee to enlarge each image into a full-size video, where the employee explains their work-from-home tip.

Custom Closed Captions Settings

In this demo, I decided to have the closed captions on by default. I accomplished this by using a trigger on the Storyline master slide:

When the timeline starts on this slide
– Set Player.DisplayCaptions to value True

The user can click the cc button to turn off the captions, if they desire. I also decided to increase the size of the cc text, by using a setting on the Storyline player, in the Colors & Effects section. You can increase the size of the captions font by adjusting the percentage in the player. In this case, I chose 160%. Finally, I designed the Vyond video to leave about an inch of blank space at the bottom, to make room for the cc to display without blocking the view of the bottom of the video.

Cool Tool: I used Vyond animation software to create the videos for this demo.

I frequently use animation in the eLearning modules I design. It’s a great way to capture and maintain audience engagement! Authoring tools for this demo:

  • Vyond
  • Camtasia
  • Articulate Storyline 360
  • Murf text-to-speech voices
Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Use Disinfectants Safely

Check out the demo by clicking the image above!

Should we be aiming for a germ-free existence? How zealous should we be when using common disinfectants around the house?

Use Disinfectants Safely answers some FAQs about what to do if someone who is positive for COVID-19 has been in your home within the last 24 hours.

I created this interactive infographic as a response to Articulate’s eLearning Heroes Challenge #367,  about using hints to guide and challenge learners. The hints in this presentation are provided by hyperlinks that lead to short animated videos.

I used several authoring tools to create this presentation:

  • Canva
  • Powtoon
  • Camtasia
  • Storyline 360

To create this demo, I started out with a Canva infographic, then changed the color scheme and typography, and swapped out the icons using the Storyline Content Library. This is my favorite way of using Canva. It has so many assets that you can start out with one thing but end up with something completely different.

I used Powtoon to create the animated video hints, and customized the colors to go with the infographic presentation.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Ice Core Timeline

Check out the demo by clicking the image above!

Articulate eLearning Heroes Challenge #369 was about using interactive timelines in eLearning design. I created an Ice Core Timeline video and interaction, about the fact that scientists are collecting and using ice cores to learn about the ways the earth’s climate has changed through the years.

I used several authoring tools to create this presentation:

  • Powtoon
  • Camtasia
  • Storyline 360
Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Home Computing Quiz

Check out the demo by clicking the image above!

Articulate eLearning Heroes Challenge #365 was about using video in quizzes and scenarios. I decided to create a video quiz about the rise of home computing in the 1970s and beyond.

I used several authoring tools to create this presentation:

  • Canva
  • Powtoon
  • Camtasia
  • Storyline 360

To find vintage 1970s images, I used Canva, an easy-to-use graphic design platform. Canva can be integrated with Powtoon, an application I frequently use to create videos.

After uploading my chosen images from Canva to Powtoon, I created a video by adding text, speech bubbles, slide transitions, animated shapes, and background music. I downloaded that video to edit it using Camtasia.

In Camtasia, I cut the video into several shorter videos, to be used to introduce the quiz questions in Articulate Storyline 360.

I exported the entire music track to be used on the base layer of Storyline, because that application doesn’t allow music to play continuously over several separate slides. Each video and quiz question in this presentation exists on a separate layer of a single Storyline slide.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Vinegar Valentines

Check out the rude, crude ‘Vinegar Valentines’ of the Victorian Era by clicking the image above!

What’s a Vinegar Valentine?! is my submission to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #359: Design an E-Learning Template or Interaction for Valentine’s Day.

In the 1840s, brash Americans invented a novel way to let potential suitors know they were barking up the wrong tea.

The solution? Send them the ultimate insult: the Vinegar Valentine, complete with a caricature, and an obnoxious saying!

Authoring Tools:

Powtoon, Camtasia, Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Click-and-Reveal Portfolio Tips

Check out the demo by clicking the image above!

eLearning Portfolio Tips is my submission to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #349: Using Click-And-Reveals to Show More Info in eLearning.

Ned Newbie is a former teacher who is seeking a career change. He wants to be a freelance instructional designer who can work remotely.

This has been happening a lot lately, as more people have been changing careers for a variety of reasons, including the COVID 19 pandemic.

He’ll need an eLearning Portfolio, so he’s seeking some feedback on his first try at developing an online presence.

This demo features click-to-reveal interactions, and a Resources tab filled with eLearning Portfolio tips from highly regarded instructional designers and eLearning developers.

Authoring Tools:

Powtoon, Camtasia, Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Blog Posts

Vyond Demo Reel

I frequently use animation in the eLearning modules I design. It’s a great way to capture and maintain audience engagement!

Vyond was the first animation program I used, back when it was called GoAnimate. I found Vyond very easy to learn, and it allowed me to quickly develop professional animated videos for my clients.

Click on the video below to see the Vyond Demo Reel.

Authoring Tools

  • Vyond animation
  • Camtasia video editing
Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

3D Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope video is my submission to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #347: Using 3D Models in E-Learning.

Authoring Tools

PowerPoint

I started with PowerPoint. Using a 3D model of Hubble (a free PPTX asset), I created a simple green screen video by using the morph transition between the slides, and publishing the PPTX as a video. I used a green rectangle shape as the background, because I knew that I wanted to use several videos as backgrounds for the floating space telescope. The addition of video backgrounds contributes to the 3D effect of the Hubble moving through space.

Camtasia

In Camtasia, I used the Remove a Color tool to remove the green background, and render it transparent. Then I completed the demo by adding:

  • Several background videos (free assets from Pixabay)
  • Text boxes and shapes
  • Background music (free asset from Camtasia)
  • Narration (text-to-speech)

Storyline 360

Storyline is used to deliver the video. A couple of online Resources are included, so users can seek out further information if they desire.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

What’s so Exciting about DevLearn?

**Update Oct. 17, 2021**

Although I won’t be able to make it to DevLearn 2021, I’m excited for everyone who is going to the conference this year. I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun and learn a lot!

From October 2019:

What’s so Exciting About DevLearn? is another demo for Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #250: How are You Using Text and Images in E-Learning Design?

Click the image below to view the online demo.

Create Cartoons with PowerPoint

I created the icon of myself in PowerPoint several years ago, by using shapes and grouping them together. I saved the grouped images as a .png to preserve the transparent background, so that I could use the image in other applications.

Freebie Tutorial & Download

I produced an annotated video tutorial about the cartoon creation technique, and provided a free PowerPoint download here: https://tracycarroll.net/annotated-video-tutorial-create-cartoons-with-powerpoint/

Powtoon and Camtasia for Video Editing

I used Powtoon to compose the slides, create slide transitions, and add background music. Finally, I used Camtasia to edit the video and reduce the file size.

Authoring Tools: Powtoon, PowerPoint, Camtasia

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Meet Bei Bei

This demo is a response to Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #346 – Using Anthropomorphic Characters in E-Learning. Anthropomorphism means attributing human characteristics to animals and non-living objects. Using animals as characters can make the subject matter–in this case, the declining population of wild pandas–seem more friendly.

Click the image below to meet Bei Bei, and experience A Day in the Life of a Giant Panda.

Authoring Tools:

Powtoon animation, Canva images, Camtasia video editing, & Articulate Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Gamification

Name That Font!

This demo is another response to Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #345 – Using Font Games to Learn About Typography.

Click the image below to view the interactive eLearning game demo: Name That Font!

Development Details

For development details, see my blog post for Cheese or Font? The development process for both demos is essentially the same.

Authoring Tools:

Powtoon animation, Articulate Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Gamification

Cheese or Font?

This demo is in response to Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #345 – Using Font Games to Learn About Typography.

Inspiration

Articulate frequently revisits challenges after several years, and this challenge is no exception. I looked at the original challenge, and saw the title Cheese or Font, and thought it sounded like fun. Unfortunately, the link provided didn’t take me to a game, so I had to create my own!

Gamification

Sometimes you just have to memorize facts to get the job done (although probably not about cheese vs fonts). This short memory game demo shows an engaging, quick way to present this kind of task. Users can play the game several times, and teach themselves various ways to memorize the correct answers.

Click the image below to view the interactive eLearning game demo:  Cheese or Font?

Development Details

The animation application I used to create the intro to the game is Powtoon. I generally don’t start out knowing what I’m looking for when I create animated videos, I just look at numerous examples and templates on various sites until I develop some ideas of my own. Then I start out with a blank canvas and begin looking for the elements I want to use. In this case, I used a book prop from Powtoon combined with a mouse/cheese image from Pixabay.

Music is an important element, and I listen to music clips (sometimes furnished by Powtoon, sometimes by other applications/subscriptions) until I get the sound I want. Although the opening animation is only approximately 5 seconds long, I want the music to play for the entire Storyline interaction, so I include a couple of minutes to the video length of the Powtoon.

Camtasia Video Editing

After downloading the Powtoon video, I edit it using Camtasia. In this case, all I wanted to do was decrease the file size while retaining acceptable quality. I was able to reduce the file size of the video from 10,370 KB to 1,635 KB by removing the audio to a separate file, and adjusting the video quality settings before publishing.

Storyline Interaction

Since I want the music to play continuously throughout the interaction, the entire interaction needs to be contained on one Storyline slide, rather than using separate quiz slides for each question. This is done through the use of layers. The audio file is placed on the base layer, and plays continuously as the user interacts with each layer on the slide.

Video Tips

In Storyline, the video timeline and the slide timeline operate independently. By default, whenever the user clicks on a video (or touches it on a mobile screen), the video stops. However, the Storyline timeline marches on. This can wreak havoc with any timed interactions the developer plans to include on a video slide. In order to keep the video and slide timelines synchronized, I always include a “video shield” that I place on top of any videos I use on Storyline slides. The shield is simply a rectangular shape that covers the video entirely, set to 99% transparency. Now, the video timeline will be unaffected by a random touch. The user can stop or start the video only by using the play/pause controls that are used for the Storyline slide, thus making the video and the slide timelines function as one.

Using the Video Tools tab in the Storyline ribbon, I generally set the video compression to “none,” since I’ve already reduced the file size of the video in Camtasia.

Authoring Tools:

Powtoon animation, Pixabay, Camtasia, Articulate Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Tutorial

Rotoscoping Animation

Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #329 is Using Video Backgrounds in E-Learning. This is an example of a Rotoscoping Animation video.

Select the image below to see the Storyline demo.

Tutorial

To see how I created this animation demo in about 20 minutes, using Camtasia and Photoshop, select the image below.

Learn how to export video files or image sequences from Photoshop:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/saving-exporting-video-animations.html

Authoring Tools: Camtasia 2018, Photoshop, Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Audio Soundboard

Domestic Violence Statistics in the USA

This demo is my Interactive Audio Soundboard for Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #317. Click the image below to view the demo.

Powtoon Animation

The introductory animation was created in Powtoon, and edited in Camtasia. The voice-over was done by Joanna, one of Storyline 360’s text-to-speech voices. I find that using text-to-speech voice-overs in eLearning demos is a real time-saver when creating interactive eLearning examples for clients–but nothing beats professional voice-over for the finished product, of course.

Storyline Lightboxes

The learner can click on any statistic in the soundboard, and a lightbox with more information will pop up.

Authoring Tools: Storyline 360, Camtasia, Powtoon

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

T. Rex to Tweety Bird

Using Interactive Timelines to Present Sequenced Information in E-Learning

Timeline: From T. Rex to Tweety Bird is my interactive timeline demo for Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #315.

Click the image below to view the online demo.

Combining Animated Video with Storyline Layers

The base layer of this Storyline 360 presentation is an animated video I created with Powtoon, which includes background music. I wanted the background music to play across the entire presentation, but Storyline does not support playing music across several slides. So, I added the timeline links I created with Storyline to the end of the video. The timeline links lead to the various slide layers with dinosaur information.

This way, entire presentation is kept on a single Storyline slide, so that the background music can play without interruption.

Authoring Tools: Powtoon, Camtasia, Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Gamification

2 Truths and a Lie

Classic Icebreaker Practice: 2 Truths & a Lie is my demo for Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #313.

Click the image below to view the online demo.

Animation Tools: Powtoon, PowerPoint, & Camtasia

I created the animated cartoons with Powtoon, and edited the videos with Camtasia. To animate the cat’s face with different expressions, I used PowerPoint shapes.

Authoring Tools: Powtoon, Camtasia, Storyline 360, PowerPoint

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Passenger Safety Card

Health and Safety at Desert Air is my demo for Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #309: Creating Interactive Passenger Safety Cards. Click the image below to view the online demo.

Powtoon

I created the animated cartoons with Powtoon, and edited the videos with Camtasia. Storyline 360 was used to add the interactive aspects of this eLearning sample. Powtoon published an excellent review of this eLearning demo on their YouTube channel:

Authoring Tools: Powtoon, Camtasia, Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Urban Beekeeping

Keeping the Urban Bee is my demo for Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #312: Combine Photos and Illustrations in E-Learning #312

Click the image below to view the online demo.

Using PowerPoint to Alter Photographs and Images

The background photographs were edited in PowerPoint, using the application’s Artistic Effects tool. Techniques used:

  • Tint the photos with sepia tones
  • De-saturate colors
  • Blurred background images
  • Darkened images

Some of the illustrations were also edited using PowerPoint, using the following tools:

  • Background removal tool
  • Sharpen contrast tool
  • Increase color saturation
Powtoon and Camtasia for Video Editing

I used Powtoon to create slide transitions, add the animated bee, and to add background music. Camtasia was used to reduce the size of the video and provide the video player.

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint/Presenter 360, Powtoon, Camtasia

Urban Beekeeping info from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_beekeeping

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Clinical Trials

Articulate’s eLearning Heroes Challenge #307 is about building the most common e-learning interactions. I decided to create a tabs navigation interaction about clinical trials.

Before a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19 could be released to the public, it had to successfully go through randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trials. Select each term in the tabs interaction demo to learn more about why such trials are referred to as the “gold standard” of clinical trials.

Click the image below to view the demo.

Authoring Tools

To create this presentation, I used Powtoon to create the intro video, and Camtasia to edit the video. Articulate Storyline 360 was used to create the tabs interaction.

Tracy Carroll
In All, Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Gamification

Rules of the Road

The Rules of the Road is my eLearning game/quiz demo for Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #245: Designing Custom Quiz Results Slides in E-Learning (2019).

Click the image below to view the online demo and play the game!

Custom Quiz Results and Feedback Slides

The Rules of the Road game is really a Storyline eLearning quiz with gamified elements, including custom question feedback slides and customized quiz results slides.

Authoring Tools: Storyline 360 for the quiz slides, PowerPoint for altering images, Camtasia for video editing

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Your Brain on Soccer

Click the image below for the demo.

Powtoon Animation

Soccer Training, Drills, and Examples in E-Learning is Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #241. My example is a short public service announcement video that highlights the danger of brain injury from excessive head trauma. I created the video using Powtoon animation, and included an interactive hotspot (a hyperlink to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) by editing the video in Camtasia.

Authoring Tools: Powtoon, Camtasia

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

London Navigation

Getting Around London is my demo for Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #250: How are You Using Text and Images in E-Learning Design?

Click the image below to view the online demo.

Using PowerPoint to Alter Images

The images were edited in PowerPoint, using the application’s Artistic Effects tool. Techniques used:

  • Gradients superimposed on images
  • Blurred background images
  • Darkened images
  • Transparent text boxes over images
  • Contrasting sharp and blurred images
Powtoon and Camtasia for Video Editing

I used Powtoon to create slide transitions, and to add background music. Finally, I used Camtasia to insert an interactive hotspot over the url for the Transport for London site, where they can get further information.

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint, Powtoon, Camtasia

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Tabs Interaction

For my second entry to this Articulate Challenge, I created a short animated tabs interaction, that combines Plotagon animation with a new, very inexpensive PowerPoint add-in that I’ve been trying out, called the BlueFX Whiteboard Explainer Template.

Click on the image below to view the demo.

Authoring Tools

For tutorials on using any or all of the following tools I used to develop the presentation, I recommend doing an online search! Each of the software applications listed have excellent tutorials on their websites.

  • BlueFx Whiteboard Explainer PowerPoint Template – for whiteboard animation
  • Plotagon – for animated 3D characters
  • Camtasia – for video editing
  • Articulate Storyline 360 – for eLearning development

 

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Aussie Bushfires

Animation doesn’t have to be reserved for humorous topics! In Breaking News – Aussie Bushfires, I’ve used Plotagon 3D animation to portray a serious dialogue between a news anchor and reporter, about the recent devastating Australian wildfires. At the end of the presentation, there are links to several reputable charitable organizations, should you want to lend a hand.

This video is my second submission to Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #233: Showing Dialogue and Conversations in E-Learning.

Click the image below to view the informational demo.

Authoring Tools

To create this presentation, I used Plotagon Animation, Camtasia, and Articulate Storyline 360.

 

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Gamification

Color Wars

Color Wars: The Rise of Classic Blue is my submission to Star Wars E-Learning Examples, Articulate’s E-Learning Challenge #262.

Click the image below to view the demo.

Authoring Tools

I created the introduction videos in this e-Learning demo using Plotagon animation. Camtasia was used to edit the videos in the demo, by adding speech bubbles and background music. PowerPoint was used to create the opening image, and text effects.

Gamification

Storyline 360 was used to create the the Color Wars game.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Jet Lag

5 Facts About Jet Lag is my submission to Using Dials to Design Interactive Infographics, Articulate’s E-Learning Challenge #261. Click the image below to view the demo.

Powtoon

I created the videos in this online infographic using Powtoon animation. I used Camtasia to edit the videos–primarily to separate the 5 Facts video into five short lightbox segments, accessed by using the Storyline 360 dial feature.

Authoring Tools: Powtoon, Camtasia, Storyline 360.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Gamification

Arctic Survival Game

The Arctic Survival Game is my demo for Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #252: Using Checklist Interactions in E-Learning.

Click the image below to view the online game demo.

Animation

I used the Powtoon animation application to create the retro animated video, and PowerPoint to create and/or alter some of the 8-bit images. Camtasia was used to edit the video. Finally, Articulate Storyline 360 was used to create the game (quiz). 

Authoring Tools: Powtoon, Camtasia, PowerPoint

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Workplace Onboarding

The History of Workplace Onboarding is my demo for the new Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #246: Using Interactive Timelines in E-Learning (2019).

Click the image below to view the online demo.

Creating the Videos with Plotagon & PowToon

I created four animated videos for this presentation–three using Plotagon Animation, and one using Powtoon.

Articulate Rise

To add some interactivity to the presentation, I imported the videos into a Timeline lesson block in Articulate Rise.

Authoring Tools: Plotagon Animation, PowToon Animation, Camtasia, Articulate Rise

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Meet the Team

Meet the team at Generica, a warm and inviting workplace! Click the image below for the demo.

The presentation is my response to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #244: Meet the Team and Interactive Org Charts in E-Learning (2019).

Creating the Video with PowToon

I created this animated demo using PowToon, then edited the video in Camtasia.

Interactivity

To add some interactivity to the presentation, I imported the video into Storyline 360, and included a couple of interaction slides and feedback.

Authoring Tools: PowToon, Camtasia, Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Free Templates, Gamification

Play Connect 4!

Click the image below for the demo.

Let’s Play Connect 4! is my response to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #243: How Would You Build a Connect Four E-Learning Game?

I never played Connect Four–I’d never even heard of Connect Four, before being introduced to it through the Articulate E-Learning Heroes website. So, instead of trying to come up with a different version of the Storyline game available on the Articulate website (created by Russell Killips), I decided to add elements to it.

Animated Into, Instructions, and Sound Effects

I added an animated introduction, created with Plotagon animation, and edited with Camtasia video editing software. I also included a lightbox with instructions, accessible to users like myself who are new to the game. In addition, I included some sound effects on the Winner and Draw slides.

Free Connect 4 Storyline Download:

Connect Four Freebie By Russell Killips

Authoring Tools: Storyline 360, Plotagon, Camtasia

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Food Safety in the Wild

Click the image below for the demo.

Food Safety in the Wild is my response to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #242: Use Audio, Music, and Sound Effects in E-Learning.

Plotagon Animation

My example is a short public service announcement video that highlights the potential dangers of handling and cooking food while camping. I created the video using Plotagon animation, and added ambient noise using the application (crickets, birds, wolf howling, etc.) The character’s voice was added using Plotagon’s text-to-speech option. For this video, a chose a Southern accent for my character.

I edited the video in Camtasia, to add additional graphics. Finally, I housed the video in Storyline 360, to add a hyperlink to view or download a pamphlet from the US Food and Drug administration on handling food safely in an outdoor environment.

Authoring Tools: Plotagon, Camtasia, Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In All, Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Reduce Your Global Footprint

Articulate’s  E-Learning Challenge #238 is to use a step-by-step approach in an e-learning example. Click the image below to see my demo, and learn how to easily reduce your carbon footprint immediately.

Step #3: Plant Greens!

For this example, I chose to use Articulate Presenter, a PowerPoint add-in, rather than Storyline, because I wanted some background music to play across several slides. Storyline 360 does not have that capability, but Presenter 360 does! It’s great to have a variety of e-learning tools in the toolbox.

I created the animated videos with PowToon animation.

Authoring Tools: PowToon Animation, PowerPoint, Articulate Presenter 360, Camtasia for video editing

Tracy Carroll
In All, Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Tutorial

Interactive Infographic

Updated – June 6, 2019:

I discovered the original interactive infographic I submitted to the Articulate challenges years ago was no longer working correctly. I took this opportunity to update the infographic to Storyline 360, and create a new video for the project.

I believe this presentation was the first of mine to make it to the Articulate eLearning Examples page! Click the image below to view the demo.

Challenge #236 is an interactive infographic challenge. For the challenge, I created an interactive poster as my infographic, available on one page, rather than a multi-page e-learning module. The very simple design is similar to Pinterest tiles. I used Plotagon animation to create the animated characters, and made the owl out of PowerPoint shapes.

Tutorial: Learn How to Re-size the Storyline Slide:

I decided to use a portrait orientation to give it the feel of a poster. Storyline makes it easy to change the size and orientation of your presentation. To change your Storyline module’s size, click on the STORY SIZE button, shown below, and choose either a preset size, or go with a custom size.

change the story size

 

Authoring tools: PowerPoint, Plotagon animation, Camtasia video editing & Storyline 360.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Free Templates, Tutorial

Create Common Craft Style Characters with PowerPoint

Click the image above to view the tutorial I created as a response to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #170. The challenge was to create and share your own “hand-crafted” explainer video, similar to a Common Craft style video. In my tutorial, I’ll show you how to create Common Craft style graphics in less time than it takes to hand-draw and cut out images, using PowerPoint shapes and shadow effects. Click the image above to view the tutorial.

Using the Paper Cutout Effect to Design E-Learning Graphics – Articulate Challenge #235

Update: The same technique can be applied to photos for a paper cutout effect!

PowerPoint Freebie!

Click here to download the PowerPoint with all the graphics in the tutorial above.

Authoring tools: PowerPoint, Camtasia, Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In All, Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Medline

Articulate’s E-Learning Challenge #233 is to show how dialogue can be shown in e-learning courses. I chose to demonstrate an animated conversation between two characters on a televised medical show called MEDLINE.

Click the image below to watch the MEDLINE demo and learn about the recent measles outbreak!

Interactivity

To add interactivity to the Plotagon animated video, I used a Storyline 360 quiz slide to assess user knowledge.

All of the information in the demo comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I used a Storyline marker to provide a link for more information.

Authoring Tools: Plotagon animation, Storyline 360, Camtasia for video editing

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Gamification

What do you Hear?

How many musical instruments can you identify accurately, by listening to the sounds they make? Play What do you Hear? to find out!

Click the image above to view the eLearning game demo.

This Storyline eLearning game demo is a response to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #231: Interactive Audio. The challenge is to share an eLearning example that demonstrates how eLearning can be used to help students learn about music.

Gamification

I created the What do you Hear? game using Articulate Storyline 360, and Plotagon Animation software. To increase learner engagement, the game is personalized throughout with the learner’s name, by employing a Storyline UserName variable.

Authoring Tools

Plotagon Animation, Camtasia 2018 for video editing, Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Map Reading with Magellan

Learn the lost art of map-reading, with world explorer Ferdinand Magellan! Click the image below to view the demo.

This Storyline demo is a response to the Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge: Reviving the Lost Arts with E-Learning. Articulate defines the “lost arts” as the basic life skills for self-sufficient living that have been forgotten or replaced by modern technology.

Animation & Personalization

I used Plotagon Animation software to create the Ferdinand Magellan character. The demo is personalized throughout with the user’s name, by employing a Storyline UserName variable.

In this way, the learner is incorporated into the scenario-based adventure, to increase their engagement in the story.

Authoring Tools

Plotagon Animation, Camtasia 2018 for video editing, Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Gamification

St. Patrick’s Day Trivia Game

Play the St. Patrick’s Day Trivia Game!

This eLearning game demo is a response to Articulate E-Learning Challenge #224: How are Designers Using Progress Bars in E-Learning?

In this case, the progress bar shows a shamrock if the user answers correctly, a dark green oval if the answer is incorrect, and a light green oval if the question is unanswered. To view the demo, click the image below.


Features & Authoring Tools

Besides the progress bar, the Storyline 360 game features a custom animated character I created with Plotagon animation, and Plotagon’s text-to-speech audio. The game is personalized with the user’s name, using a Storyline userName text variable. I used Camtasia’s video-editing software to edit the Plotagon videos in the game.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Gamification

Name that Color!

This eLearning game demo is a response to Articulate E-Learning Challenge #214: Using the 2019 Pantone Color of the Year. I designed the game with a vertical interface in Storyline 360, to be played either on your phone, or your computer.

Plotagon Animation

I used Plotagon’s animation application to create the animated segments, and edited them using Camtasia’s video-editing software.

To view the eLearning game demo, click the image below.

Authoring tools for this presentation: Storyline 360, Plotagon, Camtasia

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Free Templates

Newspaper Infographic

A More Engaging Info Dump

Click the image below to view the Articulate Storyline demo, a very late submission to the Articulate ELH Challenge #12: Transform Infographics Into Interactive Graphics

As an instructional designer/eLearning developer, sometimes I’m called upon to create “information dump” eLearning modules. These modules frequently contain a lot of downloadable documents on various disconnected subjects, such as forms for procedural updates.

I created this fun newspaper-themed interactive infographic to demonstrate how such information might be organized in an engaging way. Each pulsating button plays a short animated video, created with Plotagon animation, that describes the document update in question. Learners are encouraged to download the documents from the Resources tab.

Free Resources

Authoring tools: PowerPoint 365, Storyline 360, Plotagon

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Scenario-Based E-Learning

Anti-Bias Training

Widget World Presents: Interpersonal Skills Training is another submission to Articulate’s Creating Animated Characters in E-Learning Challenge #163.

Anti-Bias Training in the News

Workplace anti-bias trainings have proliferated in recent years, culminating with the Starbucks chain closing more than 8,000 company-owned stores in the United States on May 29, 2018 to conduct racial-bias training for all employees. Although Starbucks chose to focus almost exclusively on racial bias in their recent training, biased behavior in the workplace is not limited to racial bias.

Such workplace training programs often focus on getting people to own up to their implicit biases. Unfortunately, there is little evidence that getting people to acknowledge their implicit biases alters their behavior in the workplace. In fact, a meta-analysis of 494 anti-bias studies (with 80,356 participants) found no evidence that getting people to come to terms with their implicit biases alters behavior. (A Meta-Analysis of Procedures to Change Implicit Measures)

What’s the Goal?

The goal of workplace training should be to see some measurable, desirable change in employees’ behavior on the job. One approach that can be effective in producing behavior change is scenario-based training that aligns with the behaviors learners are expected master once the training is complete.

During the scenario-based training, learners are plunged into situations where they are allowed to practice skills and develop relevant behavior strategies. In this way, they can safely learn from their mistakes and acquire beneficial experience.

Interpersonal Skills Training Demo

In the short animated example demo, the learner must make a decision about how to react to a workplace interaction. The learner experiences consequences, and has the opportunity to correct any mistakes made.
Animation & Video Editing Tools

The animated video scenario in the demo was created with the Plotagon animation application, then edited with Camtasia video editing software, and imported into Articulate Storyline 360 to add learner feedback.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Gamification

Who Said That?

Who Said That?! is my submission to Articulate’s Using Badges, Awards, and Achievements in E-Learning Courses Challenge #197.

Gamification

This demo is a short American history e-learning game, where the learner must correctly identify the quotes of four famous figures in American history. Answering all four questions correctly will earn the learner the coveted Simply the Best badge!

Animation & Video Editing Tools

The animated videos in the demo were created with the Plotagon animation application, then edited with Camtasia video editing software. I imported the short videos into Articulate Storyline 360 to complete the quiz.

Updated 6/3/18.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Scenario-Based E-Learning

Glasgow Coma Scale

The Glasgow Coma Scale

This week’s Articulate E-Learning Heroes challenge is to share an example of an interactive video quiz.

Click the image above to see the short demo. I created the video scenario in GoAnimate, used Camtasia and PowerPoint to do some editing, and imported the video into Storyline 360 to add the quiz questions.

Authoring Tools: GoAnimate, Storyline 360, Camtasia, PowerPoint 16

Updated 6/3/18

Tracy Carroll
In All, Animation, Articulate Challenges

Triage Training

This is my submission to Articulate’s Medical #ELHChallenge 69. Click the image below to view the demo.

For this challenge, I combined GoAnimate whiteboard animation with Storyline 360 to create Triage Training.

GoAnimate was used to create the video portion, and Storyline 360 was used to create the quiz question. The Storyline player is also used to contain resources for the learner. In an actual course, the Storyline player could be used for navigation, and to organize branching scenarios to tailor the course to each learner’s needs.

I’ve found that courses using the whiteboard animation technique can be very engaging, and the technique works well for both serious and lighter topics.

Authoring Tools: GoAnimate, Storyline 360

Updated: 6/3/18

 

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Your Weight on Other Worlds

Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #200 is: How Are You Using Lightbox Slides in E-Learning? Click the image below to view my demo: What Would You Weigh on Other Worlds?

Lightbox Slides

Using a lightbox slide gives eLearning course developers a way to present learners with additional information and/or resources, without leaving the current slide. In my demo, learners type in their weight on earth in the numeric entry box.

Next, they click on a planet to open a lightbox that reveals what they would weigh on that planet, and includes some interesting facts about the planet in question.

Making Storyline Calculate the Learner’s Weight on Various Planets

For this to function, I needed to create some variables, and tell Storyline to perform various functions with the variables.

Step #1: Create the needed number variables. In this case, I used: yourWeight, and a variable for each planet: mars, jupiter, etc.

Step #2: Create triggers that tell Storyline what to do with the variables. On the Planets screen, I created a trigger that sets the value of yourWeight to the typed value in the numeric entry box.

On each lightbox screen, I created triggers to assign each planet’s variable the same value as yourWeight. Next, I created triggers to tell Storyline to multiply the value of the planet’s variable by the value necessary for each planet.

Authoring tools for this presentation: Storyline 360, Plotagon for creating the animated video introduction, and Camtasia for video editing.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Scenario-Based E-Learning

Storyline Blocks in Rise

Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #193 asks the question: How Are You Using Storyline Blocks in Rise?

Click the image below to view the demo.

Responsive Courses

Rise is one of the apps in the Articulate 360 suite of eLearning applications. It allows eLearning developers to quickly create responsive courses that look great when viewed on desktops, laptops, tablets, or phones. The best part is, as an eLearning designer you don’t have to make layout adjustments manually; the program does that for you automatically.

The course on a desktop computer:

The course on mobile devices:
Why include Storyline blocks in a Rise course?

The Storyline block feature in Rise allows course designers to include custom multimedia interactions. In this case, I created animated video scenarios using Plotagon animation, and edited the videos with Camtasia. I used Storyline to include quiz questions superimposed on top of the videos at the end of each scenario.

Creating Animated Scenarios Using Plotagon

Plotagon is a fun and easy-to-use application for creating animated videos. In the application, you are limited to two characters who can participate in a dialogue for any given scene. I get around this by creating separate scenes set in the same location, with new characters and camera angles. Then, I edit the separate scenes in Camtasia, and voilà! I can have as many characters as I like interact with one another. In the bar scene in this demo, I had 5 characters interact in one scene.

Authoring tools for this presentation: Storyline 360, Articulate Rise, Plotagon for creating animated videos, Camtasia for video editing

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Escape the Room

Help Diego escape his cubicle! Diego’s evil boss has locked him in his glass cubicle for failing to properly format his TPS report. Don’t you just hate that when it happens?!

This demo is my submission to Articulate’s Designing Escape the Room Puzzle Games in E-Learning Challenge #198.

Graphic Design with PowerPoint

I used PowerPoint image editing tools to create the graphics for this presentation.

 

Animation & Video Editing Tools

The animated video in the demo was created with the Plotagon animation application, then edited with Camtasia video editing software. I imported the short video into Articulate Storyline 360 module.

Updated 6/4/18.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Gamification

Who has the Right of Way?!

Who has the Right of Way?! is my submission to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #195: How Can Learners Choose Their Own Avatars in E-Learning?

Gamification

In this learning game example, the user selects an avatar that is used throughout the game. The the game is also personalized with the user’s name.

Answering the questions correctly is the way to earn points and earn a Right of Way Expert badge.

Authoring Tools: GoAnimate (for the animated video background), and Storyline 360.

Updated 6/4/18.

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Teaching with Plotagon Animation

How Are Course Designers Using Educational Animations?

Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #76 is about creating educational animations. My entry demonstrates how teachers can use animation tools, such as Plotagon, in the the classroom to engage students in learning.

DRIVER’S EDUCATION

In my example, a Driver’s Education instructor would have a class discussion about the most important defensive driving tips. Allow students to express their own views on the driving issues they believe are the most critical. Next, allow students to create short videos concerning the tips they determine are most important. Devote a class period to watching and discussing the videos the students create!

PLOTAGON VIDEO

To create my animated video example, I used Plotagon, an application that allows users to easily turn written text into animated videos. I inserted the Plotagon mp.4 video into a PowerPoint presentation, to add some text overlay at the beginning and the end of the video:

Then, I published the PowerPoint as a video presentation and uploaded it to YouTube:

Authoring Tools: Plotagon, PowerPoint

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

New Articulate 360 Rise Feature: Storyline Blocks!

Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #193 asks the question: How Are You Using Storyline Blocks in Rise?

Rise, one of the apps in the Articulate 360 suite of eLearning applications, allows eLearning developers to quickly create responsive courses. In October of last year, I was excited to learn that it was now possible to include Storyline lessons in Rise, using the Storyline block feature.

I played around with the new feature and created an Articulate Rise demo using the new Storyline block function:

Click to view the Articulate Rise demo.

 These are the steps I took to create the Rise lesson:

Step 1 – Create 3 one-slide Storyline video/recipe cards (cookies, cobbler, & brownies). Publish each to Articulate Review.

This is what the brownie video/recipe card looks like by itself in Articulate Review:

Click to view the Storyline module in Articulate Review.

The recipe icon is a Storyline marker that triggers the recipe’s state to change from hidden to normal.

 

The print icon has an “execute javascript” trigger to print the recipe to a pdf.

 

The “video” is a series of photos I edited in Camtasia, using some zoom animation effects.

Step 2 – Create the Rise course, & customize with a cover photo.

Step 3 – Add one image/text block lesson:

Step 4 – Select and add the three Storyline block lessons (available to select because I published them in Articulate Review first).

I think the addition of the new Storyline block lesson feature makes it much easier to rapidly create versatile, responsive eLearning courses in Rise. What’s your verdict?

Update: Since this post was originally uploaded last October 2017, I’ve used the Storyline block in one of the Rise courses I developed for a client. I inserted a Storyline learning game I created, called Who has the Right-of-Way? into an online Driver’s Ed course.

Authoring tools for this presentation: Storyline 360, Articulate Rise, PowerPoint, Camtasia

 
Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Tutorial

Rotoscoping Animation for E-Learning Courses #167

Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #167 is all about creating a rotoscoping animation demo for e-learning courses. To see my demo, click the image below.

I had actually never heard the term “rotoscoping animation” before, but when the classic Take On Me music video from the ’80s was referenced, I recalled the cool hand-drawn animation effect that was used.

Rotoscoping is a technique used by animators, where they trace over motion picture footage, frame by frame, when realistic action is required. I wanted to try to replicate the effect. The problem is, it takes a long time to do that!

Since I don’t have time to spend several hours on producing this effect for e-learning, I tried using a shortcut involving PowerPoint’s Artistic Effects filters. 

Tutorial

I created my “rotoscoping animation” effect in less than half an hour! To view the tutorial on how I did it, click the image below.

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint 2016, Storyline 360

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts, Free Templates

E-Learning Noir: Using Only Black and White in Course Design

This is my entry for Articulate’s E-Learning ELH Challenge #172. Click the image below to view the demo.

This challenge is all about creating an e-learning module in black and white. Storyline 360 makes it easy to customize an existing template with lightening speed! I chose a template from the Articulate Content Library, then applied a gray-scale color scheme to the slide master and feedback master.

A bit of tweaking was necessary to get the colors just right, primarily with the text. I added some entrance animations and slide transitions to the slides. Next, I applied a subtle glow effect to the characters on several slides.

Vyond

I created a short black and white animated video to go on the media slide, using Vyond animation (formerly GoAnimate).

We don’t need no stinkin’ colors!

A FREEBIE Template
  • To download the customizable Storyline 360 template, click here: Basic Black

Authoring Tools: Articulate Storyline 360, Vyond animation

Tracy Carroll
In Animation, Articulate Challenges, Blog Posts

Hand-Crafted Explainer Videos – Articulate Challenge #170

Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #170 is to create and share your own “hand-crafted” explainer video, similar to a Common Craft style video. Select the image below to view my demo.

The idea is to draw the images on paper, cut them out with scissors, and film your hand-drawn images as you move them about by hand. Record your e-learning script and add your narration to complete the e-learning module.

Use Analog Tools?!

Common Craft - Tools of the Trade

Pens, markers, rulers, scissors… I had a few challenges with this challenge!

  1. I can’t draw,
  2. I don’t own a tripod, and
  3. I don’t have the time necessary to use this approach.

So I decided to create my own version of a quick Common Craft style video, using some of my trusty computer tools:

  • Common Craft cutout icons

  • PowerPoint – to customize the Common Craft icons, and use the PowerPoint Pen tool to draw the Mona Lisa.

  • Vyond, to animate the characters
  • Storyline 360, to add the audio narration and publish the module for the web
  • PowerPoint, to draw the Mona Lisa