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Graphic Design

Canva AI Text-to-Image

Gossip-Proof Your Workplace

Articulate eLearning Challenge #416  is Using AI (Artificial Intelligence) to Build Online Training. To create the interactive Articulate Rise example below, I decided to try out Canva’s new AI text-to-image feature for the first time.

Creating the Images

To create an image using Canva’s AI text-to-image tool, you need to type a description of the image you want. Then, you select a style from the approximately 20 styles the tool offers. When you click “Create,” Canva will produce 4 example images.

To help me decide on what style to use in my demo, I typed in the following prompt, then clicked create to see what the AI tool would produce:

Close-up of a female office employee talking, facing forward, with a pleasant expression on her face.

As you can see, changing the style completely changes the resulting image, even when using exactly the same prompt! Ultimately, I chose to go with the Watercolor style for this short demo.

Authoring Tools:

  • Articulate 360 Rise Microlearning
  • Canva Text-to-Image tool

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.

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.

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

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

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

Double-Blind Clinical Trials

Why are randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials known as the “gold standard” of clinical trials? Watch the demo to find out!

This demo is in response to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #310: Using Glassmorphism in E-Learning Course Design. Glassmorphism is sometimes called the frosted or virtual glass look in UI design. The idea is to have a background-blur on an object, giving the impression of a frosted glass.

Select the image below to view the demo.

Tutorial: Create a Quick Frosted Glass Effect with PowerPoint

Authoring Tools

Storyline 360, the Articulate Content Library, PowerPoint, and Camtasia.

Managing Pain

This demo is in response to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #322: Creating Visual Stories with Interactive Photo Collages

Select the image below to view the demo.

The Needs of Chronic Pain Patients

Patients struggling with chronic pain need relief. At the same time, medical personnel are charged with the task of preventing the illegal or harmful use of opioids. These challenges can be difficult to reconcile.

In this photo collage demo, Jonathan tells his story about the chronic pain that he lives with. For more information about Pain Management Best Practices, see https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/pmtf-final-report-2019-05-23.pdf.

Cool Tool

To create the comic book effect with the images I used, I employed the use of a tool new to me: Colorcinch. This online photo editor & cartoonizer is very easy to use. Below is a quick example that shows how the tool can quickly create cartoon versions of a photo. (The image below is not shown in the demo.)

Freebie

Download the story file.

Authoring Tools

Storyline 396, the Articulate Content Library, and Colorcinch.

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.

Free Print Certificate Template

Preview: View the interactive demo of the Print Certificate template in action!

*Updated 8/16/22 – a new Storyline 360 version has been added to the download links below. The short video in this version was created with CreateStudioPro.

A couple of years ago a client requested a printable certificate option for a Storyline assessment module I was designing. Since Storyline does not have that option, I had to scramble to create the feature. Of course, I did a google search first, and found many different tutorials on the subject.

It turns out there are various ways to create a printable certificate, using JavaScript with Storyline! This example is just one way to go about it.

Two free downloads: The zipped folders each contain the .story file, the printCertificate.html file, and the Storyline output folder.

Customize:  To customize the look of the Certificate, edit the printCertificate.html file with any html editor, such as Dreamweaver or Notepad.

Remember: Be sure to insert the printCertificate.html into the Storyline output folder after you publish your Storyline module.  Otherwise, the print certificate function will not work! (See the example Storyline output folder in the zip file you downloaded).

Tip: Be sure to pay attention to your browser and/or printer settings before printing or saving the certificate as a PDF. You can control the margins, the header and footer information, and the orientation of the certificate page by adjusting your browser and/or printer settings.

For example, in the Chrome browser (image below), you can uncheck the “Headers & Footers” option to print your certificate without that extraneous information at the top and bottom of the page.

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.

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

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 360Rise 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

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

Flu Facts Challenge

Play the Interactive eLearning Game!

Take the Flu Facts Challenge is a short informal learning game, created with PowerPoint and Articulate Storyline 360. Click on the image to view the game demo. This demo was submitted to Articulate’s Choose Your Own eLearning Challenge #378 (2022).

The game is meant to be played by members of the public at individual kiosks at a community health care fair. Both adults and children will have access to the game.

Gamification, or applying game design techniques to instructional design, is one way to engage and motivate people to interact with a learning module.

Images: Many of the character and background images in this module come from eLearning Art, a subscription service that provides graphics and templates for the eLearning community. This demo is featured on their eLearning and Training Examples blog.

To create the comic book effect with the images I used, I employed the use of a tool that turns regular images into cartoons: Colorcinch. This online photo editor & “cartoonizer” is inexpensive and easy to use.

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint, Storyline 360, Colorcinch, eLearning Art

The Project Overview and Background Information for Take the Flu Facts Challenge can be downloaded here.

Project Overview

Transparent Echo Technique

Click the image above to view the Articulate Rise demo.

Articulate’s eLearning Challenge #377 is to create an Image Effect for eLearning Cover Slides. I decided to create an example of the Transparent Echo Technique for the banner image in an Articulate Rise course.

All of the images in this course were created with the mix-and-match vector cartoons available for use in the stock images section of the PowerPoint ribbon.

Articulate Rise Clear Image Tip

When you upload an image to a Rise course, be sure to put “_noprocess_” somewhere in the image file name. (Do not include the quotation marks.) This will prevent Rise from compressing the image, which lowers the quality. Image file name example: tracy_cartoon_noprocess_.png

Vector Graphics in eLearning

Articulate’s eLearning Challenge #376 is Creating eLearning Templates from Vector Graphics. Vector graphics are infinitely scalable images created using mathematically defined elements. This means you can make a vector graphic as large or small as you want without losing any quality. It also means that vector images are great to use in eLearning courses.

PowerPoint has mix-and-match vector illustrations and cartoons available to use in the stock images included with the application. I colorized these cartoons by right-clicking on the image to convert it to individual shapes, then selected a fill color for each shape.

To create the Billy goes to the Hospital presentation above, I used PowerPoint vector cartoons and vector backgrounds from eLearning Art, then I saved the PowerPoint as a video. This low-cost technique could be used to create scenarios for eLearning courses.

For the Practical Math video below, I used vectors from Freepik in PowerPoint. Using PowerPoint’s animation effects helps create a parallax effect. This example is a short preamble to an eLearning math course.

Download the Freebies!

Download the Editable PowerPoints

To learn more about working with vector images, I recommend Tom Kuhlmann’s YouTube video tutorial.

Picky Eater Cafe

Check out the demo by clicking the image above!

The Picky Eater Cafe is an Articulate Storyline interaction I created as a response to Articulate’s eLearning Heroes Challenge #373, eLearning Course Templates Inspired by Restaurant Menus.

Users select tips from the menu to learn how to cope with the picky eaters they know.

Cool Tool

To create the comic book effect with the images I used, I employed the use of a tool that turns regular images into cartoons: Colorcinch. This online photo editor & “cartoonizer” is easy to use, and free! There are more advanced versions of the application that require a paid subscription, but for this demo I went with the free version. Below is a quick example that shows how the free version of the tool can quickly create cartoon versions of photos.

I used several authoring tools to create this presentation:

  • Articulate Storyline 360
  • PowerPoint
  • Freepik
  • Canva
  • Colorcinch cartoonizer

Let’s go Surfing!

Check out the demo by clicking the image above!

Let’s go Surfing! is an Articulate Rise interaction I created as a response to Articulate’s eLearning Heroes Challenge #372, Create Toggle Effects with Button Sets in Storyline 360.

Storyline’s button set feature makes it easy to create interactive toggle effects for graphics, characters, and more. In this Rise course, I inserted a Storyline block that uses shells as buttons. As the user clicks each button, a different surfing term and definition pops up.

Another way I customized this Rise course was to use a custom, unblurred background for the scenario block, as well as custom surfer characters. The way to do this is by editing the published files in the the course folder. Articulate’s Tom Kuhlmann has a great tutorial on how to accomplish this — Hack: How to Add Custom Characters to Rise Scenario Blocks.

I used several authoring tools to create this presentation:

  • Articulate Storyline 360
  • Articulate Rise
  • PowerPoint
  • Freepik
  • Canva

Back to the Office

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, lifestyles have changed. Many former office workers now work remotely, from their homes. At this point, some organizations are demanding that workers return to the office. Check out the demo by clicking the image above!

Back to the Office is an Articulate Rise interaction based on this situation. I created this demo as a response to Articulate’s eLearning Heroes Challenge #371Using Labeled Graphics to Create Interactive Pictures in E-Learning.

I decided to use a comic book theme, and use labeled graphics to advance the scenario. Users click on the markers to reveal the graphics, which serve as speech bubbles for the characters.

I used several authoring tools to create this presentation:

  • Freepik
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • PowerPoint
  • Articulate Rise

I found the images I wanted to use by exploring pop art images on the Freepik site. I picked images that would be easy for me to manipulate using Adobe Illustrator and/or PowerPoint.

Vector mages downloaded from Freepik are easily edited in Illustrator. For each image I used, I removed the backgrounds by simply turning off the background layer in Illustrator, and exporting the image as a transparent png image.

Working with PowerPoint, I was able to compose new images by combining graphics, inserting new backgrounds, increasing color saturation and changing the expression on a character’s face by adding colored shapes strategically.

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.

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.

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 #359Design 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

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

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

Meet Bei Bei

This demo is a response to Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #346 – Using Anthropomorphic Characters in E-LearningAnthropomorphism 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

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

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

Word Search

Coronavirus Word Search Puzzle

Coronavirus Word Search Puzzle is my eLearning lightbox demo for Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #316.

Click the image below to play the online eLearning game.

Lightbox Slide for Optional Information

Like many other eLearning developers, I frequently use lightboxes to allow learners to access optional information, as they see fit. In this case, the Instructions button leads to a short video describing how to play the game.

Game Mechanics & Free Download!

To create the game mechanics, I am indebted to Paul Alders, who shared a free word search interaction demo and Storyline download in the Articulate community website. Select the image below to view Paul’s demo, and download the file he shared.

Customizing the Interaction

The first step I took to customize the interaction above was to enlarge the puzzle–I’ve had poor eyesight all my life, and that’s generally the first step I take customizing any eLearning template! I also changed the color scheme/background and added a Powtoon character.

Next, I decided to use sentences as hints for the terms in the puzzle, rather than giving the learner the terms outright. Finally, I created the lightbox slide with a short video to explain how to play the game.

Authoring Tools: Storyline 360, Camtasia, Powtoon

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

Interactive Map

Thelma’s Adventure is my interactive map demo for Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #314. The demo is based on a vintage 1926 Beverly Hills street map of the stars’ homes that I found online. I gave the presentation an Art Deco look, with vintage background music, to complete the 1920s look and feel.

Click the image below to view the online demo.

Interactive Map of the Stars’ Homes

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint, Storyline 360

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

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

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

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

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.

Medical Template

This is an entry for Articulate’s Course Starter Templates for the Healthcare Industry – E-Learning ELH Challenge #171. The template features a slider interaction, click-and-reveal light-boxes, several different types of quiz questions, and has some generic audio instructions included.

Click on the image above to view the demo.

FREEBIES!

The template is fully customizable. In fact, this template is a customized version of the my Teamwork Training Free Customized Storyline 2 Template, found here.

There are two versions of the medical template available to download; one for Storyline 2, and one for Storyline 360 (that one will also work for Storyline 3).

Downloads:
  • The freebie Storyline 2 medical template download is here.
  • The freebie Storyline 360 medical template download is here.

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint (for editing images), Storyline 2, Storyline 360

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

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

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

 

eLearning Rock Band

In 2016, Articulate posed eLearning Challenge #143, to “design an interactive graphic or micro site for your (fictitious) eLearning rock band!”

The eLearning rock band I manage is called äSynchronous eLeärning. Click the image below to check out their website. They’re available to hire for weddings and bar mitzvahs!

Creating the Demo Using PowerPoint, Camtasia, and Storyline

I used PowerPoint to create the demo video, because I wanted to use the glass-shattering transition available in PowerPoint. I published the PowerPoint as a video to edit in Camtasia.

In Camtasia, I added the glass shattering sound effect and added a rock song that plays throughout the presentation. The royalty-free track is called Fit of Rage. I used a text-to-voice tool to record the ultra-simple (and simple-minded) lyrics to the song, which I renamed the scope creap. I combined the robotic voice, the music, and the PowerPoint video to create my demo video, which was imported into Storyline 360.

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint, Camtasia, Articulate Storyline 360

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.

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.

Holiday Office Party

The Holiday Office Party is another submission to Using Interactive Video Quizzes and Scenarios in E-Learning, Articulate’s E-Learning Challenge #258. Click the image below to view the comic book-themed gamified demo.

The boss is pretty strict! Can you meet her unwritten dress code standards and win prizes at the office holiday party?!

Authoring Tools: Camtasia, PowerPoint & Storyline 360.

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

Breakfast Challenge

The Breakfast Challenge is my demo for the new Articulate E-Learning Heroes Challenge #247: Using E-Learning Characters to Engage and Connect with Learners.

Click the image below to view the online demo.

Retro Style

The slides and images were edited in PowerPoint, using the application’s drawing tools, artistic effects, and slide transitions. I exported the PowerPoint to create a video, which I edited in Camtasia, to add music and sound effects. Finally, I uploaded the video to Storyline 360, where I added the quiz slide for interactivity.

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint, Camtasia, Articulate Storyline 360

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

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

L. A. Homicide

Show Where You Live

l.a. homicide

Articulate E-Learning Challenge #86 was to create an interactive map showing where you live. My hometown is Los Angeles, and I chose to create a map showing some of our most famous homicides. Unfortunately, I hardly had time to scratch the surface. So many murders, so little time… Click the image above to see the demo.

Updated for Challenge #237: Using Interactive Maps in E-Learning

6/16/19: I edited the short video introduction in PowerPoint. I saved the PowerPoint as a video, edited it in Camtasia, then imported it into Articulate Storyline 360.

For the updated interactive map, I added a new location: the Beverly Hills mansion where Bugsy Siegal was slain.

I wanted music to play in the background continuously, but I needed to give viewers the freedom to click any link they want, and take as much (or as little) time exploring each link as they wanted.

Currently, Storyline 360 does not support playing background music across multiple slides, so I put the entire presentation on one Storyline slide, using multiple layers. The audio is contained on the base layer, and the hyperlinks take viewers to various layers of the same slide.

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

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.

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

Freebie Office Template

Articulate’s E-Learning Challenge #234 is to create a course starter template, using an office theme.

This editable course starter template is a PowerPoint presentation on the perils of office gossip, which can be imported into Storyline, or used as an Articulate Presenter presentation.

Video demo:

PowerPoint’s Artistic Effects

All of the images in the presentation come from the Articulate 360 Content Library. I used PowerPoint’s Artistic Effects tools to transform an Articulate photographic character into a comic book character, to fit with the office comic book theme.

Freebie PowerPoint download: https://tracycarroll.net/234%20office%20theme.pptx

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint, Camtasia for video editing

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

Leadership 101

Widget Review: Change the Colors of the Modern Storyline 360 Player!

This Leadership 101 template is another submission to E-Learning Heroes Challenge #230: Course Starters: E-Learning Templates for Leadership Training. Click the image below to view the Storyline demo template.

Free Template from Articulate

I started creating this demo by leveraging Nicole Legault’s Three Tabs Template, which you can download for free on the Articulate E-Learning Heroes website: https://community.articulate.com/download/storyline-360-3-tabs-templates

To make the template my own, I added several interaction slides from the Articulate Content Library, and changed the color of Storyline’s Modern Player!

Editing the Modern Player

Those of you who have an Articulate 360 subscription know that Storyline 360 has two player options: the Classic Player and the Modern Player. The Classic Player can be extensively customized, including choosing your own colors for every aspect of the player. However, the Modern Player has only two overall color options: light, or dark.

In order to customize the colors of the Modern Player, I had to look for help outside of Articulate.

Cluelabs

I discovered Cluelabs, a company that offers free, nifty widgets for several eLearning software applications:

Ready-to-use widgets powered by Cluelabs cloud for your Articulate Storyline or Adobe Captivate elearning course.

Using their Storyline 360 Modern Player Custom Colors widget, I created a turquoise player for my Leadership 101 course starter template.

Your Thoughts

How about you? If you create eLearning courses using Storyline 360, have you missed the ability to customize the colors of the Modern Player?

Authoring Tools

Storyline 360

Leadership Training Template

E-Learning Heroes Challenge #230 is: Course Starters: E-Learning Templates for Leadership Training. This week’s challenge from Articulate is to share a course starter template for leadership training.

Click the image below to view the Storyline version of my comic book style demo.

Creation Process

I started creating this demo by leveraging Paul Alders’ PowerPoint template, which you can download for free on the Articulate E-Learning Heroes website: https://community.articulate.com/download/powerpoint-comic-strip-template

Original template

My template

To make the template my own, I changed the colors on the slide master backgrounds, using PowerPoint’s picture tools. I like bolder colors for comic books, so I darkened and increased the color saturation and color contrast on most of the background images. (I thought it would be quicker and easier than it was, because I thought the backgrounds were shapes rather than images! So, I’m not sure I actually saved myself much time in this process!)

I replaced the existing fonts with some I already had on my computer (Bangers & Back Issues BB – both can be downloaded for free), and decided to go with photographic images, rather than cartoons, for the characters in the scenario. I altered the photographic characters by using PowerPoint’s artistic effects. Then, I included some office backgrounds, again altered by using PowerPoint’s artistic effects tools.

PowerPoint Versatility

I like creating in PowerPoint when I want to manipulate images extensively, using PowerPoint’s image-editing tools. It makes for a smoother workflow for me, rather than uploading images into Photoshop, editing them, then downloading them from Photoshop and uploading them to an eLearning application. When I’ve edited all the images in the PowerPoint to my satisfaction, I can upload the PowerPoint to Storyline, or use Articulate Presenter, to finish my eLearning course and add interactivity. Sometimes I export the PowerPoint to video, and use Camtasia’s video-editing tools and quiz capability, too.

Free PowerPoint Template Download!

Download my version of the comic book template here.

Authoring Tools

PowerPoint, Storyline 360

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

Play Mongoose vs Cobra!

It’s Mongoose vs Cobra! Who will win? Marty and Mona Mongoose battle the snake charmer’s cobra to get to the finish line. Click on the image below to view the demo, roll the dice, and play the game!

This Storyline game demo is a response to Articulate’s E-Learning Games Challenge #225. The challenge is to create a variation on the classic board game, Snakes and Ladders.

I used Russell Killips‘ original Snakes and Ladders Storyline Game for inspiration. To learn more & download Russell Killips’ freebie Snakes and Ladders Storyline template on the Articulate E-Learning Heroes site, click on the image below.

Authoring Tools

PowerPoint 365, Storyline 360

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.

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

Living Coral Template

Articulate E-Learning Challenge #214: Using the 2019 Pantone Color of the Year

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2019 is Living Coral. To view my Living Coral eLearning Template demo, click the image above.

Customizing the Template

I customized the Articulate 360 Serenity template by changing the color scheme on the Master Slide, and changed the colors on the Articulate Player to correspond with the new Living Coral theme. I added background images, made available on the Articulate website by Tom Kuhlmann, for visual interest.

The classic Articulate cartoon characters were customized by saving them as Microsoft Drawing Objects, then changing colors as desired, to correspond with Pantone’s Focal Point palette.

 

Free Assets!

Authoring tools for this presentation: Articulate Presenter 360, PowerPoint

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

Comic Book Theme

Toxic Work Relationships

This demo was one of my submissions to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #204: Comic Book Theme E-Learning Templates #204

Click the image below to view the demo of this Articulate Presenter 360 template in action!

Articulate Presenter 360

Articulate Presenter is a PowerPoint add-in. If you subscribe to Articulate 360, it’s one of the tools in your arsenal. In this template, I also used an Engage conversation interaction, and a QuizMaker multiple choice question. I edited format of the Engage and QuizMaker master slides to blend with look of the Presenter/PowerPoint template.

The template came from the Articulate 360 content library; I changed the theme fonts on the PowerPoint master slide.

PowerPoint’s Image Editing Tools

I used PowerPoint’s picture formatting (sharpen 100%, color saturation 200%) and artistic effects tools (Cutout effect, 6 shades, varying transparency levels) to cartoonify the Articulate photographic characters in this template.

2 FREEBIE Downloads!

I’ve included two freebie versions; the Presenter package if you have access to Articulate Presenter 360, and the PowerPoint only version, if you don’t. In the PowerPoint only version, the Engage 360 and QuizMaker 360 interactions are not included.

Authoring tools: Articulate Presenter 360, PowerPoint 2016, QuizMaker 360, Engage 360

Dark Comic Template

This demo was one of my submissions to E-Learning Heroes Challenge #204: Comic Book Theme E-Learning Templates #204

Click the image below to view the demo of this Storyline 360 template in action!

I was able to create this theme quickly, thanks to the Articulate 360 content library, which has editable themes and multiple cartoon character choices. I changed the fonts for the existing theme, and added larger shadow effects to the characters for a moody effect. The background images also came from the content library.

I used PowerPoint’s picture format and artistic effects tools and  to edit some of the images.

FREEBIE Storyline 360 download (modern player):

FREEBIE Storyline 3 download (classic player):

Authoring tools:  Articulate Storyline 360, PowerPoint 2016

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Tabs Navigation – ELH Challenge #199

4 Benefits of Donating Blood is my submission to Articulate’s Challenge: Common E-Learning Interactions: Tabs Navigation (2018) #199

Leveraging a Free Tabs Download

I created this new tabs interaction by revamping a free tabs template download created and made available on the Articulate community website by Montse Anderson.

The Benefits of Fruits template is a Storyline 2 template. I upgraded the template to Storyline 360, then changed the colors, fonts, graphics, text, and added text-to-speech audio with background music.

Free Downloads!

Download the Storyline 360 template by clicking here: Tabs Navigation

I used the font Caviar Dreams for the text. To create the cartoon characters, I used the fonts Kartoon Kutz, and Kartoon Kutz 2. Download all three fonts: 3 Fonts

I used PowerPoint to create the cartoon images from Kartoon Kutz fonts. Get the PowerPoint file by clicking here: Font Characters

Tutorial

In The Rapid E-Learning Blog, author Tom Kuhlmann created a great tutorial showing how to create free icons and images using fonts: Create Free Icons and Images in PowerPoint Using Dingbat Fonts

Authoring tools: Storyline 360, PowerPoint

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.

Software Simulation: How much is your time worth?

how-much

Articulate Challenge #144: Slide, Drag, and Hover Past Boring Next Buttons 

 

This ELH Challenge is about creating a navigation structure without using the ubiquitous NEXT button to move viewers from slide to slide. The module I created is called How much is your time worth?, and there is no NEXT button in sight.

The Business Problem Addressed 

 

A fictional healthcare provider, SoCal Solutions Healthcare, wants to encourage their members to use their online healthcare portal, rather than always phoning Customer Service for information and to make appointments.  This module seeks to describe the benefits of using the website rather than the phone to take care of most of the members’ needs, and it also gives the members some practice in using the website to accomplish a simple task. 

Slider Navigation

 

slider-nav

 

The first part of the module uses a Storyline 2* innovation, the slider, to advance the viewer from layer to layer on the introduction slide. The introduction describes the problem of phoning Customer Service for help – the long wait on hold that can be a frustrating waste of time.

*I’ve since updated the module to Storyline 360 – 11.28.17.

Software Simulation

 

software_simulation

 

The second half of the module is a software simulation, where the user must perform the correct action in order to advance the slide. I used Storyline’s screen capture function to record my keystrokes and mouse movements as I completed the software task, and converted the video produced into a timed quiz format. Viewers get pop-up hints to help them complete the task in under two minutes.

I used the built-in Storyline quiz timer in the top right of the screen to help motivate the learner to complete the task quickly. 

Authoring Tools: Photoshop (to create comic book effects for the images in the Introduction section), Storyline 360

Creative Image Effects – Challenge #156

  

This is my entry for Articulate’s E-Learning ELH Challenge #156: Creative Image Effects for Stock Photos in E-Learning. Click the image above to view the Mad Men-inspired demo.

Tutorial/PowerPoint Download

I used PowerPoint to create the comic book photo effects shown in the demo, using the steps shown below. To download the PowerPoint Photo Effects Step-by-Step zip folder, click here.

 
 
Authoring Tools: PowerPoint, Articulate Presenter 360

Another Medical Template FREEBIE!

This is another entry for Articulate’s E-Learning ELH Challenge #171: Course Starter Templates for the Healthcare Industry. The template is fully customizable. I based the template on the Articulate 360 Journey template, available in the 360 Content Library. I changed the color scheme on the PowerPoint slide master, and added new graphics, some animations and slide transitions. The process was remarkably fast and easy!

Click on the image above to view the demo. 

FREEBIES!

There are two versions of the medical template available to download in a zip folder; one version is a PowerPoint file, and the other is an Articulate Presenter file. If you don’t have Articulate Presenter, you can still use the PowerPoint file on its own, or import it into Storyline or Captivate.

Download the zip folder:

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint, Articulate Presenter 360

Using E-Learning to Teach Foreign Languages – ELH #179

This e-learning example is a response to Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #179: Using E-Learning to Teach Foreign Languages. The challenge was to create a language training course interaction.

Re-purposing an Existing Template

To quickly create this interaction, I used the Freebie FAQs Storyline Template that I give away on my website. I changed the colors of the template on the Storyline master slide to reflect the colors of the French flag.

Cartoon Techniques

To create the cartoons of the French man & woman in this interaction, I used some of the techniques I’ve employed in previous tutorials, using PowerPoint shapes and drawing tools:

Authoring tools for this presentation: Storyline 360, PowerPoint

 

FREEBIE: Construction Theme E-Learning Template #183

This is an entry for Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #183 – Course Starters: Construction Theme E-Learning Templates. Click on the image above to view the demo.

I leveraged the trusty Articulate Content Library and some of my old Storyline 2 presentations to create this course starter template. The themes available in the Content Library are easy to customize, and you can replace the generic images with specific photos from the content library to suit your needs. I added animations, and used PowerPoint to create some visual effects on some of the images.

FREEBIE Download:

The Construction Course Starter Template is compatible with Storyline 360 & Storyline 3.

Click to download: https://tracycarroll.net/Construction%20Template%20SL360.zip

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint (for editing images), Storyline 360

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

 

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

ELH Challenge 174: Random Word Generator

This is my entry for Articulate’s E-Learning ELH Challenge # 174Using JavaScript to Create Random Word Generators in E-Learning.

Click the image below to give the Fairytale Generator a spin!

  

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 fairytale. Want to make changes? Click PREV to go back to change the components, then advance the slide again to see how your fairytale has changed.

JavaScript

The generator uses JavaScript to generate the random words. Matthew Bibby has a great, easy-to-follow tutorial on Generating Random Words or Phrases in Storyline on the Articulate E-Learning Heroes community website, along with downloads you can use. I followed his method closely to create my demo!

Authoring Tools: Articulate Storyline 360

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

FREEBIE Health Care Tabs Template

This is yet another entry for Articulate’s E-Learning ELH Challenge #171: Course Starter Templates for the Healthcare Industry. This Storyline 360 template can be customized to suit your needs.

Select the image below to view the demo.

For this health care tabs template, I used the “scrubbed” font below to create characters with a medical theme.

   

Using PowerPoint, I added color to each font picture, before uploading them to the Storyline template.

Download the the FREEBIE:
E-Learning Hero Inspiration

This template was inspired by Trina Rimmer’s Storyline tabs template, available at: https://community.articulate.com/download/storyline-2-progressive-tabs

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint, Articulate Storyline 360

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

Greenery – Pantone’s 2017 Color of the Year

Articulate’s E-Learning Heroes Challenge #154 is to use Pantone’s 2017 Color of the Year, Greenery, in designing an e-learning module. I customized a Storyline 360 e-learning template, using the Greenery color. Click the image below to view the demo.

I also designed a short course with Articulate RISE, featuring Greenery.

Click to download the Freebie Storyline 360 Template:
https://tracycarroll.net/Greenery_Template_Download.zip

Bonus tip! Check out and download David Anderson’s cool Color Tint and Shade Generator!

Authoring Tools: Articulate RISE, Articulate Storyline 360

 

Visual Storytelling with Photo Collages #27

Click the image to see the colorful interaction.

For the E-Learning Heroes Challenge #27, Visual Storytelling with Photo Collages, I decided to use the labeled graphic lesson format in Articulate RISE to display my “collage.”

I used PowerPoint to create a comic-book slide, using colorized Kartoon Kutz font characters for images. Then I saved the slide as an image, and used that as the basis of my labeled graphic interaction.

Authoring Tools: PowerPoint 2016, Articulate RISE

 

Freebie – ELH #165 E-Learning Graphics Using Free Font Icons

View the Demo

Articulate’s ELH Challenge #165 is to create custom e-learning graphics using free font icons. Click the image below to see a Storyline 360 demo of my challenge entry.

Download the Freebie!

Get the editable PowerPoint file by clicking here: https://tracycarroll.net/165%20elh%20font%20icon%20challenge.zip

Authoring Tools for this demo: PowerPoint 2016, Articulate Storyline 360