Articulate Studio is one of the tools that you can use to create an eLearning course. Simply put, this tool allows you to convert a PowerPoint presentation into a Flash presentation.
While a PowerPoint course is best for instructor-led lessons, the one derived from the Articulate Studio allows instructors to set up an asynchronous learning environment. That is because the whole course – or at least a stand alone series can be played anytime and anywhere – depending on the availability of the learner.
It does not really require much programming skills to use this eLearning tool. This is probably why this is a popular choice for a lot of instructors. The PowerPoint itself is an easy tool to use. Even students can easily learn how to create a presentation using this program. Converting it into a Flash presentation, thanks to the Articulate Studio, is also just as easy to do.
This particular tool has four important components.
The first is the Articulate Presenter. The latest version, the Articulate Presenter ‘13 allows easier creation of an online course from a PowerPoint environment. You can add characters, set slide properties and even create multi-level menus. You are also able to animate even to the letter. Since this is great for asynchronous learning, you want to make sure that your students will enjoy every minute of your course. This allows you to add videos, games and even web-based applications to make the learning process more interactive and engaging.
The second is the Articulate QuizMaker. Obviously, your eLearning course will have to contain a quiz or test to help you determine if your presentation is effective or not. This allows you to create engaging assessment forms very easily. You can create scenarios that will make the test interactive, simple and interesting – like using drag-and-drop activities. Navigation and customizations are also possible here.
The third is the Articulate Engage. This component allows you to make the whole course as engaging as possible. It allows you to use up to 20 interactions – at least, this is true for the latest ‘13 version. Creating interactions is as easy as filling out a form. The great part about this is, the program will allow your learners to stop in the midst of a quiz or survey and come back where they left off. You can create one interactive activity and use that as a sort of template so you can publish it for other learners too.
The last component is the Articulate Replay. This component will allow you to create training videos that can be the main format of your eLearning course. You can easily record screencasts via the webcam of your computer. You can also record any multimedia format to deliver the content of your course. The click and drag feature will allow you to create the video, insert images and audio tracks. You can clip videos and arrange transitions as you see fit. You can also add graphics and texts to your video quite easily by using this tool.
Of the four, you will find that Engage and QuizMaker will require some practice in order to perfect its use. But beyond that, it should be easy for users to utilize Articulate Studio for your eLearning course creation needs.