When you’re thinking about which elearning development software you should use for your next project, it can be overwhelming. There is a lot of elearning development tools available, and most of them promise to solve your authoring problems. So which one should you choose? You probably know there are a few different elearning authoring tools available. But how do you know if they’re the best eLearning development software for you and your business? Given how many options are out there, choosing the right platform for your project can be difficult.
Here are the best elearning development plartforms to try out today.
iSpring Suite 8.1
A fully-stocked authoring toolkit, iSpring Suite works as a PowerPoint add-in, and enhances it with a number of features that can’t be found in other eLearning packages. The software turns your PowerPoint presentations into ready-to-use multimedia eCourses, which can be used in any SCORM compatible LMS or Tin Can API enabled LRS or on a regular HTML website. Thanks to the responsive design, your courses don’t require additional attention to make them compatible with any tablet or other mobile device.
iSpring Solutions, Inc. produces a number of simpler eLearning products, such as QuizMaker and Presenter for creating tests and video lectures respectively.
Pros
- Extensive PowerPoint support. Published courses preserve all original object animations, slide transition effects, triggers, embedded audio/video, and much more.
- Interactive courses can be built with audio and video narrations, and assessments with 11 question types, branching scenarios and flexible scoring
- Built-in screen recorder and editor allow users to create screencasts and insert them into courses or export as standalone explanatory videos
- Unique TalkMaster tool with a variety of backgrounds and characters for creating dialogue simulations
- Interaction tool for creating 3D book, timeline, glossary, catalog, and FAQ
- Doesn’t require additional training and it’s very easy to get started and use
Cons
- To create complex courses and even simple games, you need to know how PowerPoint works
- Course developer cannot create and use variables
- Only available for Windows operating system
- Few interactions compared with Captivate 9 and Storyline 2
The price of iSpring Suite varies with the number of licenses you purchase. A single-user license is $697.00 USD. There are discounts for multi-seat licenses, educational and non-profit organizations. All licenses come with a money back guarantee within the 30-day trial period, and free tech support available during European and United States business hours.
Overview
iSpring Suite is ideal for authoring eCourses for all educational fields. Whether teachers are new or experienced in the world of eCourse authoring, they will find it a useful resource for creating eLearning modules with ease.
Articulate Storyline 2
Storyline offers a customizable workspace with built-in templates to create fully interactive, immersive, and engaging courses, though with a bit of a learning curve to master the software. Storyline is available in 5 languages, and supports the importing of existing content in the form of PowerPoint slides, as well as content made in previous versions of Storyline, and in Articulate’s other products.
Pros
- Courses can be published to HTML5, Flash, and for use with iPad and/or Android apps
- Learners’ understanding and progress can be checked and tracked with quizzes created from 20 different question types, or import existing texts to create a question bank
- Layers and triggers make objects respond to a learner’s actions, in order to build increasingly complex user interactions
- Users can create, import, and edit audio, video, and images to incorporate multimedia objects into their courses
- A character bank of over 47,000 combinations of illustrated and photographic characters with adjustable poses and expressions that helps students engage with the content of courses
Cons
- The software is hard to use and requires additional training to use its features
- Storyline 2 isn’t all that different from Storyline 1
- Software does not have the ability to output MP4 videos
- Basic version does not include future upgrades, premium “Platinum” support, priority email support, or live web chat and screen sharing
- Doesn’t work on Macs
- Expensive compared to other tools
At the time of writing this article, you can purchase the standard Storyline package for $1,398.00 USD (regular price is $1,846.00). This includes the Character Bundle – Volume 1 ($999.00 value) and Articulate Replay to create video content ($200.00 value) at no additional cost. Other “membership” ranges include the Platinum Membership Plan (PMP) – 1 for an additional $559.00, PMP – 2 for an additional $979.00, and PMP – 3 for an additional $1,328.00 above the Standard Membership plan. The difference between the plans is the number of upgrades and the degree of support you are entitled to. Also, you get unlimited live web chat and screen sharing.
Overview
Articulate Storyline is primarily used for corporate training and higher education. It is a pro eLearning course creation tool for creating complex courses. Also, this software can be utilized to create educational games, interactions, presentations and ads. This is a rather professional tool with complex functionality and it requires training to utilize all of its features.
Adobe Captivate 9
Adobe Captivate 9 is an eLearning toolkit for authoring responsive and interactive eLearning content. It allows you to update your information storyboards containing eLearning elements and publish to the cloud for viewing, no app or additional software required. As with the other software, Adobe Captivate 9 allows you to import your PowerPoint presentations into eLearning projects.
Pros
- Master slides and professional project templates to help format work so it looks attractive and consistent, according to corporate guidelines
- Users can import and customize materials from their interactions library to include YouTube video streaming, web browsing, and games (such as “Hangman” and “Millionaire”)
- Courses can be optimized to automatically respond to a number of devices and monitor sizes with relative smart positioning of objects and geo-location support
- Users can record and import a variety of video formats, and synchronize audio and/or visuals with slides and timed objects
- A wide range of quizzes and question types with comprehensive scoring and branching, based on test results
Cons
- Not enough detail in user manual regarding upgrades from version 8 and how to use them
- Too much JavaScript code is generated when you publish a single slide in Captivate 9
- Courses created in Captivate 9 cannot be opened in earlier versions of the software
- Captivate 9 is not available in a 32-bit version, which means that some users will not be able to upgrade from Captivate 8
You can subscribe to Adobe Captivate 9 for $29.99 USD per month, though you must make an annual commitment. You can purchase a full license for $1,099.00. There is a student and educational discount for $349.00 when you provide evidence that you are either enrolled in or work for an accredited school.
Overview
Adobe Captivate 9 seems best suited for use in corporations and large businesses for creating training courses, but as a significant educational discount is available, there are also applications for the education sector. E-Learning for students and educators is enhanced by the software’s support of collaborative learning, and branching for remedial workflow.
Lectora Inspire by Trivantis
Lectora bills itself as the “mobile learning game changer,” which promises to transform your learning. Lectora’s Inspire Suite integrates the eLearning Brothers’ template library, cutout people library, and interaction builder to help you author e-Learning courses. Lectora also integrates Snagit and Camtasia to allow you to capture, edit, and import images and video into your eLearning content.
Their motto is “Design once. Distribute everywhere,” thanks to their responsive course design feature, which automatically adjusts your content so it displays well across a variety of platforms.
Pros
- Automatically rescaled objects fit on a variety of mobile devices, and can be customized for each view
- Publish your eCourses in HTML5 format, which is supported by a wide range of browsers in common use today
- Users can combine textual content, Flash animations, images, audio and video, test questions, and interactivity in a single eLearning module that can be published to a learning management system
- Courses can be published for both online and offline use
- Has a version for Mac and Linux
Conshttps://b208f509e3f6376c509283e447d39744.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
- The software is limited in terms of technical simulations and training, and in its audio capacity
- The action pane is only accessible via menu, rather than already visible on the interface, which may be difficult, if not frustrating
- Lectora’s import and export feature still needs some work, when compared to similar software
You can “buy” Lectora online for $159.00 USD per month. The online version facilitates cloud collaboration and is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux systems. Purchasing the Lectora Inspire Suite, including all features mentioned in the “pros” section above, as well as first year maintenance and support, is $2,374.00 at the time of writing this post. Discounts are available for academic and government institutions.
Overview
On its website, Trivantis, the company behind the Lectora software, says its primary audience is small and mid-sized businesses, as well as larger businesses, particularly those listed on Forbes’s Global 2,000. The fact that a discount is available for government, military, and educational institutions implies they are marketing their software for education and training in these sectors as well.
Trello
Trello is a project management tool that is easy to use, making getting organized a breeze. Trello’s method is based on the Kanban technique, which uses a clear visual order to manage the production processes. Why it’s a great eLearning tool: eLearning projects usually require input from a range of stakeholders. Trello makes it easier to coordinate everyone’s input and track the status of different tasks. Trello offers many methods of project management, including cards, lists, boards and color-coding. Relevant team members can be effortlessly added to cards, and only those involved in that specific project will receive notifications. Trello works particularly well with different instructional design methodologies, including ADDIE.
Google Drive
Google Drive is our favorite form of cloud storage here at LearnUpon. With teams working in different locations across the globe, Google Drive provides a safe and central location where all team members can access the files they need at any time. Why it’s a great eLearning tool: Many eLearning teams have members that work remotely, are based in different offices, or travel frequently. Google Drive is useful for ensuring that team members have instant access to the most recent version of a file, avoiding the delay and potential confusion of email chains. Google Drive is also ideal for storing brochures and educational documents that account managers may need access to from eLearning conferences and other remote locations.
Momentum
Momentum is a to-do list extension that can be used with the Google Chrome browser. The main strength of this eLearning tool is that it’s so easy to use. When you first install the Momentum plugin, you’ll be asked for your name, location, and a focus for the day, which will be used to personalize your to-do list later. Why it’s a great eLearning tool: An online to-do list is an essential eLearning tool. Momentum’s ease of use makes it our favorite! Its simplicity makes it all the more likely you’ll add and track tasks, improving your productivity.
Google Calendar
Google Calendar is one of our favorite eLearning tools for staying on top of team meetings and keeping up with employees, customers, partners, etc. It offers many handy features, such as the ability to add notes, send text notifications and schedule recurring reminders. Why it’s a great eLearning tool: It’s important for eLearning professionals to have their days fully organized. After all, organization is the key to productivity! One of the major benefits of using Google Calendar is how widely used it is, so you don’t have to worry about compatibility across devices or organizations. You can also set recurring events, where training sessions can be scheduled weekly, annually, etc.
Mural
eLearning projects, such as the curation of course content, requires the input of a variety of people. Mural is an ideal program to use for people to organize, share and develop their ideas. Essentially, Mural is a collaboration and brainstorming design board where teams can collaborate and share ideas, no matter where they are, making it perfect for businesses with global offices or remote workers. Mural makes it visually pleasing to track tasks and projects, in addition to creating storyboards, etc. Why it’s a great eLearning tool: Mural allows team members to visually contribute their ideas to an eLearning project while collecting all information in one place, which is ideal for eLearning employees who can’t be in the office all the time, or need to travel a lot. Because Mural enables team members to collaborate and share ideas in the same place, it avoids confusing email threads and increases productivity.
Just Press Record
Just Press Record is a hugely helpful app that makes for a great eLearning tool. It’s a mobile audio recorder that allows you to record, transcribe, share and organize audio. Recorded audio content can also be synced between devices (including iWatch) via iCloud. Why it’s a great eLearning tool: The ideas discussed in eLearning conference presentations and webinars often makes for great course content. Rather than painstakingly taking notes and having to transcribe them afterwards, Just Press Record does it for you. It’s not only productive, it saves you time too! If you utilize blended learning, Just Press Record is perfect for recording and sharing in-person training sessions or webinars.
Tomato Timer
Tomato Timer is a website and app dedicated to combating procrastination, resulting in more effective time management. Tomato timer is based on the Pomodoro Technique. This technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes, separated by short breaks. This tool is simple to use and you can even customize your timer. Why it’s a great eLearning tool: The stages of planning, tracking, and recording are fundamental to the technique, making Tomato Timer a great eLearning tool for productivity. Plus, since learning, taking a break, and going back to review is considered an effective method to fight the forgetting curve, Tomato Timer gets bonus points for promoting knowledge retention.
Best eLearning content creation tools
Camtasia
Camtasia is a screen recording and editing software suite that makes it easy to capture what’s happening on your computer. During the editing process, you can add “hotspots” to the video that make any element on screen clickable. Why it’s a great eLearning tool: There’s lots of ways that Camtasia can be used for eLearning. Instructors will find it useful for recording videos that learners can watch at their convenience, while account managers can use it to show prospective customers how LMS features work. Camtasia is an awesome content creation tool for eLearning; you can also create SCORM courses, add animations, quizzes, and more.
Elucidat
While there are countless eLearning authoring tools on the market, Elucidat is particularly strong at creating responsive online and mobile course content that’s compatible with HTML5. Elucidat uses cloud technology, which makes for a great collaboration tool. Why it’s a great eLearning tool: Elucidat’s built-in review and commenting features makes it easier for remote eLearning team members to work together. It’s also great for course developers and instructional designers who need to develop online learning content that loads quickly and runs on a huge range of browsers and devices.
Conclusion
In this article, I tried to put together a list of the most useful authoring tools at a beginner’s level. As we know, each tool has its strengths and weaknesses, so if you want to create an effective online course, then it is best to use several tools at once. While choosing an authoring tool, take much into account: appearance, functionality and service. If you need assistance in choosing the best eLearning Authoring for your project, you can make the initial free test production.