Software to Create Elearning Content

eLearning is an essential part of a training initiative. When management is on the success of employees, it means that corporate demands need to be met and your team will have to have the necessary skills to win in this competition. This type of training is called eLearning and with the help of some tools and applications you can easily create interesting material for your employees. This article will guide you through the process of choosing the best software for creating eLearning content.If you are looking for a complete list of software to create elearning content, here is our selection:

Great eLearning courses start with getting the basics right. That means investing in the best tools for your business. First, a powerful learning management system (LMS) needs to be checked off your list. Then, if you’re using SCORM or xAPI course content, a first-class authoring tool is a must.

Whether you’re new to the world of authoring tools or in the market looking to upgrade, we’ve collated a list of some of the best tools out there. We deep-dive into the pros, cons, features, and more of each, to help you find the best eLearning authoring tool for you.

What are eLearning authoring tools?

An authoring tool is software that enables you to create and arrange content into a standardized course structure. This structure can then be exported in several different multimedia types.

For those in eLearning, the most common output is to the SCORM format. LMSs, like LearnUpon, are compatible with SCORM 1.2 (yup, there are multiple versions). With LMS authoring tools, you get a handy zip package that easily uploads to your SCORM compliant LMS.

12 eLearning Authoring Tools to Consider

Deciding on an eLearning authoring tool is tricky business unless you know exactly what you want. And there are lots of tools to pick and choose from. Here’s a list of some of the most popular tools out there today:

1. Articulate Storyline 360

A well-known name in the world of authoring, Storyline is clean, modern, and has plenty of powerful features. For example, it allows you to storyboard your courses and then dictates the path that your learner takes. And although it can take a little bit of time to get to grips with Storyline, it’s balanced by the quality of the results.

The platform has two pricing options for you to choose from: a Storyline 360 subscription or a one-off purchase of Storyline 3. The website has a helpful comparison chart that details what comes with each option. The subscription is probably the better choice as it gives you access to a host of other apps to use and the benefit of regular updates, but either option is worth a try.

2. Articulate Rise 360

The sibling to Storyline, Rise 360 is another top-quality authoring tool from Articulate. With a prime focus on mobile-responsive content, it’s a smart choice for those who want courses that are compatible with every device. Again, like Storyline, it has a clean, modern interface that delivers visually pleasing results.

3. Adobe Captivate

Captivate is one of the most feature-rich tools, especially when you take into account its interoperability with other Adobe tools.

We like that you can storyboard your courses and utilize advanced transitions and triggers – the result of which is engaging content for any scenario or subject. The PowerPoint integration is a must-use feature for anyone with content in this format, as it fast tracks your course creation process.

4. Elucidat

Elucidat is a cloud-based authoring tool that focuses on making it easy to produce awesome eLearning, super fast. But, that doesn’t mean that it’s light on features. It’s a user-friendly option that is made for big employers. Authors can start from pre-built blueprints – or build out courses from scratch using the intuitive “what you see is what you get interface”. Flexible user permissions let L&D collaborate better with SMEs, while maintaining central control.

Content is responsive to all screen sizes, so it’s ideal for mobile learning. And tools to manage variations and updates makes keeping pace with change a piece of cake.

Elucidat has an in-depth review of tools on their site. Check out their best eLearning authoring tools blog post.

5. iSpring

iSpring’s big draw is that it takes PowerPoint content and converts it to eLearning courses. So, it’s super simple for those new to SCORM to understand and execute the process. As well as slides, you can incorporate video capture, interactions, and assessments to build engaging content.

The data generated is then fed into the reporting suite of your LMS. One thing to note for Mac users is there’s no dedicated version for your machine unless you install Windows on your Mac.

6. Camtasia

First and foremost a video capture tool, Camtasia content can be exported as SCORM packages. It’s an excellent option if you want to jazz up PowerPoint presentations as you can effortlessly record narration and even your face simultaneously.

It may be a lighter option than the others listed, but it benefits you by being highly accessible and affordable. Just be sure to test the reporting output on offer so you know it meets the requirements of your organization.

7. Composica

Another authoring tool with a strong focus on smooth collaboration, Composica enables you to work with your colleagues straightforwardly.

You can add different users, assign tasks, and always have the most up-to-date version of your content at hand. It also has competitive pricing so it’s a relatively affordable option for your business.

8. knowbly

If you’re looking for a simple, yet powerful authoring tool, knowbly is one to check out. It’s got all the features an eLearning newbie needs like drag and drop content creation, quick customizability, mobile-responsive, and more.

The platform also enables you to easily organize all of your content within one system so you’ll never lose track of any of your assets.

9. Lectora Online

Both a cloud and a Windows-based solution, Lectora is an eLearning authoring tool that works well for SCORM content. A neat feature is that it integrates with Camtasia and Snagit. This means that making screen recordings, image editing, voiceovers, and more is that little bit simpler.

10. gomo

Self-described as “mobile-first”, gomo is another simple to use authoring tool. It’s a recommended solution for beginners wanting to optimize their content to be mobile-responsive, as it has a drag and drop interface. Another bonus for beginners is that it has media assets on offer that are visually attractive and can help you make your content more engaging.

11. Easygenerator

Described as “all-in-one eLearning software”, Easygenerator has lots of impressive features to help you make engaging content.

It’s another top option for newbies as no coding is needed. And, it’s super user-friendly, so you can handily create your content. It’s also an LMS authoring tool that’s compatible with most solutions, meaning you shouldn’t have any issues using this with your preferred platform.

12. DominKnow ONE

DominKnow ONE is a diverse authoring tool that can help you make lots of different types of content. As you’d expect, it works well at making mobile responsive content and is very convenient for teams to use while working together.

Content is also simple to publish and distribute, and with everything in one place, it’s effortless to keep track of all of your course content.

The priorities for LMS authoring tools

During your authoring tool comparison, it’s a smart move to dig deeper into your research and not just focus on the superficial aspects. Before making your final decision, we suggest you get all the details on:

Cost

Find out the pricing structure and different pricing models available to you, as well as what features are attached to each.

Customer Support

Never underestimate the value of great support. Do your research into how the tool supports you and, during your free trial, test the support to see how responsive each tool really is. You don’t want to be left alone with a problem!

Documentation/Guides/Knowledge Base

If you need information, you must know where to go and that it’s easily accessible. Ask your potential authoring tool vendor about the resources available to ensure you can get the answers you need.

Features

It’s always a good move to make a list of “must-have” and “nice to have” features and ask your potential vendor about each one of them so you can quickly rule in or rule out options.

Ease of use

Remember, an authoring tool should help you make content quickly and easily, not slow you down. Ensure your solution is simple to use so you can efficiently build the content you want.

Our last tip, when in doubt, try it out! If the authoring tool has a free trial, make the most of it. It’s the best way to find the ideal authoring tool for your content.

How to create an eLearning course

Before we get to the free tools, if you’re ready to create eLearning content for your team, there are a few basic steps any project will follow.

Step 1: Establish the why of your project

Simply put, what’s the purpose of your training? Who’s taking it? More importantly, why are they taking it? During this step, you’ll want to define your requirements and expectations for the course.

Step 2: Gather your current materials

Pull together all your existing source material for the project, including:

Notes
Current training materials
Videos
Audio
Images

Use this step to also identify what materials you’re missing and want to create.

Step 3: Distill your topic into an eLearning script

Use those materials to create a script based on the requirements of your project, and the topics it needs to contain. Make sure it matches the expectations you set for interactions, assessments, and employee time in seat.

Before moving into development steps, ensure your SMEs or other company stakeholders have approved the content.

Step 4: Define the visual look-and-feel of your project

This task can often take place while you have your subject matter expert (SME) or writer creating the course script.

Visual tasks include defining which images, colors, fonts, movements, or animations you’ll use to create a course that looks cohesive.

Step 5: Develop materials for your course

At this point, you’ve gathered all of the elements you’ll need to create eLearning content for your team. Now it’s time to develop those items: the meat of your project.

Record any audio portions. Create graphics. Use screen capture software to create videos. The eLearning authoring tools we discuss below can get you there.

Step 6: Assemble into one cohesive course

And then, bring those items together. Some free software programs can help you bring all your disparate elements into one cohesive course. After this step, you’ll also send your new course out to SMEs or other company stakeholders to review, suggest any changes, and ultimately approve.

Once that’s done, you’ll move your course to an LMS or cloud platform.

How to create an eLearning course infographic

25 free eLearning authoring tools

You’ll notice that, in those six steps, we identified a few key areas of development, namely:

Graphics
Animation
Video
Audio
Interactions
Assessments

For many topic experts, the scripting and gathering of materials comes naturally. You’re an expert in the process, workplace regulation, or software you’re getting ready to train your employees on.

Depicting that visually can be difficult, but there are free eLearning tools that can help you get started. (Pro tip! Also look to the rest of your team to see if anyone has development or design experience who can help.)

Free graphics programs and resources

Creating beautiful charts, infographics, or visuals online is easier to do every day, even for people who have no previous design experience. Some of the best free graphics tools include:

Canva: Create collages, charts, marketing promotions, or infographics with their easy-to-use software
Easel.ly: Design and share visual infographics online
Gliffy: Create up to five public diagrams, flowcharts, or org charts a month for free
Google Charts: Turn your data into powerful charts and graphs
Piktochart: Use premade templates and design elements to create your own infographic
Pixlr: Allows you to edit any photos or graphics for free
Venngage: Present your data through infographics
Wordle: Create word clouds to illustrate different themes or idea clusters
Unsplash: Find beautiful freely useable images

Free audio software tools

Free audio tools allow you to record segments, and then edit, mix, and download them to use in your custom eLearning course. They include:

Ardour: Record, edit, and mix your audio files on all Mac or PC devices
Audacity: Fantastic open-source, cross-platform recording and editing software
Voki: Introduce speaking characters into your presentations, with customizable avatars
vozMe: Turn written text into downloadable spoken mp3s

Free animation and video tools for eLearning

Whether you need to animate steps for using a new software or want to use animations to make your custom eLearning course more powerful, free animation and video software is available. Some of our favorites include:

Camtasia: Use their drag-and-drop video editing software to finish your videos, or add in special effects, music, or motion graphics
Screencast-O-Matic: Allows you to record up to 15 minutes of on-screen activities for short tutorials or presentations
Snagit: Create and edit screenshots or video, or turn them into animated GIFs

Tools to create eLearning interactions and assessments

Surveys, polls, quizzes, and other assessment tools can help you ensure student learning during your course. Great options for getting started include:

Easy Test Maker: Create multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, true-or-false, or short answer test questions
formsite: Over 100 customizable templates and 40 question types to create surveys, quizzes, and forms
Google Forms: Allows you to create a survey with a simple online form with results directly organized into a spreadsheet
SurveyMonkey: The world’s leading survey platform, with an easy-to-use interface

Free eLearning authoring tools

A few leading authoring tools provide free options for creating your own custom eLearning course. Many provide all the tools you need to create screens, add graphics or video, include interactions, and ultimately compile your course.

iSpring: Take your current PowerPoint presentations, add quizzes, and publish directly to your LMS or other content management system
Easygenerator: Their free option allows you to create up to ten courses, with pre-packaged interactions and cloud publishing
SmartBuilder: Create Flash eLearning courses within their easy-to-use interface
Udutu: Access templates, assessments, interactions, and SCORM conversion options on their free eLearning platform
LCDS by Microsoft: Create high-quality, interactive, online courses and Microsoft Silverlight Learning Snacks

If you want to pay extra for more advanced features, Articulate 360 and Adobe Captivate are among the industry-leading authoring tools.

Get help with your employee training

For some, DIYing your own eLearning course won’t be worth the time or effort. Or, you may want an expert to jump on board to help you create a large-scale strategy or pick up certain development tasks. At EdgePoint Learning, we know that creating effective and remarkable eLearning programs takes work. We offer a variety of options to help you with your development tasks, including:

Full custom development: From instructional design to voice or video talent to final roll-out, we handle it all
Co-development: We empower you to get much-needed learning solutions out to your workforce by having our staff work as an extension of your team, providing the skills or extra set of hands you need to complete projects faster
Consulting: From designing one stand-alone module to a complete overhaul of your company’s approach to employee training, we can help
Technology assistance: Whether you need training, performance support, or new technology to reach your employees, our technology partners can help you meet all of your training goals

Conclusion

Elearning software is a vital part of the elearning process. It can hold media files, create interactive content, provide a platform for online courses and much more. There are several different types of software that might suit your needs as well. If you’re creating training content for your business or organization, you need to find something that’s intuitive, productive and easy to use. The last thing you want to do is spend too much time trying to learn it or put off creating the course until later because the design is confusing or difficult to use.