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Articuate Storyline
Explainer Video
Rapid Authoring
Storyline is the number 1 industry-standard authoring tool in e-learning development. It is rapid in the sense of low coding, but coding is already included with JavaScript often, which is already classical coding. Storyline is the tool for complex interactions and custom-made learning experiences. It is the most time-consuming tool to use in development, so careful consideration is necessary when and how to implement it.
The Tool
In this explainer, I want to present how simple click-based interactions can be achieved with this tool, which makes the learning experience richer than simple quiz formats. Interactive video is a common solution, yet again, not the most time-effective output. I developed a complete interactive video format for a project which I also highlight at the end of this tutorial.
I love working with Storyline, but I also respect its difficulties in production. Companies fairly expect that the designer should be familiar with triggers and conditions; in some cases, JavaScript coding is expected as well. It can be misleading that the surface is similar to PowerPoint, but that’s a big trap, because the complexity and learning curve are far from PowerPoint. It is a very complex authoring software.
I like to distinguish important fundamental things when it comes to Storyline. Common UX elements like a play button in a video should never be recreated by such an authoring tool. Of course, you can, but the result is never exactly the same as what users have learned on platforms like YouTube or Netflix. A simple video player feature has very complex coding behind it, which should never be recreated by much lower-level tools.
On the other hand, there are very complex solutions with Storyline where at least 4–5 years of intense full-time experience is needed to accomplish them. As you see, Storyline is a very unique tool, which requires a very unique approach. With this aspect, I always strive to implement this tool the right way.
