Lectora is the authoring tool I recommend most highly for e-learning when there is a lot of content on the screen. It is also recommended for users with low Internet bandwidth and for the ease of translations. It is very easy to develop Flash interactivities using Adobe Flash and integrate them into Lectora, but the concern here would be loading of Flash interactivities which could create problems for learners.

But Lectora’s amazing tool called “Actions” helps to develop engaging and interactive activities with small file size and no programming skills needed.

In this blog, I would like to explain to you the step-by-step process of developing engaging and interactive activities in Lectora on the assumption that you have a very basic knowledge of Lectora actions and objects designing.

Step 1: Here is the Interactivty page with title and instructions text. Please create the design based on your requirements.

Step 2: Create Tabs as mentioned below. You can place the tabs vertically, if needed.

Step 3: Create respective content for each tab and group them as mentioned below. It is very simple to add Actions if you group the objects for each tab separately and give group names. Each group will consists of a highlighted state tab.

Step 4: By default, the Groups will be in visible mode. You need to set initially visible “False” by deselecting the Check box for “Intially Visible” option for all the groups objects.

Step 5: Now you need to add Actions for each button as mentioned below.

Step 6: You can set up the actions to show/hide a particular group on mouse click. Here is the action for “show.”

Step 7: Here is the action for “Hide.”

Step 8: Login to create the Click on Tabs functionality. On each tab button, you need to add these actions:

• Add actions to hide all the groups.
• Add action to show respective groups.

When you click on a particular Tab, initially all the groups will be hidden and the last action will show the respective Tab content. Similarly, for all the other Tabs buttons.

You can check this video for better understanding:

Also, download the example source files from the following link:

http://www.commlabindia.com/downloads/click-on-tabs.zip

Related posts:

1. Steps to Customize Rollover Component in Lectora
2. Using Lectora to Build Custom Functionality for eLearning Courses
3. How to Customize the Questions Functionality using Variables in Lectora?

Software product training using authoring tools like Captivate or Adobe Flash is an effective mode of eLearning.

Screenshots of the software acts as a raw content for developing an online course. The learner is taught on how to use the software by creating a simulated environment. The effectiveness of learning can be enhanced by using audio. Both Captivate and Flash can impart training. Let’s see, which one is more suitable.

If the software has an intuitive interface and navigation, the learner can easily learn the software by simple demonstration using Captivate, a rapid elearning tool.

If the software is complex and has multiple users and tasks, it becomes difficult for the user to learn the software, hence Adobe Flash is recommended. Some of the examples of complex software are SAP, Call Center software, Customer portals etc.

For complex software products, the effective instructional strategy is using Watch-Try-Do (WTD) approach. The strategy is to first show the operations, and then invite the learner to try and perform the required operations with some guidance and finally, allow him/her to try the operations all by themselves. This approach provides a smooth transition in learning – from watching, to trying and finally, doing the operations.

The raw content for the complex software products will be Captivate screen, describing the flow of the software, its navigation and its uses. Based on the Captivate screens, a detailed storyboard is developed to incorporate Watch-Try-Do. Using Adobe Flash, we can create WTD simulations with ease.

For both simple and complex software products, Captivate plays an important role in developing eLearning content. It helps to record screens and navigational flow of the product effectively. It also integrates audio and offers a customized interface for the learner to navigate and explore the simulation.

Share your views on using Flash and Captivate software for imparting product training.

Related posts:

1. Online Product Training – How does it Work?
2. Pros and Cons of Articulate Studio ‘09, Lectora, and Adobe Captivate
3. Top Training blogs in the year 2009