Adobe Captivate

Tag:

adaptive eLearning, assessment, eLearning, interactive video, non-interactive video, screencast

Tabs

Description

Adobe Captivate is an eLearning authoring software that allows its user to create, design and rebuild engaging and interactive eLearning content from storyboarding to responsive eLearning design, for multi-devices including desktop, tablet, mobile and the web.

For more information, please visit the Adobe Captivate product page.

Best Practice

Adobe Captivate is a useful technology for:

Creating live and self-paced interactive and collaborative online learning courses (the new user interface allows the addition of actors, voices, interactions and quizzes to PowerPoint presentations)
Creating modules that can be accessed anytime anywhere and on any device
Creating pre-tests to gauge the knowledge, skills levels or training needs of students
Evaluating and tracking learner performance through assessments that can be developed from customisable quiz templates and random question pool selection

Pros/Cons

Pros:

Deliver and share multiscreen, location-specific, device-aware learning experiences without programming
Create engaging interactive simulations, online HD training videos, quizzes, test simulations and software demonstrations or transform PowerPoint presentations into engaging eLearning interactions.
With Rapid eLearning authoring ideas can be converted into storyboards, creating any kind of professional looking and instructionally sound content using a single tool
With Responsive eLearning design you can author once and the content will rearrange itself for tablet and mobile views
Preview allows you to see exactly how your course will look on various screens
Can customize screens
Can use action scripts to create more interactivity
Can integrate quizzing, hot spots, YouTube videos
Has the ability to add web objects
Works using a timeline so can set durations to actions more precisely
Can create branching scenarios
UNSW has a licence so cost is less
Can do screen recordings
Can publish to HTML5 Mobile

Cons:

With its moderately complex interface, getting used to captivate takes a bit of time
Action scripting is not easy to set up and requires a bit more programming than other software
The new simplified tool bar hides many functions and the user must search the large banner menu or use shortcut keys
Files can become very large and may require additional storage.
Requires high speed internet (can lag and cause viewing issues)
Does not have theBox video integration
Older versions have far less usability functions than the newer version

Getting started

Access via the UNSW Medicine Media Room:

The Medicine Media Room (Located in room 237 in the AGSM Building) has a licence available for use. You must complete the orientation to access the room, but once you have access you can book the room to use the different software available for free.

Access via a free trial:

Adobe Captivate is available for a Free 30 day trial, monthly subscription or purchase HERE, or for the entire collection of Adobe applications (Adobe Creative Cloud) click HERE (Adobe offers a discount price for students, teachers, staff and educational institutions). For more information about system requirements, please click HERE.

NOTE: If you're using a UNSW SOE (Standard Operating Environment) computer, and you do not have admin permission then you will need to make a request from UNSW IT to install the software for you. Follow this link for more details: IT Service Centre. Not sure whether you are using a UNSW SOE computer? Click HERE to find out.

Training and Support:

Learn about Adobe Captivate from expert: Adobe Captivate Tutorials.

A wide range of free training resources for Adobe Captivate can also be found on Lynda.com, which UNSW Australia has a licence to. You can access Lynda.com HERE using your UNSW zID and password.

A number of video tutorials can also be found on YouTube.

Showcase

In this example Adobe Captivate was used to create interactive online modules.

Gary Velan

Adobe Captivate was used to create interactive online modules on Lymphoma and Leukaemia for senior medical students from 2007-2009. At the time, Captivate was the best option for creating interactive online modules that could run via a web browser. Now other tools are available, such as Camtasia, iSpring, Adobe Presenter, Articulate, Smart Sparrow's Adaptive eLearning Platform, etc. These interactive modules have had a significant impact on students' learning, most likely due to in-built interactivity, feedback, authentic case studies and integration with the curriculum. Captivate is a useful tool for integrating PowerPoint, videos, animations, screen capture and interactive quizzes.

However, to take advantage of some of the advanced capabilities of the software, a considerable learning curve is required. Novice users might prefer other software such as iSpring, which make it easier to get started.

A demo of what was created:

The online modules:

Leukaemia

Lymphoma

Comparison

To compare this tool with other available interactive software, please view our software comparison chart.

Search form

Tabs