I’m an experienced teacher and curriculum writer who was laid off from an educational non-profit recently and have decided to use the time to further my e-learning skills. I’m extremely comfortable with computers and an advanced user of pretty much all of the standard office programs. I’ll be taking some classes come fall but they aren’t to learn how to use any software tools. So I’m looking for opinions about software. I will be able to get student discounts on almost all Adobe products—Captivate, Illustrator, InDesign, etc. I could also get one of the Creative Suites for about $600. So if I can only invest in one to teach myself, which one should I invest in? And how hard are any of them to learn.
Any thoughts?
I used to work in this space and I am a bit curious about your request. At the firms where I used to work, the IDs designed the software and the programmers (like me) and artists implemented the design. The developers used to use Director or Flash and the Artists mainly used photoshop for 2D and something else (Creator, maybe?) for 3D. If the software will be hosted and accessed via a browser (the Software-as-a-Service model or SaaS), you could use an AJAX-based front end with any sort of back end. The tools are free in that case, but that type of development is at the expert level. Are you intending to concentrate more on the instructional design or do you want to develop your own software?
Rob
A relative does multimedia e-learning development for a living. Captivate is his primary tool of choice, though a lot of storyboarding and other work gets done in Word. (This is how I’ve worked for him occasionally in the past; I create the storyboard and someone else does the final Captivate captures). Camtasia is also a favorite tool, and many courses are done in a Flash framwork.
Some development is done in Flash. InDesign and Illustrator would mainly be useful for graphics (whether print or electronic), but would not be used for course development overall.
You should also look into Moodle. It’s an open source, Web-based e-learning platform that doesn’t do any of the multimedia work, but which is often used to assemble and administer courses.
Since the OP is seeking opinions, this is better suited to IMHO than GQ.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
I don’t want to do programming. E-learning instructional designers use software tools to create interactive online learning modules or courses for students ranging from elementary to adult learners. WHEN I get a job, unless I’m doing independent contract work, the company will have whatever software they want me to use to create the modules or courses. They will also have the online aspect of the course worked out—website or LMS—and I won’t have anything to do with that. But I can’t get work if I don’t know how to use at least some of the common tools. I know how to write curriculum, I know how to create dynamic lessons, I know how to create effective assessments—all in the regular realm of education. Now I want to translate those skills to the online learning environment. Does that make sense?
Thank you. I’m never really 100% sure of where these types of questions go.
Well, like I said, Director and Flash are what I used to use. I wouldn’t throw my weight behind Director if I were you. Flash scripting is done using a language called ActionScript which is a derivative of Javascript which is also worth knowing. ActionScript: The Definitive Guide is the aptly named book you should get to start learning this.
I’m an instructional designer and I agree with Sweeteviljesus about Director and Flash, as well as Captivate. I’ve gotten by without knowing Flash but am taking a self-study course starting next week. In my case, strong knowledge of HTML, CSS, and Fireworks along with some .asp and LMS/CMS experience has served me tremendously.
It does vary from job to job. I don’t have any formal training in ID concepts and yet I’ve gotten jobs in this field, but if you find a certificate program you’re interested in, it would probably be worth the effort. It’s all academic at that point (no pun intended), similar to getting A+ or Microsoft certified. Do employers value formal training or experience more? Again, it depends. Never hurts to cover your bases, though.
Good luck!
I just emailed a friend who owns an e-learning company and he says
He attached a tiff file to the email, which I can pm you if you like, but I think you get the gist.
We dabble in all sorts of stuff around here, but the Adobe products seem to be the most popular.
I think I’m going to get the Adobe E-Learning Suite which has both Captivate and Flash as well as Illustrator, Photoshop and Presenter (as well as a few others). Since I’ll be taking graduate courses in e-learning, I can get the educational price which is about 60% less than retail. I’ve found some online tutorials as well as some books that look good. Since I’m unemployed, all I’ve got is time so by the time my severance and unemployment run out, I hope I’m up to speed on the software.
Any other thoughts or advice about elearning and instructional design are most welcome and thanks for the advice so far.