If you’re new to creating software training—and even if you’re not!—you might use the terms screencast and software simulation interchangeably. But did you know they’re actually two different...
Published 4 years ago
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Hello Madison, this article was very helpful. Do you have any more detailed criteria you use when deciding on screencast v. simulation? In general I think there is value in simulations for all the forms I will be creating trainings for, but with the amount of content I have to create it isn't practical. Would appreciate any thoughts you might have. Thanks.
Hi Corey—welcome to the E-Learning Heroes community!
Great question! If you’re using Articulate 360, you can always use Storyline 360’s screen recorder to record your screen once and then you can reuse that same video as either a demo (basically, a screencast), an interactive practice exercise, or even a graded test. That’s a great solution for you to quickly create simple screencasts, while still giving yourself the option to go back at a later date and create a simulation (without having to re-record your training)!
A couple of other criteria I evaluate before deciding on screencast vs. simulation:
1) How frequently will the content need updating?
2) How many learners will the training affect (i.e. how visible is this project)?
3) Is the training complex and/or is there a chance learners could “mess up” real data if they try to use the software in a live environment?
The answers to these questions usually help me decide if a screencast or simulation is the best route. I hope these help you guide your own decision-making! If you’re interested in going the simulation route, check out this series we have: https://community.articulate.com/series/everything-you-need-to-know-about-creating-software-simulations-with-storyline
Great question! If you’re using Articulate 360, you can always use Storyline 360’s screen recorder to record your screen once and then you can reuse that same video as either a demo (basically, a screencast), an interactive practice exercise, or even a graded test. That’s a great solution for you to quickly create simple screencasts, while still giving yourself the option to go back at a later date and create a simulation (without having to re-record your training)!
A couple of other criteria I evaluate before deciding on screencast vs. simulation:
1) How frequently will the content need updating?
2) How many learners will the training affect (i.e. how visible is this project)?
3) Is the training complex and/or is there a chance learners could “mess up” real data if they try to use the software in a live environment?
The answers to these questions usually help me decide if a screencast or simulation is the best route. I hope these help you guide your own decision-making! If you’re interested in going the simulation route, check out this series we have: https://community.articulate.com/series/everything-you-need-to-know-about-creating-software-simulations-with-storyline