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E-Learning Challenges
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How are Course Designers Using Number Variables in E-Learning #301

DavidAnderson's avatar
6 years ago

Using Number Variables in E-Learning #301: Challenge | Recap

Articulate Storyline's states, layers, triggers, and slides are the building blocks that make it easy to create interactive e-learning. In most cases, the showcase examples you see in our examples and downloads hubs never use variables. But when you want to create more dynamic and personalized learning experiences, you'll need to know how to use variables.

Variables are a way to remember information—such as a learner's name or numeric input—and then present dynamic content based on that information. They're also a great way to add conditional interactivity to your course. 

And in this week's challenge, we're looking at number variables.

Challenge of the Week

This week, your challenge is to share an example that demonstrates how number variables can be used in e-learning.

Variables can be tricky if you've never used them. If you have a concept or idea you're trying to show but get stuck or have questions, let us know in the forums and we'll help you out.

Resources

Here are some good resources, examples, and training webinars to help you get started working with number variables in Storyline 360.

User Guide

E-Learning Challenges

Training Webinars

Share Your E-Learning Work

  • Comments: Use the comments section below to share a link to your published example and blog post.
  • Forums: Start  your own thread and share a link to your published example..
  • Personal blog:  If you have a blog, please consider writing about your challenges. We’ll link back to your posts so the great work you’re sharing gets even more exposure.
  • Social Media: If you share your demos on Twitter or LinkedIn, try using #ELHChallenge so your tweeps can track your e-learning coolness.

Last Week’s Challenge:

Before you calculate your design approach for this week’s challenge, take a few minutes to check out the creative ways sliders can be used to create interactive documents and manuals.

Interactive Documents with Sliders #300: Challenge | Recap

New to the E-Learning Challenges?

The weekly e-learning challenges are ongoing opportunities to learn, share, and build your e-learning portfolios. You can jump into any or all of the previous challenges anytime you want. I’ll update the recap posts to include your demos.

Published 6 years ago
Version 1.0

143 Comments

    • Ron_Katz's avatar
      Ron_Katz
      Community Member
      I agree with the others. Sometimes a seemingly simple project can be elegantly executed. That was the case here. Thank you, Jodi. You always inspire.
    • DanSweigert's avatar
      DanSweigert
      Community Member
      Jodi, clever use of a combination of number variables, well done!
  • Happy 301st challenge everyone.

    Here's a board game called Virus Wars which I wouldn't be able to create in Storyline without a great help of number variables:
    https://www.elearningdesigner.co.uk/single-post/make-storyline-number-variables-become-your-turbocharged-game-engine

    Here's a list of number variables I made work to:
    - measure nurse and virus strength starting with 100% vitality for the virus and 0% for nurse
    - roll the dice (random number variable generating 1-6 dots on each face six-sided dice)
    - move the player along path by number of moves the dice rolled
    - count on which numbered spot the player is (there are 50 spots in total)
    - count questions asked

    Enjoy and beat the virus!
    • Madison_M's avatar
      Madison_M
      Staff
      Hi Joanna! This is such amazing work! We'd love to feature this board game in one of our upcoming articles. Would you be willing and able to share the project file so others can see how you set up the game? Thanks!
    • Ron_Katz's avatar
      Ron_Katz
      Community Member
      Great work, Joanna.

      The concept and execution were impeccable. Thanks.
  • Hi all,
    Here is a Horse Trivia game I recently created for my local horse stable. Numerical variables are the basis of this entire interaction... the randomized dice roll, keeping track of where the piece is on the board, score, etc, all has is controlled by numerical variables. Hope you enjoy! I also based it on my own horse, of course, named Freya ;)

    Demo: http://melissaforster.com/wp-content/uploads/articulate_uploads/HorseGame_mobile5/story.html
    • Ron_Katz's avatar
      Ron_Katz
      Community Member
      Superb design. The intro video was great with the zooming in features. The track appeared to be hand-drawn. The detail in the whole project was noticeable.

      It played smoothly and the rules were interesting, you could get points for a correct answer and lose points for an incorrect, but only lost the round if you had no points left.

      Nice!
    • VeronicaBudnika's avatar
      VeronicaBudnika
      Super Hero
      oh my gosh, I know nothing about horses, but I persisted and got to the end! That was awesome Melissa, the graphics really shined :)
    • DanSweigert's avatar
      DanSweigert
      Community Member
      Melissa, really nice graphics and music and sounds with this game.
  • Ron_Katz's avatar
    Ron_Katz
    Community Member
    Hello E-Learning Heros!

    I created this mobile-optimized questionnaire to allow employees to pre-screen themselves for Covid-19 symptoms prior to reporting to work. It uses variables to collect answers to each response and gives a final screen based on responses. It uses JavaScript and a variable to create a TimeStamp on the final screen.

    Demo: https://360.articulate.com/review/content/7ae4cc08-462d-4263-b056-9add4629ae27/review

    Download: https://mywebsiteron.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/covid+19+selfcheck_unwrapped.story


    Feel free to modify for your own use. Your feedback is appreciated.
    • KellyCook-8489a's avatar
      KellyCook-8489a
      Community Member
      How cool, Ron! I have been to different medial facilities so many times in the last few months (torn ligaments in my ankle) that I knew what questions were coming next. I have had to answer these questions in person, and I have done them on my phone through a portal before even going into the office. Very useful, I might show it to the receptionist the next time I go. Loved it.
    • KellyCook-8489a's avatar
      KellyCook-8489a
      Community Member
      Nancy, I loved this! Your markers were adorable and I loved that they told what each category entailed. I need this in my life, Thank you.
    • Ron_Katz's avatar
      Ron_Katz
      Community Member
      I hate (or love) budgeting like most Americans. This was a fun way to play with a budget and see instant results. Nice use of variables.
    • KellyCook-8489a's avatar
      KellyCook-8489a
      Community Member
      This was fun! I discovered that if I scrolled with the mouse it would always jump two screens either way, because when I moved my mouse back onto the screen it thought I was scrolling again. I tried many times to no avail. Thankfully, you put in a hint that the arrows also worked, and I was successful in killing the Zerg! Nice job!
    • Ron_Katz's avatar
      Ron_Katz
      Community Member
      It was fun moving around a screen that was bigger than it appeared. Great example, Daniel.
    • DanielJovanov-a's avatar
      DanielJovanov-a
      Community Member
      If you've played a real-time strategy computer game before, this interactive tutorial plays a lot like StarCraft. Basically, you hover your mouse cursor over the edges of the screen to scroll the image in that direction. You can even use arrow keys if it gets finicky for you!


      I use plenty of variables to update and keep track of where the image is located in space. I also use variables to track how many markers are being selected after navigating.
  • AnuradhaGopu's avatar
    AnuradhaGopu
    Community Member
    Hi all,

    I created this sample a while ago for my (still in progress) portfolio . I think it fits this challenge perfectly, so here goes - http://anuradhagopusbucket.s3.amazonaws.com/Portfolio%20Samples/Fraction%20Action/story.html

    In this sample, I use a number variable to count the number of pizza slices placed on the plate, since it's not a simple drag and drop case (I wanted the user to be able to place ANY pizza slice on the plate, to reach the required fraction).

    Let me know what you all think of it! I have not been a very frequent poster on the ELH Challenges, mainly because I am still slow in coming up with ideas and creating something for these challenges (I am amazed at how you guys come up with such awesome ideas every week for these challenges, and that too in record time!) Here's hoping I get better at posting here.

    Thanks,

    Anuradha
    • KellyCook-8489a's avatar
      KellyCook-8489a
      Community Member
      This was a great use of drag and drop, Anuradha! Also, a very effective and fun way to practice fractions. I know a lot of students of many ages would enjoy doing this. The practice with changing improper fractions to mixed numbers was spot on.
      Thank you for returning and sharing!
    • ThierryEMMANUEL's avatar
      ThierryEMMANUEL
      Community Member
      Great, Anuradha. It's intelligent, fun and it perfectly works. There is a very good combinaison between the SL character and the design, I like it.
    • VeronicaBudnika's avatar
      VeronicaBudnika
      Super Hero
      That was excellent Anuradha! Great design and very well executed :)

      And re the 'coming up with ideas' it's kinda like a muscle, the more you use it the quicker you become, so keep em coming!
  • I just recently redid my very first ELHC to track the users score. I did not know anything about variables when I did my first one and I was very frustrated at the time that I couldn't figure out how to show the score. I actually remember thinking "I guess they will just have to practice their addition skills."
    I now know how! Thanks to this wonderful community and the great tutorials and challenges that have kept me learning and growing.

    Do I sound like a commercial??

    I also read today on Linkedin that you can add sound to states!! Who knew!? So I went and added a little "ding" to the health score state when you first see your score.

    https://kfinnstoryline.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Self+Health+Quiz+-+Storyline+output/story.html

      • KellyCook-8489a's avatar
        KellyCook-8489a
        Community Member
        Thanks! I enjoyed finding just the right sounds. Crunching carrot might be my fave lol
    • Ron_Katz's avatar
      Ron_Katz
      Community Member
      Kelly, I like interactive surveys and the score feature (using variables) worked great! Well done!
    • TeoKar's avatar
      TeoKar
      Community Member
      wow-onderful interactions. I will definetely use it as an inspiration some day!
    • ThierryEMMANUEL's avatar
      ThierryEMMANUEL
      Community Member
      Well done, Marty. Sorry, Jonathan.
      These films were also very successful in France.
      In French, "Great Scott!" is translated as "Nom de Zeus!", I do not know why. But I use it often.
  • RidvanSaglam's avatar
    RidvanSaglam
    Community Member
    Hi all,
    Let me share the first example; https://bit.ly/3dbhogk

    Actually, I created this one for the challenge 278, but couldn't finish it on time and missed the recap.
    I really enjoyed the final work so wanted to share it again. Maybe it helps to inspire.

    I created a storytelling web app which can be used in language lessons or just for fun.
    Here you can read more about it; https://bit.ly/33GKvoJ

    A note for David Anderson: I know we are looking for examples which haven't been shared before, so if you decide not to add it to recap, it won't break my heart :)
    • PayDee's avatar
      PayDee
      Community Member
      I don't even know how you did this! Amazing!
    • DavidAnderson's avatar
      DavidAnderson
      Staff
      Since this is the first time we've hosted a number variable, I didn't want to exclude previously shared examples. This is a fantastic example and one I'll include in the recap. Thanks, Ridvan!