Rotating and Exploring 3D Objects in E-Learning #446

Rotating 3D Objects in E-Learning #446: Challenge | Recap

If you build any type of product training, giving learners the option to rotate objects can be a game-changer for their learning and comprehension.

When learners can rotate an object, whether it's a car, medical equipment, or even a model of a molecule, they're not just observing it; they're experiencing it. It's like the difference between looking at a photo of a beautiful landscape and actually standing there.

Now, whether you actually need 3D rotating objects for your e-learning courses or not, knowing how to create them is a valuable skill to have in your e-learning toolbox. And that's what this week's challenge is all about! 

Click. Drag. Turn.

Here’s a simple project I like to use in workshops to demonstrate three different ways to rotate objects in Storyline. This type of interaction is typically done with 3D models, but guess what? You can achieve the same effect using a series of images.

On the first slide, I’m keeping things simple by using basic click events – something that new users will already be familiar with. Using the same graphics, I then rebuilt the activity using sliders and dials to create a more interactive way to explore the car.

View the example | Download source

3D Laptop Rotation

Here's a simple example that demonstrates a real-world use for object rotation. And here's the best part – it's all done using a series of images, a slider, and some creativity.

View & download the example

3D Rotation (Advanced)

Here’s a slightly more advanced approach to rotating objects in Storyline. The example features options to automatically rotate the object and drag events that let the user control the rotation. Be sure to check out Nejc's video tutorials to learn more about his approach.

View the example | Video Tutorial

🏆 Challenge of the Week

This week, your challenge is to share an example that shows how course designers can use 3D rotation in e-learning. You can use Storyline 360 or any other app to build your demo. 

For example, if you’re a Rise 360 user, you can use the tabs blocks, image galleries, or process blocks. For PowerPoint users, you can use the built-in 3D models combined with morph animations.

🧰 Resources

• Storyline 360: Inserting Pictures as States
• Storyline 360: Working with Sliders
• Storyline 360: Working with Dials
• How to Create a Video with 3D Models in PowerPoint
• How to Create Interactive Videos with 3D Models in Storyline

Free 3D Modeling Applications

The easiest way to get started working with 3D would be to use PowerPoint’s 3D models if you have an Office 365 subscription. Since the models are already built, you can easily insert, rotate, and export the models from within PowerPoint.

Here are a few sites that offer free and popular modeling programs:

• Tinkercad
• Blender
• SketchUp
• Unity

Know of some other free 3D modeling programs? Let me know in the comments and I’ll update the list.

✨ Share Your E-Learning Work

• Comments: Use the comments section below to link your published example and blog post.
• Forums: Start a new 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 to your posts so your great work gets even more exposure.
• Social media: If you share your demos on Twitter or LinkedIn, try using #ELHChallenge so your tweeps can follow your e-learning coolness.

🙌 Last Week’s Challenge:

Before you spin your creative gears on this week’s challenge, check out the ways designers use motion paths to reset objects:

Examples of the 0px Motion Path Trick RECAP #445: 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.

Learn more about the challenges in this Q&A post and why and how to participate in this helpful article.

📅 Next Week’s Challenge

• Next week's challenge #447 (01/26): Magnifying Glass and Spotlight Masking Effects. I've always been a fan of drag-and-drop magnifying effects and after seeing this recent example from Paul, I thought it would make a fun challenge. 
• Challenge #448 (02.02): Tabs Interactions. It's back to basics week and tabs are a great place to start.

Got an idea for a challenge? Are you interested in doing a webinar showcasing how you made one or more challenge demos? Or do you have some comments for your humble challenge host? Use this anonymous form to share your feedback:  https://bit.ly/ElearningChallengeForm.