Share Your E-Learning Hacks

Another idea I have used a lot is the Change Picture option. Just right-click the picture, select change picture from the menu and the new picture is now in place.

What I like about this is it keeps any triggers, etc. you have set for the original picture. If you delete the picture and paste a new one, you lose all of the other connections.

Fullscreen easy.

Add this Javascript code: 

var el = document.documentElement
, rfs = // for newer Webkit and Firefox
el.requestFullScreen
|| el.webkitRequestFullScreen
|| el.mozRequestFullScreen
|| el.msRequestFullScreen
;
if(typeof rfs!="undefined" && rfs){
rfs.call(el);
} else if(typeof window.ActiveXObject!="undefined"){
// for Internet Explorer
var wscript = new ActiveXObject("WScript.Shell");
if (wscript!=null) {
wscript.SendKeys("{F11}");
}
}

I tried it in Chrome, FF, IE, Edge.  It does not toggle, users will have to hit ESC to get out of fullscreen.

I use a lot of audio timing in my courses and have found that adding a calculator app to my menu (on my Macbook Pro) saves so much time. I like the Calculator Pro app because it stays on top of other applications, has a quick copy-to-clipboard command, and displays the start time, end time and seconds between on the face of the calculator.  I place my time markings on my storyboard and use the calculator to subtract the later time marking from the current time marking and then can quickly switch over to SL to paste the timing.

Very basic one here guys, but SO good for HD images. When grabbing screenshots from the web, on my second (larger) monitor, I use my browser to zoom all the way in on the area I need. The result is an incredibly professionally looking HD image. There are NO excuses for blurry images!

I, too, use PowerPoint to edit/manipulate and create images for each of my courses. I save it with the course file and call it my [name of course] "Support" document.

A little trick I like; if a particular project will not be using the resources tab, you can store simple text docs there with guidelines, conversation notes, obstacles and any other important information. As long as you do not show the resources tab, the information will be saved within the file and will be there for reference even months or years later.

This only works for SL2, but you can rename the SL file extension to .zip, extract it, and then you have access to all of of the assets that were used. Audio, Images, Documents.  Everything.  It will be renamed, but you'll have them again.  

Here is a tutorial I created about it. https://visual-e-learning.com/easily-retrieve-assets-storyline-2-file/

MIND BLOWN

I'm with Kristin. That's an awesome trick!

Thanks Jerson. I've only used SL2, so I didn't realize SL wasn't able to do that. Good to know.

PS... I love the zip trick. Much easier than exporting as CD format and then hunting for the assets.

That is awesome Jerson!

I'll add to that: you can do the same in PPT. Change the PPT file extension to .zip and images in the PPT will be available in the same way Jerson described.

Shared that as part of my 10 tips. Works with Office docs after 2010.

I have a slide I use (modified from Tim Slade) that has every type of object I could insert into a project.  As I change the colour scheme I can see how it will effect these elements.  Very handy when design a new colour scheme and keeping track of what changes to the colours of Accent 1, 2, 3, 4, 5..... actually will effect throughout the project.

Here are my favourites ones.

1. To get started on any learning content and ensure it isn't boring - How to design micro-learning content in 4 easy steps

2. Whether to use images or not in my elearning content - When to use visuals in learning content

3. How to ensure your course is error free - Things to cross-check before launching your elearning course

4. Things to do after you deploy your course - 6 Things You Must Do AFTER Deploying eLearning

Hi Tracy

would you mind sharing the slide or a link to Tim's example?

NOOOO, but I'll share mine.  I've got a few more assets in mine.

You can grab the template below and I created a quick how-to use it here (video).

I'm not sure I know what you mean.  How do these two things work together to create banners?

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Tracy this is gold!

Here are a couple of my favorites:

First of all, if you need images of something out of the ordinary or just need more variety, try searching at commons.wikipedia.org or at flickr, setting the search to filter for creative commons licensed media. There is some really great photography available, especially on Flickr, and with most of the creative commons licenses you are allowed to reuse it, even for commercial purposes. (read more about creative commons to make sure you know how to use the respective licenses) Most require you to attribute the creator and share your work alike, so you can add small attribution lines and links to the bottom of your page. When I've done projects for a former employer with strict IP protocol who were nervous when I brought it up, I would just submit the photo information and a link to the creative commons license to my IP department and they would clear it for use.

Another hack is a fake transition effect I like to use. It's a "photo stacking" effect that makes your slide-to-slide transitions smoother. Sometimes in one related section of several slides I will use this to make it look like a new photo is just sliding into place and then the related text fades away and the new text fades in. I have a large image aligned to either the right or left side, and then I will duplicate that same image onto the next slide. I'll put a second image in exactly the same place on top of the first image on the second slide and give it a fly in animation. Duplicate this slide for subsequent steps, but use "change picture" to change the bottom and top photos and it's quick. (I also like to pre-crop all my images in Photoshop since you can be more exact there than trying to crop in Storyline.)

I'm attaching a quick example of the sliding photo effect.

I create a slide master I call Grid which breaks the screen up in thirds or fourths - or however I want it - to help me position things on the slide. Notice I also work with the grid showing. When I'm ready to publish my final version, I delete the lines on the slide master.

Notice my Quick Access toolbar. I don't know what I'd do without my Slide View and Slide Master view on it!

Nice, Tracy! Thanks for sharing with us!

Hi guys!

If you missed some element (logo, extra button, picture or else), and need to put it on all your slides and couldn't do this via Master or Feedback Slide, no need to open each slide and paste there.

Just copy that element from basic slide, choose slides from your scene on right side with Ctrl+A (or Ctrl/Shift + mouse if need exact slides where you need this extra element) and paste with Ctrl+V.

My e-learning hack is more of a Storyline/Studio hack. I like to recycle unused buttons on Storyline's default course player by just changing the text labels using the Text Labels option in Player Properties and then adjusting the default triggers.

Here's a quick video to walk you through the steps.