6 Software Training Examples That Will Make Learners “Screen” With Joy
Employees often come to an organization with a wide range of technical experience. But one thing is certain—software training empowers employees to perform more efficiently and confidently. For intuitive software, a simple screencast can orient your employees to an app’s layout and features. Other times, you might need to give learners a more hands-on learning experience with a simulation that creates a risk-free practice environment. In either case, if you need some inspiration for creating software training, check out our favorite community examples. From screencasts to simulations, you’ll find creative solutions to spark your next project! Rise 360: Project Management Software Training Use labeled graphics, multimedia, and interactive blocks to give learners both an introduction and inspiration for how to use new software like Madison McCartney does in this Rise 360 course. Storyline: E-Learning Heroes 101 Guide learners through the step-by-step process to create an E-Learning Heroes community profile with this helpful simulation from Allison LaMotte. Storyline: Audio Editing Simulation Get learners comfortable using audio editing tools before even downloading any software, thanks to this simulation by Josh Petermann that includes both a view and try mode. Storyline: Learn Triggers Software Simulation Safely introduce new software to learners and let them practice risk-free, like in this handy simulation by Richard Watson. Storyline: Review 360 Software Simulation Replicate the experience of using new software by taking inspiration from this helpful Review 360 software simulation created by the Community Team. Storyline: Video Editing Controls Simulation Give learners a realistic opportunity to practice interacting with video editing software just as Dan Sweigert does in this guided simulation. Wrap-Up Hopefully, these examples spark ideas for how you’ll empower learners with your next software training. Our generous community members share their projects in weekly challenges, downloads, and examples, so check back regularly for new inspiration. What type of software training do you plan on tackling next? Let us know in the comments! To learn more about creating software training, check out these articles: The Difference Between Screencasts and Software Simulations 4 Tips on Creating Software Tutorials in Rise 360 2 Reasons to Use Storyline 360 for Software Simulations Everything You Need to Know About Creating Software Simulations with Storyline How to Decide Which Articulate 360 App to Use for Screen Recording Follow This Process to Create Software Simulations and Systems Training Like a Pro Follow us on Twitter and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any questions, please share them in the comments.The Difference between Screencasts and Software Simulations
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 things? It can be easy to get these terms confused, so let’s walk through the nuances that differentiate these two methods and explore the use cases for each. Screencasts Screencasts are videos that show a recording of your computer screen. They’re often used to demonstrate the use of an application or software. They include all of your mouse movements and typically have audio narration that gives learners more contextual information about the process they’re seeing—such as the names of various software features or steps. Because screencasts are simply videos, they’re not interactive. When to use a screencast Screencasts are great for creating simple “how-to” videos. This kind of visual walkthrough is beneficial when you’re trying to explain a process that’s too complicated to explain with written text alone. And if the process isn’t something learners will be doing frequently, screencasts can be a helpful performance support resource that learners can easily reference in the future. How to create a screencast If you have Articulate 360, you already have access to not just one but TWO apps that are specifically designed for screencasts: Peek 360 and Replay 360. Learn more about when to use each app in this article: How to Decide Which Articulate 360 App to Use for Screen Recording. Want to see an example? Watch the “How to Add Comments in Review 360” screencast I created with Peek 360 below. This screencast provides a short overview of how to provide feedback on courses in the Review 360 web application. It’s perfect for an audience who may be comfortable with web-based technology and already have familiarity with Review 360. The screencast focuses on a simple process. It’s clear, concise, and to the point. So, how does a software simulation differ? Well, I’m glad you asked. Software Simulations While you also have to record your screen to create a software simulation, the major difference is that instead of simply showing the learners what to do, you give them the opportunity to try it out for themselves. They’re called simulations because you simulate the software’s interface by recording it and turning that recording into an interactive practice environment for learners. They can go through and click on all the buttons—like you did when you recorded it. It’s almost as if they’re using the software themselves. The advantage of doing it this way—versus simply having them use the actual software—is that you can build in on-screen explanations and feedback to guide them as they practice. Software simulations are usually the go-to for creating software training because they provide learners with a risk-free environment to help them learn a new app or process. Another thing that sets simulations apart from screencasts is that you can test your learners’ understanding by creating a simulation that’s graded. For every click in the right spot, learners can earn points. And for clicks in the wrong spots, points can be taken away. It’s a great way to ensure learners have understood how to complete specific processes within an app or software. When to use a software simulation Interactive software simulations are ideal when you want learners to physically practice using the software themselves—including entering data, interacting with drop-down menus, and identifying multiple steps in a more complex process. Software simulations give learners an opportunity to practice using the proper click-path of a specific process or software without fear of impacting the actual production environment or ruining any real-life data. With software simulations, you can put your learners in the driver’s seat so they can deepen their knowledge of a process, gain experience, and build confidence in using an app or piece of software. How to create a software simulation Articulate 360 subscribers can use Storyline 360 to create software simulations quickly and easily. Want to learn how? Here’s a tutorial that’ll help you get started: Creating Software Simulations in Storyline 360. Want to see an example? Explore the software simulation created with Storyline 360 below. In this example, users learn how to get started using the Review 360 web application. This simulation walks through four basic steps that you need to know how to do if you’ll be using Review 360. You’ll notice that because learners actually click through the software themselves, they must pay closer attention to each step in the process. This simulation is perfect for an audience who might not be as familiar with web-based technology or for users who are brand new to navigating Review 360. With simulations, learners can confidently navigate a new application because they’re practicing in the safety of a learning environment. View example More Resources Now you’re well on your way to identifying the nuances between screencasts and software simulations and you should be able to use these terms confidently when tackling your next project! To help you keep everything straight, I’ve outlined the differences in the handy table below. Screencasts Software Simulations Use case Demonstrate a simple, straightforward process. Train learners on a complex process through interactive practice and/or assessment opportunities. Interactive No Yes On-Screen Hints & Feedback No Yes Looking for more best practices around creating screencasts and software simulations? Check out these resources! And let us know in the comments what screencasts and software simulations you’ll be creating next. Follow This Process to Create Software Simulations and Systems Training Like a Pro 3 Methods for Recording Screencasts 4 Tips on Creating Software Tutorials in Rise 360 Tips for Using the Storyline 360 Screen Recorder Like a Pro Follow us on Twitter and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any questions, please share them in the comments.3 Methods for Recording Screencasts
If you’re creating an e-learning course to teach people how to use a piece of software or an app, chances are you’ll end up recording a screencast as part of that training. If you’ve never recorded a screencast before, you might not know the best way to do it. Do you record your screen first? Or start with the audio? Or do you record both at the same time? Which way is best? The short answer is all of these ways can work well. It’s really a question of personal preference. In this article, I’ll walk you through all three methods—screen first, audio first, and audio and video at the same time—and point out the pros and cons of each so you can choose the one that’s right for you and your project. Ready? Here we go! 1. Screen First, Audio Second With this method, you start by recording your screen without any audio. This approach allows you to focus on clicking all the right spots without having to worry about saying the right thing. When you’re done, you can watch the screencast as you record your audio to get the timing right. The advantage of this method is that you can focus on one thing at a time—either the video or the audio. It also gives you an opportunity to confirm you haven’t forgotten any steps before you record the audio. This method is also a good way to go about creating a screencast if you need your SME to record their screen themselves—in case you don’t have access to the software, for example. The disadvantage of recording your screen before your audio is that you’re not explaining what you’re doing out loud as you walk through the steps, so you may end up going through them too quickly or too slowly. If you go through the steps too slowly, the video could feel like it’s dragging on and learners may start to tune out. Luckily, it’s usually pretty easy to fix this problem in post-production by simply cutting out some of the extra time. However, if you go through the steps too quickly, there’s not always an easy way to fix it after the fact. You may end up having to cut out some of the explanations, speak really fast, or even re-record your screen. This could impact the quality and/or the amount of time it takes you to finish the screencast. If you decide to record your screen first, be sure to move through the steps at a slow and steady pace to avoid running into this issue. 2. Audio First, Screen Second You can also do the opposite—record your audio first and then your screen. Like the previous method, this has the advantage of allowing you to focus on just one thing at a time. However, unlike the first method, you don’t have to worry about the timing issue since you can listen to your recorded audio as you click through your screens. That being said, if you record the audio first, you might end up realizing as you record the video that you’ve forgotten to explain something. If that happens, you’ll have to record whatever’s missing later. That may not sound like a big deal, but if you don’t have a sound studio, it can be difficult to ensure your audio sounds exactly the same the second time around—which can make your screencast sound less professional. The only way to get around this would be to re-record the audio for the entire screencast, which could be time-consuming. To avoid this issue, I recommend going through the video steps a few times before you record the audio. That way, you can be sure you haven’t missed anything and avoid having to re-record your audio. 3. Audio and Screen at the Same Time The final method for recording a screencast is to record both the audio and video at once. For some people, this method makes it easier to get the timing right. And I see their point! Because you’re walking through the steps as you speak—like you would in a live demo—you’re always moving forward at exactly the right pace. However, to be successful at this method you have to be a good multitasker. Whether you’re ad-libbing your explanations or reading a script, it can be tough to get the audio perfect while simultaneously focusing on clicking in all the right spots. The longer your screencast, the harder it will be to get through the recording without making any mistakes either on screen or in the audio. For lengthy videos, I recommend recording a minute or two at a time and then splicing the videos together. The Bottom Line There’s no right or wrong way to record a screencast. It all comes down to personal preference. Some people always use the same method, while others prefer to switch it up depending on the project. To help you decide which method to go with, I pulled together this handy pros and cons list: Method Pros Cons Pro Tip Screen First, Audio Second Allows you to focus on clicking in all the right spots in the right order without worrying about explaining what you’re doing at the same time. Gives you an opportunity to confirm you haven’t forgotten any steps before you record the audio. Video timing could be too fast or too slow, which can be hard to fix in post-production and could result in having to re-record the video. Move through each step in your video slowly. It’s easier to cut sections out than make them longer. Audio First, Screen Second Allows you to focus on your explanations without worrying about where to click. Upon recording the video, you might realize you missed a step in the audio, requiring you to re-record it in part or in full. Practice going through the video steps before you record the audio to ensure you haven’t missed anything. Audio and Screen at the Same Time Easier to get the timing right, since you’re walking through the steps as you speak—like you would in a live demo. Harder to get both the audio and video perfect, since this method involves multitasking. Record a minute or two at a time instead of recording a long screencast from start to finish. If you’re still struggling to decide which method is right for you, try recording a short screencast using each method and see if one feels easier or more natural. If you run into problems, try switching it up for your next project. Once you’ve done a few screencasts, you’ll get a feel for what works best for you. Looking for some more pro tips on creating software training? Head on over to these helpful resources: Follow This Process to Create Software Simulations and Systems Training Like a Pro How to Decide Which Articulate 360 App to Use for Screen Recording 4 Tips on Creating Software Tutorials in Rise 360 Record and Edit Videos Like a Pro with Peek 360 and Replay 360 Tips for Using the Storyline 360 Screen Recorder Like a Pro 3 Steps for Recording Microphone and System Sounds Simultaneously And remember to follow us on Twitter and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any questions, please share them in the comments.4 Tips on Creating Software Tutorials in Rise 360
Picture this: you’ve been tasked with getting new hires up to speed on your department’s project management tool. Or maybe you stumbled upon a cool trick in your team’s favorite app and you want to spread the word. Where do you start? Software training is a common need at most companies, but it can be daunting—not to mention time-consuming—to create. But don’t fret! With Rise 360, anyone—even SMEs—can create software tutorials with ease! I recently found a huge productivity hack with my team’s project management tool and needed to share it with my team. Let me walk you through how I used Rise 360 to quickly create a software tutorial. 1. Use the Labeled Graphic Block to introduce people to the software Before you get into the weeds of how to use the software, it’s a good idea to make sure people are familiar with the terminology and layout of the app they’ll be using. Instead of breaking out any old screen recording software, you can instantly acquaint your learners with the software’s user interface (UI) using Rise 360’s Labeled Graphic Block. As you can see from the image above, I used a screenshot of my project management app (Trello) and placed markers over the navigation buttons and other key features. I was also able to change the default marker icon to a number to intuitively guide learners through the interface step by step. 2. Use video to walk them through the software With a basic understanding of the software’s layout, your learners are ready to learn more about how to use it for their work. I like to do this by creating a quick screencast to guide learners through how to use the software. Sometimes video tutorials can drag on—especially with a feature-rich app—so instead of creating one long video, I break it up into bite-size chunks to make sure I’m not overwhelming my learners with too much new information. You’ll find that you can upload video into many different block types in Rise 360, or embed it from popular streaming sites like YouTube, Vimeo, and Wistia. In my case, I landed on using the Timeline Block to showcase two different methods of using the software that result in the same goal. However, the Process and Tabs Blocks are also great options if you want to walk learners through a successive list of steps. Pro tip: To make sure my screencast filled my Rise 360 blocks, I recorded my screen in a 16:9 aspect ratio. Need help figuring out which app to use for screen recording? Check out this article for some pointers. 3. Combine audio, text, and images to show and tell While screencasts are incredibly useful for learning the ropes in a new app, you don’t always need to record a video to achieve that goal. For simple processes, written step-by-step instructions paired with simple GIF animations can be just as engaging and memorable. Rise 360 lets you add both media AND text in the interactive blocks. This means you can use interactive block types like Tabs, Process, and Timeline Blocks to take a complex process—like adding a new customer profile to your company’s customer relationship management (CRM) software—and break it out into a series of quick steps, highlighting a few key actions people need to take in each step. This is also a great way to showcase a few key software-use cases or general tips and tricks for getting up to speed on using an app. As you can see from the GIF below, I used the Process Block to show my team how to customize their Trello board using three different Trello customization features. The animated GIF shows them where to find the customization features, and my supporting written instructions explain exactly what steps to take. Pro tip: If you find yourself wanting to include audio content in your software tutorial, play around with the Timeline Block, which allows you to incorporate audio-only media alongside supporting images, videos, GIFS, and written text. 4. Provide additional resources To ensure your learners are fully prepared to use the software once they complete your tutorial, it can be helpful to provide them with additional resources like job aids, checklists, or reference materials. In my case, I wanted to give my teammates access to more helpful articles and inspiration for how they could use our project management tool to fit their specific productivity needs. As you can see below, I landed on using a combination of Rise 360’s Accordion and Button Blocks to link out to additional blogs, webinars, and more complex tutorials on using the app. Pro tip: You may find that creating a PDF summarizing key software features or functions will help learners as they start using the app on their own. The File Attachment Block in Rise 360 is perfect for this. Here’s a quick GIF showing you where to find this block in the Blocks Library. Summing it up If you’re curious to see how I used these four simple tips to create my own software tutorial, check out my software tutorial example course. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to start using Rise 360 for your own software tutorials! Have some power tips or clever ways to use blocks? Are you already creating software tutorials using Rise 360? Let me know in the comments! Want to try something you learned here, but don’t have Articulate 360? Start a free 30-day trial, and come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have any questions, please share them in the comments.How to Decide Which Articulate 360 App to Use for Screen Recording
We're ending support for Studio 360, Replay 360, and Peek 360 on December 31, 2026. Learn more. Since software training is one of the most common types of e-learning, it’s no surprise that Articulate 360 includes not one, not two, but three apps with screen recording features. Each of these apps has a unique feature set and is specifically designed for a different purpose. If you’re wondering which app to use for your project, you’re in the right place! Keep reading to learn more about how screen recording differs in Peek 360, Replay 360, and Storyline 360 and the types of projects best suited for each. Peek 360 Peek 360 is a lightweight app that works natively on both Macs and PCs and lives in your menu bar or system tray, so it’s always just a click away. Once you’ve recorded your screen, it automatically uploads to Review 360, generating a shareable link. You can also download the .MP4 file and insert the video into your Rise 360 or Storyline 360 courses or export it for LMS to use it as a stand-alone asset. Since Peek 360 doesn’t have editing capabilities, it’s best for recording short screencasts to share with team members on the fly or to insert into your courses as is. Check out our tutorials and user guide for more details on how to create and distribute screencasts with Peek 360. Replay 360 If you’re looking to create a longer screencast that could require some editing, Replay 360 might be a better choice. In addition to some lightweight editing options, this Windows-compatible desktop app allows you to record your screen and your webcam simultaneously, creating a cool picture-in-picture effect. You can also insert images, video clips, and lower thirds, making it easy to create a polished tutorial video that you can use on its own or insert into your Rise 360 or Storyline 360 course. For more information on Replay 360, check out our tutorials and user guide. Storyline 360 Storyline 360 also allows you to record your screen, but unlike Peek 360 and Replay 360, that’s not its sole purpose. Storyline 360 is a full-fledged authoring app that not only lets you record screencasts and build software simulations but also lets you add custom interactions, quizzes, and much more. This makes Storyline 360 the ideal choice when you want your software training to be interactive. It’s also a great option if you want to overlay text or objects—like arrows or highlight zones—on top of your video. Storyline 360 has some editing capabilities, allowing you to make adjustments to your recording after the fact. You can also easily add subtitles to your screencast—and your entire course—directly in Storyline 360, which is great for accessibility. When you’re done, you can publish to video, web, or LMS. If you want to take a closer look at the screen recording feature in Storyline 360, check out this tutorial or head on over to the user guide. The Bottom Line Peek 360, Replay 360, and Storyline 360 are all great options for recording your screen. Which app you use depends on your project requirements. If you need to record a screencast super-fast, Peek 360 is the way to go. When you want to edit your screencast or record your webcam along with it, go with Replay 360. And when you want to create an interactive software simulation, overlay additional content, or add subtitles to your screen recording, opt for Storyline 360. To make it super-easy to compare the feature-sets of the different apps, I pulled together this quick-reference guide: Peek 360 Replay 360 Storyline 360 Work natively on Macs X Work natively on PCs X X X Record screen X X X Record mic audio X X X Record webcam X X* Edit recording X X Add interactivity X Add closed captions X Publish to video (.MP4) X X X Publish for LMS X** X** X Publish to Review 360 X X X Once you’ve decided which app to use, you might be wondering how to start building your software training. Here’s an article that’ll help you get off on the right foot: Follow This Process to Create Software Simulations and Systems Training Like a Pro. Want to try out these apps, but don’t have Articulate 360? Start a free 30-day trial. And subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest product updates, e-learning examples, and expert advice directly in your inbox. *Webcam recording must be done separately from screen recording **Publish FoR LMS via Review 36010 Video Walkthroughs of E-Learning Projects and Portfolios #276
Video Walkthroughs of E-Learning Examples RECAP #276: Challenge | Recap This week’s challenge asked course designers to launch their screencasting gear and record an overview of their favorite e-learning projects or portfolios. If you’ve ever wondered, “How’d they do that?” I think you’ll enjoy the following screencasts. Math Notermans Example | Math Notermans Jenn Springer Example | Jenn Springer | Website Alexander Salas Video overview | Alexander Salas | Website | @stylelearn Jodi Sansone Video overview | Jodi Sansone | @jodimsansone Sunet Sullivan Video overview | Sunet Sullivan Mark Weingarten Video overview | View example | Mark Weingarten | Website Jonathan Hill Video overview | Jonathan Hill | Website | @JHill_AssocCIPD Daniel C. Mestanza Video overview | View demo | Daniel C. Mestanza | Website | @dcmestanza Veronica Budnikas Blog | View demo | Veronica Budnikas | Website | @verobudnikas Daniel Brigham Video overview | Daniel Brigham | Website | @danielbrigham New to the E-Learning Challenges? The weekly 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. 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. If you share your demos on Twitter, please include #ELHChallenge so your tweeps can track your e-learning coolness. Screencast Your E-Learning Portfolios! The screencast challenge is still open! If you have one or more ideas you'd like to share, please jump over to the original challenge and post your links in the comments section. I'll update this recap page to include your examples.Screencast and Share Your Favorite E-Learning Challenge Examples #276
Screencast Your E-Learning Portfolios #276: Challenge | Recap A few years ago, Mashable posted this really great article about freelancers parlaying their screencasts into a marketing tool. While many of you have figured out the blogging and social media angles, screencasting is a skill a lot of course designers aren't quite comfortable with yet. But looking at screencasting sites like LinkedIn Learning and Khan Academy, you know this is becoming an essential skill for everyone in our industry. Challenge of the Week This week, your challenge is to screencast an e-learning project or challenge demo you designed. You can record a how-to tutorial to demonstrate a technical process or screencast a more general overview of an existing project you’ve built. The goal is for you to help the e-learning community know more about you and the projects you build. Suggested Topics Whether you’re just getting started in e-learning or you’ve been developing for years, you have something valuable to share. Here are a few topic ideas to get you started: How I built this interaction Lessons learned from building my first course Production tips Here are my three favorite projects 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 screencast your portfolio, take a peek at the educational animations your fellow community members shared over the past week: Educational Animations in E-Learning #275: Challenge | Recap Wishing you a great week, E-Learning Heroes! 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.Using Interactive Screenshots to Magnify Important Details in E-Learning #267
Interactive Screenshots in E-Learning #267: Challenge | Recap If you’re trying to teach your learners about software, products, or applications, a common way to highlight features and functionality is to use screencasts and software simulations. But sometimes a screencast or simulation is overkill for orienting your learners with an application’s UI or features. That’s where interactive screenshots come in. Interactive screenshots are a great way to orient learners with a big-picture view of an application’s interface, then let them drill down into the details for a particular menu or panel. They’re easy to build, super versatile, and a solid alternative to screencasts or simulations. And they're what this week’s challenge is all about. View example | Download Challenge of the Week This week, your challenge is to create an interactive screenshot for an application’s UI or specific features. Here are a few things to consider when planning your projects: How much of the application will you show? How much do you need to show? How will learners pull the information? Hover? Click? Drag? How can you work additional resources, videos, or practice opportunities into the detailed views? How will learners return to the original screenshot? Last Week’s Challenge: Before you zoom into this week’s challenge, take some time to meet your fellow e-learning challengers in last week’s podcast interviews: Audio Interviews with E-Learning Designers #266: Challenge | Recap Wishing you a great week, E-Learning Heroes! 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.Designing More Engaging Software Simulations in E-Learning #194
Software Screen Recordings and Simulations #194: Challenge | Recap Modern authoring tools like Storyline make it super easy for course designers to record screencasts that can be inserted as demonstration videos and screen simulations to give learners the opportunity to practice a series of steps. That’s the easy part. The challenge for most course designers is finding creative ways to make screen simulations more engaging for learners. And that’s what this week’s challenge is all about! Software Simulations for Process Interactions I like the way Jeffrey Riley resized his simulation slide to provide a performance support style interaction. The prototype is a good example of how screen simulations can be used for process interactions. View demo | Download Keep in mind that both examples are only concepts and not polished demos ... but that’s okay because this week’s challenge is all about finding new ways to present software simulations. Challenge of the Week This week, your challenge is to share an out-of-the box idea for working with software simulations. Your examples can be based on real-world projects or sandbox concepts to show what’s possible. NOTE: New entries only this week! Last Week’s Challenge: Before you jump into this week’s challenge, take a peek at the creative ways course designers are working with Storyline blocks in Rise: Using Storyline Blocks in Rise RECAP #193: Challenge | Recap Wishing you a simul-tastic week, E-Learning Heroes! 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.A Useful Technique for Recording High-Resolution Screencasts in Storyline 360
Screencasts help learners get familiar with systems and software before they dig in for themselves. In this post, you’ll learn how you can create high-resolution recordings that display every important detail using Storyline 360. The secret to pixel-perfect screencasts is making sure that you capture and play your video at around the same size. If you shrink or expand your screen recording to fit your slides, you’ll end up with a final product that’s blurry and hard for learners to follow. The screen recording tool in Storyline 360 makes it really easy to avoid this problem, since you can create screencasts at any size and customize the recording options to minimize scaling. Here’s how to do it in a few easy steps. Step 1: Identify the Ideal Screen Resolution First, you’ll want to determine the average or target screen resolution for your learners. This is important because the more your project has to scale up or down to fit the target screen resolution, the lower the resulting image quality. Obviously, there will be some variation in screen resolution among your learners, but the goal here is to choose a screen resolution that’s closest to what most people use to limit how much your course has to scale. This article provides some helpful context about screen-size trends. Do your research, talk to your learners, and make an informed choice. Step 2: Set Your Story Size Then, set your story size to the target screen resolution you’ve chosen. Since your aim is to avoid scaling, it’s important that your recording dimensions match the story size you’ve chosen. When you’re ready to record, set the recording area to the same dimensions. Note that it’s always best to define your story size before you begin creating your course. If you change your story size mid-project, you might need to adjust the size and placement of objects on any slides that you added prior to changing the dimensions. Bonus Tips Need to switch between apps while you’re recording? Want to record your entire screen without compromising on quality? Check out these bonus tips: If you’re switching between different software in a single recording, this helpful post from Tom Kuhlmann has a cool trick for making sure all your windows display at the right size. If you need to capture your entire screen and you have a large monitor, lower your monitor’s resolution (while maintaining the same aspect ratio) before you record. It might look blurry while you’re capturing your screen, but when you go back to your normal resolution afterwards the image will look crisp. More Resources There you have it! You’ve just added a new technique for creating high-resolution screencasts to your e-learning development skills list. 👏 Looking for more ideas for creating great screencasts? Get tips from the experts in this article: Tips for Using the Storyline 360 Screen Recorder Like a Pro Start Creating High-Resolution Screen Recordings in Storyline 360 Today! Start a free 30-day trial of Articulate 360 to build high-resolution screen recordings in Storyline 360, and so much more. And be sure to come back to E-Learning Heroes regularly for more helpful advice on everything related to e-learning. If you have questions or screen recording tips to share, please leave a comment below!
