Top 7 Course Authoring Software
Gone are the days when learning was a preserve of a classroom set-up. Most people prefer online courses as it is convenient and cost-effective. Thus, geographical location is no longer an impediment to what you can or cannot learn. Increasingly, tutors also find online courses convenient as they can reach to as many students as possible. It also gives them the flexibility to attend to students needs at a personalized level. For your eLearning courses to be practical, you must be ready to invest in a robust course authoring software that will not disappoint.
What are the Best Course Authoring Software: Adobe Presenter, Adobe Captivate, Lessonly, Articulate Storyline, SkyPrep, Lectora, Litmos are some of the Top Course Authoring Software.
What are Course Authoring Software?
Course Authoring Software gives you the information and instruction you need to author content to record your actions in applications and produce documents and simulations with rich interactions, audio, video, knowledge checks, and assessments. The software features also include preview and publish content for versioning, workflow, and distribution and collaborate with employees and fellow authors using features like discussions and annotations
In a nutshell, course authoring software is a tool that helps one to develop course presentation for educative purposes. The tool allows one to deliver training courses creatively whether it is meant for corporates or the traditional educational settings. The system can also be used by a group of people who are working together to integrate different media with the aim of creating an interactive learning opportunity.
- Authoring features: Create course material and a collection of shared team slides that everyone can access share slides that need to be in every course.
- Continuous scrolling: most people will not be willing to wait for a link to load leave alone clicking on it. Chances are if there is a link to some literature the users will be tempted to bypass without even checking the content. This is due to the exposure to smartphones and social media where one is only used to scrolling. Continuous scrolling feature has an interface that most of your students are familiar with. Besides you can also add more advanced features into your eLearning course such as scroll-activated animation.
- Adaptive technology: students use different devices with diverse features. It is essential to have an authoring tool that will quickly adapt to the different functions contained in the various gadgets that your students will be using. Such a feature will save you from developing multiple versions of the same course that is compatible with each device in use.
- Consistency: a good authoring tool should have a level of consistency in all your lessons. Consistency allows your students to be familiar with the content and makes it easier for them to navigate through. They can easily find the information they are looking for thus saving on time also. Consistency also gives your lessons some identity in that students can easily recognise with you whenever they access the lessons.
- Instant updates: your system should make it easy for you to update your lessons, modify, or make corrections if need be. Students need not download the app again after an update on the course. Consider having a system that makes it easy to update your lessons from time to time.
- Language support: eLearning targets a global audience with different languages. It is essential to have an authoring tool that can incorporate the multiple languages to ensure you have high-quality training resources. Look for a system that will enable you to globalize your eLearning course and be sure to find out if there is any extra cost involved in language add-ons.
- Multiple distributions: your students should have access to the eLearning courses regardless of where they are. Your authoring system should make it possible to distribute the learning materials in different options. You can send them on emails, upload to a class website, or post on social media where they can all access. Students will have no excuse to skive their lessons.
Top Course Authoring Software
Adobe Presenter
Adobe Presenter is a software tool for creating e-learning content and high-quality multimedia presentations rapidly. Presenter uses Microsoft PowerPoint, a popular application that is part of the Microsoft Office suite, as a base. Finished presentations are in Flash format (SWF file). Content created with Presenter is SCORM 1.2 and SCORM 2004 certified and AICC compliant. Presenter provides a simple interface for using a microphone to add audio narration to the presentation. In addition, users can easily synchronize PowerPoint animations with audio narration. The Presenter intuitive interface and its complete integration with PowerPoint eliminate the need for additional training or Flash…
• Presenter viewer: Allows users to view and interact with converted Presenter presentation
• Quizzing: Let users interact with the presentation, while tracking their learning progress or obtaining information (surveys)
• Reports: Track the number of attempts, log correct and incorrect responses, and send pass/fail data to Connect Enterprise Server
• An intuitive interface allows non-technical users and subject matter experts to create, edit and publish compelling interactive presentations
• Drag-and-drop elements: Make presentations interactive with drag-and-drop games, quizzes, and learning modules
• Scenario templates: Create scenario-based training with easily customizable templates
• Subscription - $14.99 / month
• Reports: Track the number of attempts, log correct and incorrect responses, and send pass/fail data to Connect Enterprise Server
• An intuitive interface allows non-technical users and subject matter experts to create, edit and publish compelling interactive presentations
• Drag-and-drop elements: Make presentations interactive with drag-and-drop games, quizzes, and learning modules
• Universal standards: Create a single package, managed on Adobe Connect Server, that supports SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, AICC, and Adobe Connect Training
• Importing questions from existing quizzes: Leverage existing content and save time on new quiz creation by importing questions from other Adobe Presenter quizzes
• Enforced navigation: Apply navigation restrictions to help ensure that individual slides are displayed for a specific duration
Adobe Captivate
Adobe Captivate is a learning management system that enables users to set up and measure students’ training. Its features include auto-assigning activities, recurring certification training, reports and notifications, user management, course equivalent offerings and instructor sessions. Objects placed in Fluid Boxes get aligned automatically so that learners always get a fully responsive experience regardless of their device or browser. Use the pre-defined boxes in a responsive theme or draw your own. The Fluidic Player feature provides an e-learning experience which is compliant with video files, PDFs, DOCX, SCORM and xAPI. The Enroller feature allows users to assign roles, learning programs and courses to…
• Automatic voiceover functionality that turns text into high-quality speech in a few clicks
• Master slides: Easily create and maintain well-formatted and consistent-looking content that meets corporate guidelines
• Bookmarking and note taking: Allow learners to bookmark any section of the course or add explanatory notes
• Powerful reports: Keep tabs on how learners, departments, functional teams and partners are doing on their learning objectives
• Automatic chroma key effects: Transform videos by making their backgrounds transparent and replace them in just a few clicks without the need for any green-screen technology
• Comprehensive tracking: Automatically track all online learning activity such as interactions, events, assessments, course progress, skill-level attainment and learning status
• Subscription - $29.99 / month
• Student & Teacher Edition - $399
• Bookmarking and note taking: Allow learners to bookmark any section of the course or add explanatory notes
• Powerful reports: Keep tabs on how learners, departments, functional teams and partners are doing on their learning objectives
• Automatic chroma key effects: Transform videos by making their backgrounds transparent and replace them in just a few clicks without the need for any green-screen technology
• Best-in-Class Cloud Technology: Get up and running sooner with a high performance content delivery network
• Customization Options: Brand your LMS with personal domain name and corporate logo
• Free Enterprise Support: Get deployment assistance from a 24x7 technical support
Lessonly
Lessonly is a cloud-based learning management system built and developed for support teams, sales teams, and human resources staff. Simple and easy to use, it is a training software used by businesses to create and distribute training materials and learning resources, empowering their employees with the knowledge and skills they need to perform work better. Team leaders and top-performing employees will be able to share their work knowledge and best practices with teams and co-workers quickly. The software lets employees develop job skills through practice, repetition, and feedback. Lessonly provides metrics aimed at measuring employee learning, productivity, and engagement. Lessonly…
• Screen Recording: Capture all or part of a screen, along with audio, to refine product or presentation walkthroughs
• Webcam Recording: Rehearse pitches and customer interactions on video
• Chat Practice: Improve chat skills in a realistic scenario—before being in front of customers
• Support Ticket Handling: Practice thoughtful ticket handling—from prioritization to resolution
• Email Composition: Draft or reply to mock emails from customers or prospects to practice email interactions
• Learning Paths: Build paths to guide individuals or teams through learning to customize each employee’s path to productivity
• Chat Practice: Improve chat skills in a realistic scenario—before being in front of customers
• Support Ticket Handling: Practice thoughtful ticket handling—from prioritization to resolution
• Email Composition: Draft or reply to mock emails from customers or prospects to practice email interactions
• Get insights: Find areas of growth and make better decisions
• See results: See completion data and quiz performance across specific lessons, paths, or groups in one convenient place
• Dive Deep: Drill into data about specific lessons, users, or groups to identify knowledge gaps and opportunities for improvement
Articulate Storyline
Articulate Storyline is designed for people who want to easily create interactive e-learning courses and content. Only Articulate Storyline has slide layers, triggers, and states—the features that let users create any type of interactivity they can imagine without programming. Along with the ability to import content and media, as well as assessments from Excel or text files, Articulate Storyline features motion pathing, trigger events and an interactive slider to make courses more immersive. The platform also comes with what’s referred to as a “what you see is what you get” text editor that provides robust options like kerning and typographic…
• Seat Management: Easily assign seats to users, transfer seats, and manage user permissions
• Team Administration: Manage user, license, and billing information in one, simple-to-use admin console
• Success Team Health Checks: Receive regular check-ins from Articulate success coaches
• Priority Email Support: Move to the head of the line with fast priority email support
• Touchscreen gesture support: Learners can swipe, drag, and pinch-to-zoom on tablets and mobile devices
• Modern Text Rendering: Allow text to flow beautifully with consistent spacing and readability on every device
• Personal - $999 / year / user
• Teams - $1299 / year / user
• Education Personal - $499 / year /user
• Education Teams - $649 / year /user
• Success Team Health Checks: Receive regular check-ins from Articulate success coaches
• Priority Email Support: Move to the head of the line with fast priority email support
• Touchscreen gesture support: Learners can swipe, drag, and pinch-to-zoom on tablets and mobile devices
• Storage: Give team members the room they need to build courses and collaborate on projects with unlimited storage
• Mobile-friendly playback: Designed to deliver an ideal learner experience, the player hides sidebar menus and delivers mobile-friendly playback controls
• Personalize interactions: Customize interactivity to the max with minimal effort
SkyPrep
SkyPrep is a cloud-based training software designed to help businesses train employees and evaluate their knowledge and skills. With SkyPrep, users can create training courses within minutes, identify individuals who are performing well, and determine employees who require attention or further training. The platform is also loaded with other features such as automated email and detailed reports. The applications of SkyPrep go beyond the realm of business. Other potential users who can benefit from the SkyPrep platform include educators, online entrepreneurs, and even individuals who sell online courses. SkyPrep provides a platform that training administrators can use to create, manage,…
• Robust Course and Content Management
• Self-Managed Recurring Training
• Advanced Reporting and Analytics: Create visual and spreadsheet reports, making compliance and audits easy
• Encrypted Data at Rest: All data is stored on secure SSL-certified cloud infrastructure
• Automated Grading and Feedback
• Custom Course Certificates: Choose a template from the available pre-designed templates, and customize them with your own background images, logo, and text
• Starter - $349 / month
• Advanced - $499 / month
• Premium - $749 / month
• Advanced Reporting and Analytics: Create visual and spreadsheet reports, making compliance and audits easy
• Encrypted Data at Rest: All data is stored on secure SSL-certified cloud infrastructure
• Automated Grading and Feedback
• Customizable Look and Branding: Tailor e-learning platform to match company's identity
• Full integration: Access to thousands of pre-packaged courses
• Save time: Automatically send emails, generate certificates of completion as soon as a user finishes a course, create a report in just a few clicks
Lectora
Lectora is the industry’s most powerful authoring solution for building fully responsive and accessible courses. Thanks to the robust and flexible authoring tools that Trivantis Lectora offers, eLearning professionals can create eLearning courses without a headache. Trivantis Lectora has a variety of pre-set templates that make it relatively easy to create eLearning materials, including pre-defined menus, online course sections, and pages. Best of all, users can access the interface via browser, which eliminates the need for an on-site demonstration or lengthy orientation process that is usually the case with installed solutions. Lectora boasts a user-friendly drag and drop interface, a…
• Anchor Position: Objects can maintain their location on the page, even when the view is scrolled
• RCD feature allows users to design courses in the desktop view
• Course detail page for users to download, launch, or remove any course item
• Support for non-SCORM content items, like PDFs, audio, and video files
• Covert to shape: Enables users to convert any shape into a button giving them access to all the states and other style elements that a button usually has
• Responsive Title Themes: All Design ribbon Title Themes are fully responsive, ensuring a great look on all device types and sizes
• Support for non-SCORM content items, like PDFs, audio, and video files
• Covert to shape: Enables users to convert any shape into a button giving them access to all the states and other style elements that a button usually has
• Responsive Title Themes: All Design ribbon Title Themes are fully responsive, ensuring a great look on all device types and sizes
• Publish titles to cmi5: Create and publish Experience (xAPI) titles that meet xAPI's cmi5 standards
• Save FTP profiles: Save FTP settings to streamline the publishing process
• Convert existing courses to RCD: Convert existing, non-responsive titles to RCD, and then make any device-specific adjustments that you choose
Litmos
Litmos LMS is one of the leading corporate learning systems on the market, and a traditional Salesforce partner for sales and service training and secure data exchange. Despite being able to automate both internal and external learning programs, Litmos LMS is still referred to as the worlds simplest and easiest to use learning management system that requires neither dedicated training nor expensive installations. Litmos LMS is often preferred to seemingly cheaper LMS tools because it doesn’t require a setup fee, and doesn’t limit on-point customer support to a particular plan. Next to its convenient Salesforce partnership, Litmos LMS works impeccably…
• SOC Type 2 Highly Secure Environment
• Single Sign-On (through Marketplace Connectors)
• Embedded content creation tools that support multiple formats
• Design and issue certifications of completion
• Assessments and Quizzes - Create beautiful assessments to benchmark knowledge retention and reinforce concepts with your learners
• Reports and Dashboards: Review performance and gain insight into training impact with reports and dashboards, or create custom reports delivered via email
• Pro - $4-$6 / month /user
• Pro+Courses - $6-$15 / month / user
• Design and issue certifications of completion
• Assessments and Quizzes - Create beautiful assessments to benchmark knowledge retention and reinforce concepts with your learners
• Reports and Dashboards: Review performance and gain insight into training impact with reports and dashboards, or create custom reports delivered via email
• Reach learners anytime, anywhere: Allow learners to consume modular, self-paced training on demand and on the go from desktops and mobile devices
• Streamline course development: Easily assign tasks and leverage existing content
• Enhance brand: Create a consistent brand experience by customizing the look and feel of the user interface without coding, or deepen customization using HTML and JavaScript
Litmos What are Course Authoring Software? Course Authoring Software gives you the information and instruction you need to author content to record your actions in applications and produce documents and simulations with rich interactions, audio, video, knowledge checks, and assessments. The software features also include preview and publish content for versioning, workflow, and distribution and collaborate with employees and fellow authors using features like discussions and annotations. What are the Best Course Authoring Software? Adobe Presenter, Adobe Captivate, Lessonly, Articulate Storyline, SkyPrep, Lectora, Litmos are some of the Top Course Authoring Software.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Controversial comparison. There are tools here that do not belong to this category: for example, Skyprep is an LMS, not a course creation software. There are many other cool course creationg software, for example: Easygenerator, H5P, iSpring Suite, Elucidat. Nothing personal, just my two cents.