Lectora Tips! 3 Ways to Create e-Learning Magic

There are some familiar tools in Lectora® e-Learning software that can be used creatively to create not-so common results. Lectora features and functionality can be used in all different ways to maximize the power of the software during the development phases, and consequently, add pizzazz to your next e-Learning course or training. Use these 3 quick tips to add a surprising amount of interactivity with just a little bit of handiwork.

Tip 1: Use the Move-To action to create interactivity

Use the Move-To action to construct fun games for your learners, without any coding knowledge necessary! This action allows e-Learning course developers to take any object on a page and move it from one location to another with a simple command, creating a simulated animation to add interest and excitement to your next e-Learning course or training. To create custom Move-To actions:

• First open Action Properties from either the Toolbar or the Menu and select the General tab within Action Properties
• Select the trigger desired, such as on mouse click or mouse over
• Pick Move-To as the action
• Select the Target (the file name of the object that you want to use)
• Next, set the new X & Y Locations to position the object on the page – you can use specific coordinates, variable values or a random value – this gives you a ton of flexibility to create a custom Move-To Action

After following the above steps, select “OK” from the bottom of the Properties menu, and with a click of a mouse, your Move-To action is created. Not only can you use Move-To actions to move objects once on a page, you can also use Move-To actions in a sequence to create interactive graphics, such as a flowchart.

You might consider using the Move-To action for times when you want to illustrate where something should go, like for filing system. Just set up the object to Move-To the correct location to show where a piece of information belongs. You could also use the Move-To action to create a game, such as a matching game. Move-To actions can be used in conjunction with the Size-To action to bring even more interactivity and life to your project, without using code. To view a video tutorial on adding Actions to your Lectora titles, go to Lectora University.

Tip 2: Use the Size-To action to magnify important information

Like the Move-To action, the Size-To action can be harnessed to easily add a spark to your next e-Learning course by resizing objects to draw attention. You can use the Size-To action to highlight specific sections of information that you are presenting, such as an image, by increasing the size of the object. Using the Size-To action in this way can help drive home essential facts and information that are important for learners to remember. Here’s how to add Size-To actions to your course:

• Open up the Action Properties menu
• Choose whatever trigger from the list that you’d like, such as on mouse click
• Select “Size-To” from the Action drop down menu and then select the file name of the object that you want for the Target
• You can then enter specific pixel values, variable values or the percentage value for the size you’d like the object to size to
• Hit “OK” to generate the action

Lectora automatically resizes from the upper left-hand corner, so keep this in mind when you’re deciding how you want the Size-To action to affect an object on your page.

It’s important to remember that once you change the position or size of an object using the Move-To or Size-To actions that the new settings become the selected object’s new starting position or new size. Subsequent changes will be based off of the new size and location.

Tip 3: Use the Progress Bar to engage

Standard Progress Bars can be used to add to add interest to a title by using them in a not so standard way. Typical Progress Bars move forward from page to page to benchmark advancement, but they can also be used to add interactivity by laying text and images over the bar itself. Progress Bars come in 3 variations within Lectora:

1. Table of Contents – Progress Bar that automatically moves forward one page at a time for a title, section, or chapter of a title
2. Timer – Set the total time and much you want it to jump for each increment
3. Custom – Insert the range, how many steps, and how far you want the Progress Bar to move for each step

To add a Progress Bar to your title:

• Open up the Progress Bar Properties
• In the General tab, select the type of Progress Bar you want to use (either Table of Contents, Timer or Custom)
• Next, move to the Layout tab and select the orientation of the Progress Bar
• In the Layout tab you have the option to add images and update the background color of the Progress Bar

Consider using Progress Bars in unconventional ways, such as setting it up as a question, or as an animation to further increase learner engagement and add life to a title.

Use these 3 simple outside-of-the-box tips to ramp up your e-Learning courses and training. There are many options within Lectora to customize and individualize pre-existing assets and familiar features that can be used in new ways. We hope these tips will help you get ideas flowing, and thinking about innovative ways that you can take an ordinary object and turn it into something unique with some Lectora magic.

Author: Jessica Athey

Jessica is Manager of Global Marketing for Trivantis with 8+ years of e-Learning and writing expertise. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Journalism from the University of Cincinnati.