These Interactive tools make learning more fun.

This week, I received both good and bad news from America.

Let’s start with the good news.

I attended an informative on-line lecture by Ginger Swart who is a US-based manager with Articulate, and a professional instructional designer . She spoke about “Interactivity and Ai tools”. “Interactivity” refers to the manner in which a learner can obtain additional information in a course by clicking on icons or by giving accurate answers.

Ginger revealed how Ai tools on Articulate Rise and Articulate Storyline can convert static text into interactive content to encourage learner participation. Ai can also create questions for quizzes and knowledge checks. My eyes widened in amazement as she proceeded to demonstrate the wizardry of Ai.

After her on-line lecture, I created a list of interactive tools that make training courses more fun and engaging.

INTERACTIVE FEATURES THAT MAKE A COURSE MORE FUN

1. TOUCH FEATURES expose more information when clicked. Touch features include: buttons, sliders, dials, disappearing or appearing graphics, pop-up windows, accordion blocks, tab interactions, process blocks, flash cards, labelled infographics, direction arrows (showing ‘next’, ‘begin’, ‘continue’).
2. KNOWLEDGE CHECK TOOLS test a learner’s knowledge of the course content by using flash cards, quizzes, sorting, drag & drop, accordion blocks, and good/better/best scenarios with answers. Immediate feedback throughout the learning experience is important to help learners stay focused.
3. AUDIO/VISUAL TOOLS include video, audio, animation, text-to-speech and interactive infographics. Pop-up windows may occur during narration.
4. SIMULATIONS recreate real-world situations. Articulate’s Ai ‘instant convert’ tool can change blocks of text into simulations on video, audio or text to show challenges, choices and consequences.
5. GAMIFICATION uses leader boards, points, ratings, badges etc to engage learners. It creates stories and avatars that progress to more difficult tasks/levels, and maps which, when clicked, open deeper topics and new directions.

Thanks to Ginger Swart I have more knowledge of interactive features and animation for creating truly effective eLearning training solutions.

Now, the sad news from America.

This week I learnt America’s largest technical communications association, the Society for Technical Communications (STC), based in Virginia, filed for bankruptcy, ceased all activities and permanently closed its doors in January 2025. US courts will appoint a trustee to oversee the case and settle outstanding debts. Unfortunately they’d been suffering from low membership for quite some time.

Please remember… our professional societies need us all.

Obi Ikeako

March 1, 2025.