Adobe Captivate Core Skills: Level 1

Target Student
This course is appropriate for beginners and for anyone who is self taught on the basics of Captivate. Quite often even experienced users find they benefit from a Core Skills: Level 1 class to fill in the gaps in their knowledge. 

Prerequisites
Basic computer and file management skills are required for Core Skills level Adobe courses. Students should know how to - locate, copy and open files; create folders; arrange, re-size, minimize and maximize application windows; start and exit programs; manage use of multiple programs simultaneously; and switch between open programs.

Course Outline

Preface
In This Module You Will Learn About:
Education Through Pictures
RoboDemo to Captivate
Planning eLearning Projects
eLearning Development Phases
Budgeting Considerations
Project Size and Display Resolution
Designing Slides in Captivate
Fonts and eLearning

Module 1: Exploring Captivate
As you work through the lessons in this book, the goal is to get you comfortable with each specific Captivate area or feature before proceeding. Like any feature-rich program, mastering Captivate is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. Soon enough you’ll be in full stride, creating awesome eLearning content using Captivate. But before the sprint comes the crawl. During these first few activities, I’d like to give you a chance to familiarize yourself with Captivate’s user interface. Specifically, you’ll be instructed to start Captivate, open an existing project, and poke around Captivate’s interface a bit.

In This Module You Will Learn To:
Explore a Finished Captivate Project
Zoom and Magnify
Navigate a Project
Explore and Reset the Workspace
Preview the Entire Project

Module 2: New Project & Soft Skills eLearning
You can create two types of eLearning with Captivate: software simulations or soft skills lessons. A software simulation is essentially a recording of step-by-step actions performed on a computer. You can use Captivate to create interactive software simulations (often referred to as “Let Me Try” lessons), demonstrations (often referred to as “Show Me” lessons, and videos (much like the kind you’ve likely seen on YouTube).

Soft Skills eLearning encompasses anything that doesn’t fall into the category of a software simulation or demonstration (terrorism awareness, compliance training, conflict resolution, policies and procedures). Anything that’s a life skill would fall into the category of soft skills. During the lessons in this module, you will create a soft skills lesson that includes multiple slides, text, images, and buttons that allow the learner to move through the lesson at their own pace.
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In This Module You Will Learn To:
Create a Blank Project
Add Images to Placeholders
Insert and Format a Text Button
Disable Click Sounds

Module 3: Recording Demos and Sims
Recording desktop actions is one of Captivate's key features... and you'll cover the hottest recording modes: demo, assessment, training and custom.

In This Module You Will Learn To:
Rehearse a Script
Review Recording Settings
Review Recording Modes
Record Using Multiple Modes
Record a Custom Simulation
Record a Demonstration that Pans
Manually Record the Screen

Module 4: Captions, Styles and Timing
Once you've recorded your lessons, the real work begins. During these lessons, you will learn how to add text caption, set object styles and control the timing of slides objects.

In This Module You Will Learn To:
Insert and Edit Text Captions
Edit the Default Caption Style
Change a Callout Type Used by a Text Caption
Control Slide Timing
Control Slide Object Timing
Check Spelling
Align Slide Objects

Module 5: Images and Smart Shapes
Adding images to your project will enhance the lesson. These lessons will teach you how to add images and shapes, how to manipulate them and manage them. You’ll also learn how to incorporate Photoshop documents (including the layers) into your Captivate project.

In This Module You Will Learn To:
Insert, Resize, and Restore an Image
Transform an Image
Use the Library
Manage Unused Project Assets
Crop and Rename an Image
Remove a Background Color
Insert Characters and eLearning Brother Assets
Insert a Cloud Callout
Create an Image Mask
Delete a Slide Background
Work with Photoshop Layers
Create an Image Slideshow

Module 6: Pointers, Paths, Boxes, and Buttons
If you've created a demonstration, that pesky mouse can sometimes have a mind of its own. You'll learn how to tame that wild mouse during these lessons. Then you'll learn how to add some basic interactivity to a lesson via buttons.

In This Module You Will Learn To:
Control Mouse Effects
Edit a Mouse Path
Clone an Object Style
Insert a Highlight Box
Insert an Image Button
Control Appear After Timing

Module 7: Rollovers and Zooms
Rollovers and Zoom Areas enhance the eLearning experience by encouraging interactivity (rollovers) and grabbing the learners attention (zoom areas). Learn them both during these lessons.

In This Module You Will Learn To:
Insert a Rollover Caption
Insert a Rollover Image
Insert a Rollover Slidelet
Insert a Zoom Area

Module 8: Audio
eLearning lessons that contain voiceover audio and sound effects are more effective than lessons that don't... and that's just a fact! Learn how to add, edit and record audio during these lessons. And if that's not enough, you'll also learn how to convert Text-to-Speech, which is just cool!

In This Module You Will Learn To:
Import Audio onto a Slide Object
Import Background Audio
Add a Slide Note
Calibrate a Microphone
Record Slide Audio
Import Audio onto a Slide
Edit an Audio File
Insert Silence
Convert Text-to-Speech

Module 9: Video, Animation and Effects
In a word, Flash Video is cool! Learn how to add Flash Video to your eLearning lessons. There are lessons for adding Animation and special effects too.

In This Module You Will Learn To:
Insert a Flash Video
Set Flash Video Properties
Add Animation to a slide
Insert Text Animation
Apply an Effect to a Slide Object
Apply a Free Fall Effect to an Object
Edit Effect Timing

Module 10: Adding Interactivity
Interactive eLearning is generally thought to be more effective than passive demonstration videos. During these lessons, learn how to convert an existing demonstration into a highly engaging, interactive powerhouse.

In This Module You Will Learn To:
Hide the Mouse
Replace Phrases
Insert a Click Box
Insert a Text Entry Box

Module 11: Working With PowerPoint
Often times the eLearning project begins in Microsoft PowerPoint. Why not use that content in your Captivate project? These lessons will help you master the PowerPoint to Captivate workflow.

In This Module You Will Learn To:
Import PowerPoint slides
Resize One Object and Apply to All
Round-Trip PowerPoint Edits
Synch With Source
Rescale a Project

Module 12: Introduction to Question Slides
Captivate sports some robust quizzing tools. You'll learn how to setup, create and edit question slides.

In This Module You Will Learn To:
Edit Quizzing Object Styles
Set the Quiz Preferences
Insert Question slides
Insert Knowledge Check slides

Module 13: Finishing Touches
No project is finished until it's published so that it can be consumed by your learners. Learn the best publishing format to use for the widest audience (including SWF and the new HTML5 output). Learn how to add a TOC to your lessons and the ideal settings for publishing.

In This Module You Will Learn To:
Create a Link to a Web Site
Apply a Skin
Edit, Save and Delete a Skin
Create a TOC
Check Publish Settings and Add a Loading Screen
Publish a SWF and PDF
Run the HTML5 Tracker
Publish as HTML5
Publish as both SWF and HTML5 (Multiscreen)
Export Captions
Perform a “Round Trip"