The best authoring tools for designing learning in-house

DIY culture is all the rage. From make-your-own craft blogs and DIY dining experiences to the continual rise of the ‘how to’ video, the ‘do it yourself’ trend is going nowhere. And the elearning world is no different. 

There will always be projects where you’ll need to engage the talents of a bespoke elearning agency but we are also seeing more cases of businesses taking control of their own elearning development and keeping it in-house. And the right authoring tool makes that simple. But where do you start? How do you navigate the maze that is the authoring tool marketplace?
 

Find the right authoring tool for your L&D team

Every team and business has different needs, so before you start looking at the authoring tool marketplace, you need to decide what your must-have features are.

Here are the core features to consider when choosing an authoring tool:

• Design capability: Are you looking to wow your learners with bells and whistles or is keeping things simple best? Will you be doing systems training? In need of something truly exceptional in look and feel? The tool you choose will have a big impact on the final design. 
• Learner experience (LX): Do you want a contemporary scrolling design or a more linear, ‘traditional’ approach? Where do you stand in the ‘click next to continue’ debate?
• Ease of maintenance: How skilled are your in-house team at building and editing content
• Responsive design: Does your module need to be responsive? What devices will learners use to access the learning? Does the tool provide the experience you need on every device?
• Accessibility: Will you need to meet accessibility guidelines? The extent to which you can meet these guidelines differs between the tools, so knowing this in advance is key.
• Translation: Is your audience global? Will you need to translate or localise the content?

Other points you might want to consider:

• Reputation: How established is the tool in the market? If it’s award-winning, you can feel confident in its proven track record.
• Budget: And, of course, we can’t forget cost – both in terms of development and the tools themselves. Is the cost of the license or subscription within your budget? Will you need to test across several devices? How complex is your content?
   

The five authoring tools Kineo most commonly recommends

Once you know what you need from an authoring tool, you’re ready to explore the options available – and to help narrow down your choice, here are the top authoring tools we recommend.

1. Adapt Authoring Tool (AAT)

What’s the conclusion?

Easy to maintain and responsive in design, the AAT is the choice for those wanting a glossy learning experience on the go.

2. Articulate Storyline 360 / Storyline 3

What’s the conclusion?

If you want a tried and tested tool, have a simpler content requirement, a smaller budget and enjoy a more linear experience, Storyline 3 is for you.

3. Lectora 17

What’s the conclusion?

Lectora is a well-established tool that’s easy to use and relatively inexpensive. It’s best for projects that don’t require too much bespoke work, particularly if time and money is tight, or accessibility a key requirement. 

4. Elucidat

What’s the conclusion?

Elucidat’s best for those with a more a straightforward build who want an easy to use tool with multi-device capabilities.

5. Captivate 2019

What’s the conclusion?

If you have a systems training requirement and prefer a traditional linear design, Captivate has what you’re looking for. The support for VR learning experiences makes this tool one to watch in the future.
 

Which tool will you choose?

As you can see, there’s a whole host of great authoring tools out there, from the multi-device marvels to the accessibility aficionados. Their ultimate suitability all depends on the individual requirements of your project.

We hope these comparisons make choosing the right tool that little bit easier. And don’t forget that Kineo are always on hand to help. We offer capability services to help you through the content creation journey, such as building templates and guidelines and training up your team. With our support you can be sure of a seamless learning experience between your platform and your elearning content, whether you’re creating a piece of learning in-house or collaborating with us on a bigger project.