r/elearning • u/Kari_Suli • 7d ago
Macro-learning; Authoring Tools and general information
I apologize if I am missing something obvious, but most of what is out there focuses on micro and nano learning. I am looking to learn more about enhancing much longer courses - for example 3-4 hour continuing education courses, or long form (30 - 80+ hr) certification or licensure courses.
Can anyone point me in that direction? I’m open to any suggestions, studies, or professionals. I feel the needs and effectiveness of such courses are different enough to seek conversations with designers that face similar difficulties.
Thanks in advance.
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u/ID847 7d ago
The two main programs are Articulate Storyline and Adobe Captivate. I use both extensively in my work if you have specific questions.
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u/Kari_Suli 7d ago
Sadly, I have a mac and between that and the complaints I've seen about Articulate Storyline/rise, I had been staying away from the software. I am (sadly) very caught up in the Adobe infrastructure, but once again, I've heard nothing good about the latest(-ish) update to the software. It seems a lot of ID's preferred the older version. As someone who uses both, do you have any thoughts on the complaints?
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u/ID847 6d ago
My take on the complaints is that users want everything and no one tool is going to solve every issue. I was given a deck with 40 plus slides and every slide had 12-18 HD images INSIDE a scroll panel and the client was complaining that it was really slow to work with. Ya think? I have a quad core computer with 128GB ram and it was dying on my machine. So users are using the tools incorrectly or dont know any better. I do prefer the original Captivate (2019 version) to the 'new' Captivate. Storyline is powerful and in the right hands can create some amazing courses. Thats why the majority of corporate and regulatory clients are using one or the other.
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u/Kari_Suli 4d ago
Thank you. I think what this is coming down to is that I am going to have to find a "style" that works for me and the goals for the course. Then, I will choose tools that help me achieve the goal. I'm leaning toward starting with Captivate...if it doesn't work, I am not stuck with a year-long subscription.
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u/AcademyLauncher 7d ago
For something that long, I’d design it as a learning program rather than one giant course. Give learners a visible roadmap, split the content into competency-based modules, and add short retrieval activities throughout instead of relying on a big final quiz.
Periodic application projects can connect several modules and stop the material from feeling fragmented. A diagnostic at the beginning can also let experienced learners skip what they already know. The authoring tool matters less than whether the LMS can preserve progress, show that roadmap clearly, and support spaced follow-ups over several weeks.
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u/Kari_Suli 6d ago
Thank you for your reply. I completely agree that the LMS for progress and the roadmap are essential. I design courses for state licensure and continuing education, so skipping previously known materials is definitely not an option. I am struggling with the materials themselves. Micro-learning can be screens with a LOT less text, whereas I either have to do all video (for an 80-course), or reading (with quizzes and interactions interspersed), or some mix. I like the idea of iSpring, but I am thinking it would be too many slides; I also don't like how most in my industry have long pages of text and then somewhat ineffective interactions in between.
I am trying to find a unique way to engage the learner without being too much of one thing, but I am finding it hard to find studies or research on how effective the styles of presentation in different higher education settings (longer, in-depth course work).
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u/AcademyLauncher 5d ago
That makes sense. If every section becomes text followed by a quiz, changing authoring tools alone probably won’t solve the engagement problem.
One approach we’re experimenting with in AcademyLauncher—I’m connected to the product, so consider this a design idea rather than an unbiased recommendation—is an AI tutor grounded only in the approved course material. A learner can ask a question while studying, receive a concise answer with the relevant source or timestamp, and return to the exact material.
For licensure content, the guardrails seem especially important: no unsupported open-web answers, visible sources, and a clear “I don’t know” when the course material doesn’t contain the answer.
I wouldn’t use it to replace required readings. It could sit alongside the reference text, short worked examples, and retrieval practice as a support layer. What kinds of questions do your learners tend to struggle with most?
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u/Kari_Suli 4d ago
I teach real estate, so the questions and the topics vary wildly. There is a lot of legal/law basics, but also in-depth knowledge of state-specific laws. This gets mixed in with topics like completing contracts, construction, appraisals, etc. Really, it's more about presenting a LOT of information, which has traditionally been done via reading, yet the idea of taking a college-level textbook and making videos is overwhelming. The other issue is that many people taking a real estate licensure course hasn't been in school anywhere from 5 years - up to 30+ years, so the audience's needs vary and usually have little to no study skills.
I know there is no "one right answer," but I'm trying to create a presentation style that is "better" than all reading or all recorded lectures. I really appreciate your thoughts and if you're open to more discussion, I'd love to set up a time to chat.
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u/MirrorOk8490 6d ago
For an 80-hour licensure course, I would not choose one dominant medium. I would assign each medium a specific job.
Use reading for precise rules and material learners need to revisit. Use video for visible processes and worked demonstrations. Use scenarios for decisions and professional judgment. Use retrieval practice to connect prerequisites across modules.
A consistent unit could be: reference, worked example, decision, feedback. Learners may need to cover all required material, but the amount and type of practice can still change based on their performance.
Turning everything into video creates variety, but makes the course harder to search, revise, and use as a reference later.
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u/staticmaker1 7d ago
For long-form CE/licensure courses, I’d look at Articulate Storyline or Rise. Storyline is great for scenarios, assessments, and custom interactions, while Rise is faster for structured content.
One thing often overlooked is the certificate workflow. For CE/licensure courses, you’ll usually want completion tracked automatically and certificates issued without manual work.
I’m the founder of CertFusion, which handles auto-issued completion certificates once learners complete the required training.
The stack I’d consider: authoring tool → LMS → automated certificates.
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u/Famous-Call6538 7d ago
Completely different challenge from micro-learning. The main thing with 30-80 hr certification courses is mapping every module back to the exam blueprint — learners lose the thread if they can't see where they are in the structure.
Each competency domain works better as a standalone 30-45 min unit with retrieval practice at the end, not batched quizzes.
For the video production side of cert courses specifically, I've been using X-Pilot to turn source documents into chapter-by-chapter video series — it keeps the accuracy tight when you're covering that much material.