When I asked a group of Instructional Designers if they could offer an alternative to Articulate Storyline 360 for my summer project, many screamed, Lectora!!! I had never heard of the tool before, so I thought I better check it out.
Like my previous post analysing Adobe Captivate, I analysed Lectora by considering the tools features and user reviews found on G2.com and elearningindustry.com.
Lectora
Lectora is a user-friendly authoring tool that is available as a desktop or cloud solution. It is a powerful tool that allows for the creation of many different courses and scenarios. G2.com calls it “the leader of accessibility”, let’s find out.
Below is a list of the authoring tool’s pros and cons.
Pros
- Works on multiple browsers
- Strong Support community
- Conditional Triggers
- Extensive online galleries
- Multiple interaction scenarios
- Responsive design
- Web Accessibility Settings
- Accessible pre-built templates
- Accessibility Check Tool
- 30-day free trial
Cons
- Limited quiz options
- Steep Learning curve
- Cannot create animation
- Complex variables
- Web Accessibilty Setting only available on desktop
Overall
Lectora’s capabilities are similar to Articulate Storyline 360, which is a significant plus for the tool. However, the primary benefit of Lectora is its Web Accessibility Settings. When turned on, these settings allow you to create an e-learning course that is compliant with WCAG 2.0 AA criteria. G2.com were right; they really are the leaders in accessibility. Furthermore, Lectora offers a desktop and an online version of their software, which is a significant advantage if you struggle with disk space. Unfortunately, though, the Web Accessibility Settings are not available on the online version of Lectora.
There were several reviews that stated Lectora had a steeper learning curve than Adobe Captivate. If you remember from my previous post, Adobe Captivate’s learning curve was one reason I chose not to consider it an option. However, unlike Adobe Captivate, no reviews state that Lectora crashes or freezes during the development, which is a plus.
In my opinion, Lectora has knocked iSpring Suite off the top spot as my choice for the summer development project. Lectora’s Web Accessibility Settings outweighs any learning curve. Fortunately, I have time to study Lectora and learn how it works before developing my course. I can only hope this will be sufficient in letting me side-step any teething problems. .
Going Forward
Initially, I didn’t think I would find a tool that would work better than Articulate Storyline 360. However, if Lectora lives up t the hype, I will not hesitate in recommending the authoring tool to others.
What I have learned during these analyses is to question the familiar.
Just because something you use works well doesn’t mean there isn’t a better option out there. As these analyses have proved, browsing what is available can allow you to find exactly what you need at no extra cost or effort.
Tech-Comm Kat 