Scenario-based Training using Conditional Advanced Actions in Adobe Captivate

Recently I co-presented at the Adobe Learning Summit about how to use Advanced Actions in Adobe Captivate for scenario-based training. 

Scenario based training is typically designed in branching scenarious in which a decsion can be made by the learner (either right or wrong) and the sceanrio will walk them through what would happen based on their decision. If the learner makes an undesirable decision, they will see the consequences of that decision. 

The learner is then guided to the desired behavior through a fluid and transparent learning startegy. This offers the learner a more "real" experience rather than a multiple choice question or PowerPoint presentation. 

My section of the presentation focused on the Advanced Actions to show and hide certain objects and jump to selected content slides. The learner would click any question, in any order, and mulitple times (if they want) and they will  jump to the content slide and then return to the main scenario question slide. However (and here is the condition); the learner must click ALL four questions before the Congratulation text appears and/or Next button.

In this presentation we made all the answers correct because we were also demonstrating 3D imaging using PhotoShop (see links to tutorials at bottom of this blog). However, you and your client may decide to make one or more of the answers incorrect and then you would have a consequence based on that decision. 

See Demo of Adobe Captivate Presentation

Here are the general steps:

A.     Insert and name all objects (text captions, smart shapes, buttons etc. on slide

B.     Create and name Content Slides

C.     Create User Variables for each Object you want clicked (smart object, click box, button)

D.     Create Conditional Advanced Action

E.     Ensure that the Button is attached to correct Advanced Conditional Action

F.     Create All Clicked Advanced Conditional Action

G.     On Content Slide On Slide Exit, Jump back to the main question slide

Here are the step by step instructions: 

A.     Insert and name all objects on slide

1.    Insert all check marks, in the Properties panel…name them

2.    Make the check marks invisible. In Properties panel: uncheck Visible in output

Insert Congratulations text/smart shape

1.    Insert Smart Shape type in Congratulations Text, use as button if want to

2.    In Properties panel of smart shape, name it

3.    In Properties panel of smart shape, uncheck Visible in output

4.    In Properties panel of smart shape, check Use as button

5.    In Action Tab: On Success, have the slide jump to where you want to user to go after completion

B.      Create Your Content Slides

1.    Insert your content slides and name them. Add your content 

2.    Name each slide 

3.    On Slide Exit have slides jump back to home/question slide

C.      Create User Variables for each Smart Button

1.    Project/Variables 

2.    Click Add New 

3.    Name it 

4.    Click Save 

5.    Repeat (steps 2 – 4) for each object or button that you want clicked 

6.    Close

See the full gallery on Posterous

D.    Create Conditional Advanced Actions for each interactive object clicked

1.    Select the first interactive object (button, smart shape, click box) 

2.    Go to Properties Panel 

3.    In Action/On Success, click the drop down and select Execute Advanced Actions 

4.    In Script, click on the folder to bring up the Advanced Action box

5.    Click plus sign to add a New Advanced Action,                                                              

6.    In Action type select Conditional actions,  

7.    Action Name: type in a name 

8.    Under IF create the Script:  1 is equal to 1 (the literal value) 

Under Actions:  

9.    Assign: your variable, with 1 

10. Show the check mark

11.    Show the answer and hide the other answers

12.    Jump to the content slide

 NOTE: (make sure this is the order you do it in)

 

F.    Create All Clicked Advanced Conditional Action: 

1.    In the Advanced Action Dialog box, select one of your advanced actions 

2.    Go to the second tab and double click to rename it 

3.    Double click in the first column and select your variable, then click in the second column and select "is equal to"; then click in the 3rd column and select "Literal". Type in the number one and select enter on your keyboard or just double click in the next row down. 

4.     Duplicate this for the rest of the variables that apply                                          

Note: you can copy/paste the script and just change the variable)

5.    Under Actions Show the completion text

6.  Update or Save

7. Close 

1.    Duplicate the action by clicking the icon in the upper right corner  

2.    Rename the action 

3.    Change the Actions to the next variable. 

4.    Show check 

5.    Show and Hide the rest of your objects

6.    Jump to Slide 

Repeat the duplication for each object/variable and then  

7.   Save or Update

8.   Click Close 

E.      Ensure that the Smart Object is attached to correct Advanced Conditional Action

1.    With the button selected on the slide, go to Properties/Action/On Success, click the drop down and select Execute Advanced Actions (if that is not already selected) 

2.    Properties/Action/Script, click on the drop down and select the advanced action that matches. Note, they are not sorted alphabetically, the newest ones will be a the bottom

To view the instruction videos for the video and 3D photoshop portion of this tutorial click on the links:

Editing Videos: http://www.skillq.com/clients/als/editing/
3-D Demos: http://www.skillq.com/clients/als/3d/

Jeff Harris from SkillQ was my Co-Presentator at the Adobe Learning Summit and supplied the above tutorials. If you want to contact him go to his website at: http://www.skillq.com

Background images provided by Bryan Jones with eLearning Art

As always, feel free to comment below.