Popular tools such as Articulate Storyline and Rise have allowed instructional designers to create more visually attractive and engaging content. Let’s discuss the difference between a redesign and slapping a new coat of paint on old material.

Articulate Storyline and Rise have become popular tools for instructional designers. Without needing to learn complex design tools or coding, instructional designers can use these tools to do anything from present content to designing a full simulation that provides prompting and feedback. The ease of use of these tools, however, can be a double-edged sword. While only improving content presentation can improve learner engagement at some level, it can also lead to quickly diminishing returns when learners become accustomed to and bored with generic templates or features used without substance. Just as individuals can overdo their presentations with animations and transitions that increase cognitive load and detract from the content on the slide, so too can instructional designers trying to force old content into a new, better looking box. This session is meant to engage participants with discussion about what instructional designers can do with these tools, or ones similar, to not just repackage content but to enhance it with better media, interactivity, and formative assessments. Examples of original and redesigned content will be shown, as well as questions to consider when trying to enhance engagement.