Live and learn. That’s good advice.
Sometimes, you need to help others learn. This is where HTML5 eLearning authoring tools come in. You create a course, host it online, and let the learning begin.
You’ll need good authoring tools because eLearning course creation is complicated.
Also, you must have a high-quality hosting platform for course delivery.
But what has HTML5 to do with it?
And what the heck is SCORM?
Let’s find out.
HTML5 eLearning authoring tools: features and components
Authoring tools are for designing, developing, and publishing digital content. eLearning authoring tools produce courses, assessments, simulations, and other instructional media.
HTML5 is the industry standard format for eLearning media publishing. HTML is the underlying coding that web browsers understand. Using the latest version of HTML—HTML5—your eLearning course can do just about anything that can be programmed into a browser.
This includes…
Interactivity: Quizzes, drag-and-drop activities, clickable hotspots, simulations, and branching scenarios are all interactive instructional elements of a course.
Multimedia Integration: Elements such as text, images, audio, video, and animations make the learning experience more engaging.
Export Formats: Industry standard digital course formats such as SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) define how the individual pieces of your course are packaged together to ensure compatibility with digital platforms and devices. SCORM includes HTML5 files to deliver the course content to your learners’ browsers. SCORM is the package, and HTML is one of its contents.
Templates and Themes: To speed up the design process, many authoring tools provide customizable templates and themes to suit specific branding or design preferences.
Responsive Design: A responsive course design ensures that your content automatically adjusts and looks good on any screen size.
Ease of Use: Making course design and development easy for novices and non-designers is an essential feature of the best authoring tools.
Popular eLearning authoring tools examples
Now, we’ll look at the actual commercially available authoring tools. Note that some of these are expensive, being targeted at professional course designers, business training divisions, and educational institutions.
Always check the pricing and features pages of the tool’s website as you choose which platform meets your needs.
Articulate Storyline
A powerful eLearning authoring tool known for its user-friendly interface and versatility in creating interactive courses. It utilizes a slide-based approach similar to PowerPoint. It also offers advanced features for creating simulations, quizzes, and other interactions.
Adobe Captivate
Desktop, web, and mobile learning authoring tool that supports a variety of content types, including software demonstrations, simulations, and branched scenarios. It features a responsive design and advanced interactivity.
iSpring Suite
An all-in-one eLearning authoring toolkit integrating seamlessly with PowerPoint. It’s known for its ease of use and rapid course development capabilities. Offers many built-in interactions and assessments.
Lectora Inspire
eLearning authoring software provides features for creating complex and interactive content. Accessibility and responsive design are priorities.
Articulate Rise
Cloud-based eLearning authoring tool designed for easily creating responsive and mobile-first courses. Users can quickly build lessons, quizzes, and interactions for all devices with a block-based approach.
Elucidat
A cloud-based eLearning platform designed to simplify the course creation process. It’s particularly beneficial for large teams or organizations looking to produce high-quality content consistently.
Gomo Learning
Focused on creating responsive and adaptive eLearning content. Its multi-device testing features and built-in analytics make it a popular choice for businesses aiming to track and optimize learner engagement. Cloud-based.
DominKnow | ONE
DominKnow | ONE is a comprehensive cloud-based eLearning platform. It combines traditional course authoring, collaborative content management, and a range of publishing options. It facilitates team collaboration and offers features for creating, managing, and delivering content from a centralized location.
Evolve Authoring
Evolve Authoring is a web-based tool designed to create highly interactive and visually appealing eLearning content. With a vast range of pre-built components and a focus on responsive design, Evolve ensures content looks and functions well on all devices.
Camtasia
Camtasia is screen recording and video editing software ideal for creating video tutorials, presentations, and other visual content. Including a video editor and a library of assets, users can produce professional-quality videos without requiring extensive video production experience.
Hosting and sharing your eLearning course on the web
There are two major categories of eLearning course publishing.
- Authoring tools that include hosting.
- Independent hosting of HTML5 course content.
Examples of included hosting platforms are Elucidat, Gomo, and Dominknow.
Independent hosting can be just about any traditional web host, but they are known to be harder to manage. Examples include GoDaddy, Bluehost, and Dreamhost.
Still, there’s an easy-to-use independent option.
The simplest way to host your eLearning course
The independent service that makes hosting HTML5-based courses simple is our service, Tiiny.host.
Armed with a zipped archive of your new course, you are moments from being live on the web.
Visit Tiiny.host’s home page, then take these three simple steps.
- Give your website a name.
- Drag and drop your zipped course files onto the home page.
- Click the “Upload file” button, and sign in or register for a free account.
That’s it!
Tiiny.host’s automated hosting uploads, configures, and publishes your website for free. In less than a minute, your course is ready to share with anyone who has its unique web address (URL).
You can even create a QR code to share your link. All it takes is one click.
You can opt for one of our low-cost subscription tiers if you need additional features such as password protection, analytics, global CDN distribution, file editing, and more.
You can even host your course documentation on Tiiny.host. PDFs, static websites, and presentations are all supported.
Visit Tiiny.host/pricing for the latest on features, costs, and our free tier.
Next steps
HTML5 eLearning authoring tools are a complicated subject with a lot of moving parts.
If you have any questions regarding authoring tools, web hosting, HTML, or any of the issues raised by this article, we can help. Our awesome customer service people are ready to guide you through this maze. Visit Tiiny.host/help to reach us.
Visit Tiiny.host today for a free website. It’s safe, secure, and fast.
FAQ: HTML5 eLearning Authoring Tools
How do I choose the best HTML5 eLearning authoring tool for my needs?
When selecting an authoring tool, consider factors such as ease of use, the range of features offered, compatibility with LMSs, pricing, and the quality of customer support. Additionally, exploring reviews and requesting demo versions can help you make an informed decision.
Do I need to know coding to use an HTML5 eLearning authoring tool?
While having coding knowledge can be an advantage, most contemporary authoring tools are designed to be user-friendly, allowing creators to develop rich content through intuitive interfaces without deep technical expertise.
Are HTML5 eLearning authoring tools compatible with Learning Management Systems (LMS)?
Most modern HTML5 eLearning authoring tools allow for exporting content in formats like SCORM or xAPI, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of Learning Management Systems.
