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FLOWSPARKS vs Articulate Rise

You’ve been tasked with producing learning content for your organisation. You don’t have the budget to outsource the job. You’re not a professional eLearning developer but have a good understanding of your company and capacity to produce content in-house. As an ‘accidental’ eLearning developer you now need an authoring tool that has intuitive design features, can be tailored to your company’s specific learning requirements and produces professional looking modules quickly. If this sounds familiar, we can help. We believe the two best authoring tools for this situation are FLOWSPARKS and Rise. They have shorter learning curves than programs like Storyline or Captivate and are packed with handy features to assist you in creating engaging content. Here at GuyKat we are proud users of both.  For full disclosure we are a FLOWSPARKS reseller, but we still use Rise daily. In this article we will outline our view of the best fit for each tool.  

1. How easy are they to use?

Both FLOWSPARKS and Rise are easy to use. If you can use PowerPoint, you will be able to create decent content. They are both cloud-based, there is no need to download specific software. You can insert interactions instantly, such as drag-and-drops or quizzing, without any programming skills. With either you can create professional looking online content that will engage your audience.

We believe FLOWSPARKS has an edge here because of the thought that has gone into their templates. They accelerate the creation of great looking content, but also ensure it is built with solid instructional design in mind. This means that you can even delegate content creation to your subject matter experts without the need for them to understand learning theory or have any ‘design’ skills.

2. What features do they have to have to engage learners?

In both authoring tools you can add video, multiple choice questions, interactive elements and gamification to make your content pop. Both have intuitive design capability so your modules will look professional and be engaging.

FLOWSPARKS, in particular, also has some clever features that we love. As part of your modules you can add surveys to gain learner feedback and turn on adaptive learning to ensure the correct information is tailored to the individual’s knowledge level. Versioning is another brilliant feature of FLOWSPARKSs. Unlike Rise, which saves automatically every few seconds, FLOWSPARKS will give you access to past versions of your module which may come in handy when using a decentralised approach to creating content. Finally, real-time updates have to be our favourite feature of FLOWSPARKS. Not only can you future proof your content by making it easily editable, but you can apply these changes across different modules ensuring your courses always contain the latest information.

3. How much do they cost?

Generally we would recommend Rise for freelancers or single-author organisations and FLOWSPARKS for larger companies. Both tools work on an annual subscription basis and Rise comes with a free trial. A single Rise user will cost $999 per annum. FLOWSPARKS entry price point is higher and the minimum investment requires 5 authoring accounts, this is why we would recommend it for larger organisations with multiple projects to create. Deals and bespoke offers are available for both so speaking to a consultant is highly recommended.

4. What about customer care?

Both have customer support packages with varying access points. Rise offers live chat through their website, video tutorials, a support centre contact and has an active online community. FLOWSPARKS customer care can be accessed through; email support, FAQ pages, knowledge base resources, an online forum and a helpline you can call. In either case, you may be able to access enhanced support if you bought the product through a reseller.

5. What devices are these tools available on?

Rise and FLOWSPARKS content is designed to work on desktop, tablet and mobile. With responsive and intuitive design, content can be accessed on whichever device is most convenient.

The authoring tools themselves are cloud based so any device with a browser can be used to make content. However, the best authoring experience is on a laptop or desktop computer.

6. What are the translation options with these authoring tools?

Each authoring tool can translate into several languages, however the way they do this differs. Rise uses XLIFF imports so the possibilities are pretty much endless, including being able to translate into specific dialects such as Catalan for example. You can also use company specific terms without anything getting lost in translation. The only limitation at the moment is right to left languages such as Arabic and Hebrew. There are workarounds that can be coded, however this takes time and expertise. Also using XLIFF means you have to create a separate file for each language whereas FLOWSPARKS has 30 languages available that can be automatically applied across all content. Due to this functionality learners can also select their preferred language and switch between languages that have been activated. A handy feature of both tools is automatic formatting, when you translate any content it resizes so redesigns are minimal.

7. How easily can they be integrated into our current L&D?

If you already have an LMS you are happy with, the content from either product will work great.

On the technical side, both have similar supported specifications including SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, xAPI/Tin Can API. Rise also supports AICC exports and FLOWSPARKS can export IMS LTI.

The way FLOWSPARKS content is deployed means that once you update the ‘master’ copy of a course it can be instantly updated everywhere it is hosted. This is also possible in Rise, but we think the workflow in FLOWSPARKS around both content deployment and change control is more attractive to large enterprises.

Our verdict 

Overall Rise and FLOWSPARKS are both fantastic content authoring tools. When it comes to choosing between the two it is more about your organisation's resources, budget and learning needs. If you are a team of one with a small budget, Rise is a good option. However, if you work for a larger company with many subject matter experts where content change control is important, we believe FLOWSPARKS may be the better choice.

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by Hannah

5 Reasons Why Your Organisation Should Invest In Employee Learning & Development

There are many reasons why organisations should invest in employee learning and development. Not only does it offer the chance for employees to learn and develop their skills, but it also improves employee retention. But why else should you invest?

Up next: Benefits of Starting Your Company's Learning Journey with an Agency

#1 Customer satisfaction will be higher

Employee training can significantly improve productivity and elevate an employee's performance. When your employees are able to complete tasks more efficiently, this maximises your return on investment and will ultimately lead to a higher satisfaction rate in your customer service.

#2 Improves employee satisfaction

When you invest in employee learning and development, it shows you’re committed to providing your employees with relevant training to ensure they’re on track. It also shows you value their role in the organisation. By offering employees the opportunity to continuously develop their skills, they remain qualified for their role and feel appreciated, which increases their overall job satisfaction.

#3 Losing employees is expensive

Organisations that invest in employee learning and development will likely retain more engaged employees. It costs a lot to find and replace employees. Putting the effort into training your current employees lessens the likelihood of them leaving the organisation. 

#4 Creates a knowledge-sharing culture

Employee training means you can educate your employees on important topics and address any issues or knowledge gaps within the organisation. It brings an opportunity for employees to learn from each other and management. This leads to reduced recurring mistakes and in the long term, creates a culture of knowledge sharing. 

Read more: 5 Benefits of Promoting Lifelong Learning in the Workplace

#5 Increases employee productivity

Employees who are better trained and have more knowledge about their organisation are more likely to produce high-quality work the first time round. This, therefore, minimises mistakes and saves time. A comprehensive learning course provides your employees with the tools they need to fulfill their roles and make a great impact on the organisation. The skills acquired empowers the employees to deliver a better quality of work at a faster rate.

How we can help

Our dedicated team of designers can work with you to transform your organisation’s learning and development with bespoke eLearning modules. These modules can be accessed anytime, allowing your users to be more flexible with their schedules. This also allows users to go at their own pace.

If you wanted to create your own modules, FLOWSPARKS’ authoring tool could be for you.

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by Hannah

Why use FLOWSPARKS authoring tool?

This year we partnered with FLOWSPARKS, an intuitive content authoring solution that allows users to create engaging eLearning. But what makes their authoring tool so appealing?

It's easy to use

The instructional templates FLOWSPARKS offer makes it easy for anyone to develop eLearning, allowing employees to digitize what they've learned, regardless of how tech-savvy you feel.

Making changes is simple

If you're not happy with an aspect of the eLearning module, you're able to make real-time adjustments in the FLOWSPARKS content editor. These changes are displayed immediately, even if the module has already been inputted onto an LMS.

You can work collaboratively

Others are able to review your eLearning module easily with FLOWSPARKS integrated review tool. All you have to do is click on an element, add a comment, and save. It's as simple as that!

There are multiple language options

FLOWSPARKS' authoring tool is available in over 30 languages. Users have the option to import and export translations.

You can try out different eLearning formats

Users can reach a higher learning efficiency with FLOWSPARKS as different eLearning formats can be tied into the modules. This includes adaptive learning, gamification, microlearning, and incorporating tests and exams.

You can tailor your eLearning to your brand

Users of FLOWSPARKS can manage the branding of their company with the 'skin' editor. The editor applies your branding to all eLearning modules that you create or have already created. Plus, if you want to change it for a specific project, that's also an option.

The user experience is great

All FLOWSPARKS templates and formats are fully responsive on desktop, mobile, and tablet devices. All interactive elements, like buttons and animations, are predefined and work right away.

Content is reusable

Users of FLOWSPARKS can reuse content across several different modules so no work is lost. When you make adjustments to one module, it is automatically updated in other modules.

You don't need to install anything

FLOWSPARKS is a SaaS Solution (Software as a Service) which means you don't need to install anything to use their authoring tool. Users are able to log in to the platform from anywhere.

Interested in finding out more?

Find out how your company could benefit from FLOWSPARKS services by booking a call with a member of our team below.

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by Hannah

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid With Your eLearning

There are many mistakes instructional designers can make when creating an eLearning course. In this blog post, we’ll be going through five common mistakes to avoid when creating your eLearning.

#1 Bombarding the learner with text

Having too much text on the screen bombards the learner with information. Make it more digestible by using concise sentences.

#2 Not following learning goals and objectives

Achieving the learning goals should be the top priority. It’s important to have identified these learning goals before you start development. Without undertaking this exercise, the eLearning will likely be an ineffective brain dump, rather than a quality learning experience.

#3 Forgetting about the target audience

When creating eLearning, you always want to have the target audience in mind. Research into your target audience. Take into account their level of education, their learning style, and what they will be expecting from the course. If you build with these points in mind, you’ll be far more likely to create a solution that keeps your target learners engaged.

Read more: Tailoring Your Learning Content to Your Audience

#4 Difficult navigation

Unintuitive navigation will frustrate learners and diminish completion. Think about the interface and most importantly have a real target learner test it before launch. Watch them progress through the course and any time they look confused about what to do next, you know you have something to fix.

#5 Using too many distracting graphics

An eLearning course that has too much going on visually will likely distract the learner. Like the use of too much text, too much imagery will only distract the learner, especially if they’re not relevant to the topic.

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by Hannah

How GuyKat Promotes Lifelong Learning, As Told By GuyKat’s Noor, Graduate Trainee

As part of Learning at Work Week, we spoke with one of GuyKat’s Graduate Trainees, Noor, to get her perspective on how we promote lifelong learning at GuyKat.

About Learning at Work Week

Learning at Work Week is a national event that takes place in May. Co-ordinated by Campaign for Learning, the aim of the week is to promote a culture of workplace learning.

Learning at Work’s theme this year is 'Learning Uncovered.' It aims to enrich our understanding, knowledge, and attitudes toward lifelong learning by exploring:

• The importance of lifelong learning and supporting it 
• What we can do as individuals and in our work communities to promote lifelong learning 
• Lifelong learning's benefits and opportunities for work and life 

Read more: 5 Benefits of Promoting Lifelong Learning in the Workplace

Tell me what you think of GuyKat’s approach to learning. How does it help you become more effective in your work? 

I find GuyKat’s approach to learning very encouraging. We’re always encouraged to help others and participate in knowledge-sharing sessions where we can learn from one another. We’re also encouraged to spend time on individual learning, and have the option to book individual learning time in our calendars where we spend time getting to grips with a specific topic. As long as you’re showing commitment to your own learning, GuyKat is very flexible in how you approach that.

How do you feel about the practical learning you’ve experienced at GuyKat compared to your experience at university?

The learning experience I’ve had at GuyKat is so different from my experience at university. At GuyKat, the learning is much more hands-on in the sense that I can steer my learning in the direction that I would like to take it. Learning at university compared to working in a real job scenario can be quite different. However, I have gained useful transferable skills which have been beneficial to my role.

How does GuyKat support your learning?

Guy, the Founder & CEO of GuyKat, arranges monthly one-to-one meetings where we discuss how we are doing, any goals we would like to work towards, and have a general check-in to make sure we are doing okay, which I really appreciate. During my content rotation, I am also assigned an ‘onBuddy’, which refers to an onboarding buddy. An onboarding buddy is someone who is designated to each graduate who we go to for support and frequent check-ins. Our weekly meetings allow us to speak with someone who is very familiar with your role, as they have done it themselves, and gives us a chance to learn from more experienced colleagues.

Why do you think it’s important to work for a company that supports lifelong learning?

Being a part of a company like GuyKat, that supports lifelong learning, is really helpful to our personal development as we're encouraged to continually learn new skills. People want to feel that they're evolving and going up the career ladder, rather than remaining in their current position, so working for a company that supports learning is highly valuable. Additionally, GuyKat is very good at understanding each person's individual strengths and taking into account their differences.

What’s the most valuable piece of learning you’ve gained from working at GuyKat?

Since joining GuyKat, I've learned how to manage my own time very well. The roles at GuyKat are very autonomous. Our teams are trusted to work to deadlines and encouraged to take full responsibility for their own schedules/tasks. I have also become a lot more confident in myself, because of the learning and growth opportunities GuyKat has provided me.

What do you enjoy the most about learning?

I enjoy trying new things and the variety that brings. No day is ever the same when you’re learning something new.

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by Hannah

5 Benefits of Promoting Lifelong Learning in the Workplace

In honour of Learning at Work Week, we’re sharing five benefits of promoting lifelong learning in the workplace. 

About Learning at Work Week

Learning at Work Week is a national event that takes place in May. Co-ordinated by Campaign for Learning, the aim of the week is to promote a culture of workplace learning. 

Learning at Work’s theme this year is 'Learning Uncovered.' It aims to enrich our understanding, knowledge, and attitudes toward lifelong learning by exploring:

• The importance of lifelong learning and supporting it 
• What we can do as individuals and in our work communities to promote lifelong learning 
• Lifelong learning's benefits and opportunities for work and life 

At GuyKat, we are committed to creating a culture of learning and actively encourage our employees to engage in lifelong learning. In fact, our recruitment efforts focus on finding people who have a strong desire to learn - people who are committed to their own personal growth. But what are the benefits of promoting lifelong learning in the workplace?

#1 Enhances skillset & productivity 

The more time people spend learning, the more skills they acquire. Engaging in lifelong learning can stimulate curiosity, which has an effect on an employee's working attitude. This benefits both employers and employees, as employees who engage in lifelong learning are more productive and fill any skill gaps that may exist within the organisation. This also reduces recruitment costs, since companies with an expanded set of skills within their employees will be able to cover the growing needs, which is much cheaper than advertising new jobs online.

#2 Improves mental well-being & self-confidence

When people become more knowledgeable or skilled in a specific area, it increases their self-confidence in all aspects of their life - both professionally and personally. Engaging in lifelong learning can improve an employee's confidence and ability to apply what they've learned in the workplace. Additionally, learning new skills helps employees discover a new sense of purpose, which improves their self-confidence and well-being, and makes them more likely to progress their careers further.

#3 Improves client satisfaction

Not only does encouraging lifelong learning boost employee motivation, but it also improves the client’s satisfaction because the employee now knows new ways to approach their work. As a result, businesses can thrive.

#4 It can create a more collaborative working environment

Employees who are encouraged to learn often do so by learning about each other's roles within the company. This gives them a deeper understanding of departments outside their own. Both employees and organisations benefit from this since it allows them to remain aligned on their goals and promotes collaboration among teams. By empowering employees to teach other employees, they deepen their skills of communication and teamwork. Additionally, this will foster a culture of learning throughout the organisation.

#5 Employee loyalty is increased 

When an organisation dedicates time to its employees, it motivates them to stay with the company for a longer period. When employees feel valued, they build trust with their employers, as well as their confidence. 

Need some ideas on how to promote lifelong learning within your organisation? Check out our article on How GuyKat Promotes Lifelong Learning, As Told By GuyKat's Noor, Graduate Trainee.

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by Hannah