Welcome back to Content Tree’s blog series. This time, we will uncover the different animation levels and tools in e-learning content development. First, let me introduce our senior multimedia designer, Ms. Shahadah to shed light on this topic.
Explanations on Different Animation Levels
Hi, Shahadah. Thanks for spending some time on this interview. Let’s get straight to business! Hope you can tell us what is “animation levels” in the context of the e-learning content development industry.
Hi, Kak Sal. It’s a pleasure to be part of this interview series. “Animation levels” in e-learning refer to the complexity and sophistication of animated content used in educational materials. Principally, these levels determine the interactivity, engagement, and effectiveness of the learning experience.
Could you share with us the different animation levels offered by Content Tree to customers?
There is no fixed definition of the number of “animation levels” in the e-learning development industry. However, we refer to this article from Articulate’s website to define the animation levels in Content Tree: https://community.articulate.com/articles/get-to-know-the-4-levels-of-e-learning.
Let me give a brief description of level 1 to level 3 animation as we usually explain them to our customers at the beginning of the collaboration. However, we offer level 2 and 3 animations to our customers as these are more fitting to their e-learning needs.
Level 1: Basic animations involving simple transitions, fades, and movements to enhance content presentation. What’s more, level 1 animation is a passive learning experience, where the learners just consume information. Furthermore, there is very little interaction in the course and learners mainly read and move forward by clicking the Next button.
Level 2: Intermediate animations which include interactive elements, such as clickable buttons, quizzes, and branching scenarios. The animations are created using e-learning authoring tools like Articulate Storyline. In addition, the animation contains audio, video, basic animation, and a few simple transitions.
Level 3: Advanced animations feature complex interactions, character animations, simulations, and visual effects produced using professional animation software like Adobe Animate, Adobe Character Animator, and Adobe After Effects. I remember that we showcased the team’s ability to create Level 3 Animation for Enhanced Engagement in Diversity Demo.
Level 2 Animation vs. Level 3 Animation
That’s a very clear explanation. It will be beneficial if we share with our readers the tools used to develop level 2 and level 3 animation. Care to explain more about this?
Sure! For level 2 animation, we rely on industry-leading e-learning authoring tool like Articulate Storyline. Moreover, this tool provides a user-friendly interface and pre-built templates to create interactive e-learning modules efficiently. Let’s say we have customers who have already purchased another authoring software license, like Adobe Captivate. For this case, we can use the software to develop their e-learning module.
For level 3 animation, we leverage more advanced animation software such as Adobe Animate, Adobe Character Animator, and Adobe After Effects. Besides, these tools offer extensive animation capabilities, allowing us to bring characters to life, simulate real-world scenarios, and create visually stunning effects.
Could you show us some output examples created using advanced animation tools for level 3 animation?
OK, here are some of our productions for the diversity demo.
Output Examples for Level 3 Animation
For Adobe Animate, it uses vector graphics and is efficient in achieving compact file sizes compared to Adobe After Effects or Adobe Character.
For Adobe Character, we create an engaging virtual tutor to add a natural and immersive dimension to online learning. As a result, this animation helps learners to engage with the content through the virtual tutor, providing an interactive and engaging educational experience.
For Adobe After Effects, it is a powerful tool primarily used for creating motion graphics and visual effects for e-learning content. With Adobe After Effects, we can produce stunning animations such as dynamic text effects, intricate particle simulations, realistic motion tracking, and cinematic transitions. In Content Tree, we use this tool to simulate real-world environments, animate complex data visualisations, add professional polish to multimedia presentations, and many more.
Could you show some examples to differentiate level 2 and level 3 animation?
Sure! As you can see here, we use Adobe Animate to produce the scenario learning, and it is considered a level 3 animation.
Output Example for Level 3 Animation
Output Example for Level 2 Animation
On the other hand, this animation is produced using Articulate Storyline. You can see that this example is more simple and is not as detailed as level 3 animation.
Now that our readers can visualise the different animation levels, hope you can share how the animation levels impact the learning experience of users.
The animation levels play a crucial role in shaping the learning experience of users.
Let’s see, level 1 animation provides basic visual enhancements, making the content more appealing and engaging.
Level 2 animation introduces interactivity, allowing learners to actively participate in the learning process through quizzes, simulations, and interactive scenarios.
Level 3 animation takes the learning experience to a higher level by incorporating advanced features such as character animations, dynamic storytelling, and immersive simulations.
These animations not only capture the learners’ attention but also facilitate better understanding and retention of the content. As a result, learners can have a more impactful learning experience.
Meticulous Process in Animation Production
Before we end this interview, could you tell us how Content Tree ensures the seamless integration of animations into the e-learning module?
In Content Tree, we follow a meticulous process to ensure that the animations are integrated seamlessly into the e-learning module. First, we collaborate closely with instructional designers and subject matter experts to understand the learning objectives and target audience. Then, we create a storyboard for the animations to visualise the flow and interaction of the content. Next, our team of skilled animators and developers leverage the chosen tools, whether it is Articulate Storyline for level 2 animation or Adobe Creative Suite for level 3 animation, to bring the storyboard to life. Throughout the development process, we conduct rigorous testing to ensure compatibility across various devices and platforms, as well as adherence to accessibility standards. By adhering to this structured approach, we deliver e-learning modules with seamlessly integrated animations for our customers.