Description
Course Overview
Creating professional eLearning content requires more than adding text and images to a presentation. Instructional designers and eLearning developers need to create interactive lessons, responsive layouts, assessments, software demonstrations, animations, and trackable learning experiences.
Adobe Captivate Classic Fundamentals 2019 by Jeff Batt is a comprehensive beginner-level course designed to teach learners how to use Adobe Captivate Classic 2019 for developing interactive eLearning content.
What Will You Learn?
The course covers a wide range of Adobe Captivate features, including:
- Adobe Captivate fundamentals
- Creating new projects
- Creating pages
- Basic page layouts
- Text captions
- Smart Shapes
- Images
- Skin Editor
- Interactions
- Learning interactions
- Audio
- Video
- Captivate characters
- Media library
- Responsive projects
- Fluid Boxes
- Animations
- Motion paths
- Transitions
- Quizzes
- Multiple-choice questions
- True/False questions
- Fill-in-the-blank questions
- Matching questions
- Hotspot questions
- Drag-and-drop activities
- Actions
- Variables
- Advanced Actions
- Conditions
- If/Else logic
- While loops
- Video demonstrations
- Interactive video
- Virtual reality projects
- Publishing
- LMS publishing
- Gestures and geolocation
- Updating published projects
The course also includes a project-based component in which learners build a sample course while learning the software.
Introduction to Adobe Captivate 2019
The course begins by introducing learners to the Adobe Captivate environment.
Students become familiar with:
- The Captivate interface
- Project types
- Creating projects
- Creating pages
- Naming pages
- Basic project organization
This introduction is particularly helpful for beginners who have never opened Captivate before.
Instead of immediately jumping into advanced features, the course establishes the basic workflow first.
Understanding the Captivate Interface
Adobe Captivate has a substantial number of panels, properties, timelines, and authoring options.
For a new user, the interface can initially appear complicated.
The introductory lessons help learners understand where important tools and functions are located.
This foundation becomes important later when creating:
- Interactive slides
- Quizzes
- Animations
- Responsive layouts
- Simulations
A good understanding of the interface can significantly reduce the learning curve.
Creating Basic Page Layouts
The next stage focuses on creating basic eLearning pages.
Students learn how to work with different visual elements and create structured layouts.
Topics include:
- Text captions
- Smart Shapes
- Images
- Default objects
- Skin Editor
- Interactions
- Learning interactions
These features provide the building blocks for creating an eLearning module.
Working With Text Captions
Text is a fundamental component of most eLearning projects.
The course demonstrates how to create and customize text captions within Captivate.
Learners can use text to provide:
- Instructions
- Explanations
- Labels
- Feedback
- Navigation information
- Learning content
The lessons also help students understand how text elements fit into the overall slide design.
Smart Shapes
Smart Shapes are another useful Captivate feature.
They can be used for:
- Buttons
- Backgrounds
- Visual elements
- Callouts
- Interactive objects
Learning how to customize and use Smart Shapes gives designers more flexibility when creating visually appealing course interfaces.
Working With Images
Images can make eLearning content more visually engaging and easier to understand.
The course explains how to incorporate images into Captivate projects.
Learners can use images for:
- Illustrations
- Backgrounds
- Diagrams
- Screenshots
- Instructional examples
- Decorative elements
The course also introduces image-editing capabilities available within the workflow.
External Media
Modern eLearning frequently combines multiple types of media.
The course includes a dedicated section on external media, covering:
- Images
- Audio
- Video
- Media libraries
- Captivate characters
This helps learners understand how to build richer multimedia learning experiences.
Working With Audio
Audio can be used to provide narration, instructions, explanations, and feedback.
The course introduces audio workflows in Captivate.
This is particularly useful for instructional designers creating narrated eLearning modules.
Good audio integration can make a course more accessible and engaging, especially when learners benefit from hearing explanations rather than reading everything on screen.
Working With Video
Video is another important element of modern eLearning.
The course demonstrates how video can be incorporated into Captivate projects.
Video can be used for:
- Demonstrations
- Instructor explanations
- Product training
- Tutorials
- Simulations
- Scenario-based learning
The course also goes beyond basic video by introducing interactive video later in the curriculum.
Captivate Characters and Media Library
Captivate includes built-in media resources that can help course creators develop content more quickly.
The course introduces Captivate characters and the media library.
These resources can help instructors create scenarios, conversations, demonstrations, and other visual learning experiences without producing every asset from scratch.
Responsive eLearning
One of the strongest parts of the course is its coverage of responsive eLearning.
Learners increasingly access educational content through:
- Desktop computers
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Smartphones
A responsive project allows content to adapt to different screen sizes.
The course explains how to create responsive projects and how to design layouts that work across devices.
Fluid Boxes
Fluid Boxes are a key Captivate feature for creating responsive layouts.
They provide a way to organize objects so that content can adapt to different screen dimensions.
The course covers:
- Creating responsive projects
- Fluid Boxes
- When to use responsive design
- Converting projects
- Adjusting layouts
- Background images
- Flow and wrap
- Hiding objects at smaller sizes
This is particularly useful for instructional designers who need to create courses that work across multiple devices.
When Should You Use Responsive Design?
Not every eLearning project necessarily needs the same responsive approach.
The course discusses when responsive projects are appropriate.
Factors to consider include:
- Target audience
- Devices
- Course content
- Screen size
- Interaction complexity
- Organization requirements
Understanding when to use responsive design is just as important as knowing how to implement it.
Animating Your Pages
Animation can make eLearning content more dynamic.
The course introduces several animation capabilities, including:
- Timeline animation
- Timing adjustments
- Transitions
- Effects
- Motion paths
Animations can be useful for directing attention and explaining processes.
However, they should support the learning objective rather than simply being added for visual decoration.
Motion Paths
Motion paths allow objects to move along defined paths.
They can be useful for:
- Demonstrating processes
- Moving visual elements
- Creating simulations
- Building interactive scenarios
- Drawing attention to specific information
The course introduces the basic workflow for creating these effects.
Creating Quizzes
Assessment is a critical component of eLearning.
The course includes a dedicated section on creating quizzes and assessments.
Students learn how to create several question types, including:
- Multiple choice
- True/False
- Fill in the blank
- Matching
- Hotspot
- Drag and drop
This gives learners a useful foundation for creating knowledge checks and formal assessments.
Multiple-Choice Questions
Multiple-choice questions are one of the most common assessment formats.
The course explains how to create and configure them within Captivate.
They can be used to test:
- Knowledge
- Comprehension
- Decision-making
- Recall
The course provides the technical foundation needed to create these questions.
True/False Questions
True/False questions are another simple assessment format covered in the course.
They are useful for quick knowledge checks but should be designed carefully to avoid ambiguity.
The course demonstrates how to configure this question type in Captivate.
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
Fill-in-the-blank questions require learners to actively recall information rather than simply select an answer.
This makes them useful for certain types of knowledge assessments.
The course explains how to create this type of question in Captivate.
Matching Questions
Matching questions can be useful for relationships between concepts.
Examples include matching:
- Terms with definitions
- Products with descriptions
- Steps with outcomes
- Concepts with examples
The course includes this assessment format as part of its quiz section.
Hotspot Questions
Hotspot questions allow learners to interact with specific areas of an image or screen.
They can be useful for:
- Identifying objects
- Software interfaces
- Diagrams
- Maps
- Equipment
- Visual recognition
This makes hotspot assessments particularly useful for visual training.
Drag-and-Drop Activities
Drag-and-drop interactions can make assessments more engaging.
They can be used for:
- Categorization
- Matching
- Sorting
- Sequencing
- Identification
The course demonstrates how to build drag-and-drop activities within Captivate.
Making Content Interactive
Interactivity is one of the main reasons to use an eLearning authoring tool such as Captivate.
The course explores how actions can trigger responses to learner interactions.
Examples include:
- Page navigation
- Opening URLs
- Opening files
- Hiding objects
- Showing objects
- Controlling player elements
- Executing JavaScript
These capabilities allow designers to build experiences that respond dynamically to learner actions.
Actions and Triggers
Actions control what happens when a learner interacts with an object or when a specific event occurs.
For example, an action can:
- Navigate to another page
- Show an object
- Hide an object
- Open a URL
- Execute JavaScript
Understanding actions is essential for creating interactive Captivate projects.
Variables
Variables allow information to be stored and reused within an eLearning project.
They can be used to create more dynamic experiences.
Examples include:
- Storing learner input
- Tracking selections
- Displaying personalized information
- Controlling interactions
- Managing conditional behavior
The course introduces variables and demonstrates how they can be used in practical scenarios.
Advanced Actions
Advanced Actions take Captivate interactivity beyond basic triggers.
They allow designers to combine multiple actions and create more sophisticated behaviors.
This is particularly useful when building:
- Complex navigation
- Interactive tabs
- Branching scenarios
- Conditional experiences
- Dynamic content
The course provides a foundation for understanding these more advanced authoring techniques.
Conditions and If/Else Logic
Conditional logic allows a Captivate project to behave differently depending on certain conditions.
For example:
If a learner completes a specific activity,
then show additional content.
Or:
If a condition is not met,
then direct the learner to another section.
The course introduces If/Else logic and other conditional techniques.
While Loops
The course also covers While Loops, providing learners with exposure to more advanced logic.
Loops can be useful for automating repeated behavior under specific conditions.
This topic is particularly valuable for learners who want to move beyond basic Captivate interactions.
Video Demonstrations and Interactive Video
The course explores different types of Captivate projects beyond traditional slide-based eLearning.
These include:
- Video demonstrations
- Interactive video
Interactive video can be particularly useful because it combines the familiarity of video with learner interaction.
This can support:
- Demonstrations
- Scenario-based learning
- Knowledge checks
- Decision points
- Guided instruction
Virtual Reality Projects
Another interesting component is the introduction to Virtual Reality projects.
VR can create immersive learning experiences where learners can explore environments rather than simply watching traditional slides.
Potential applications include:
- Safety training
- Equipment training
- Workplace orientation
- Simulated environments
- Experiential learning
The course introduces the feature rather than attempting to provide an exhaustive VR-development curriculum.
Publishing Your eLearning Course
Creating a course is only part of the development process.
The final project needs to be published in a format suitable for learners and, in many professional environments, a Learning Management System.
The course covers publishing workflows and settings.
This makes the curriculum more complete because students learn how to move from:
Authoring → Testing → Publishing → Deployment
Publishing to an LMS
Learning Management Systems are widely used by organizations to deliver and track employee training.
The course introduces publishing Captivate projects to an LMS.
This is important for instructional designers working in corporate learning environments.
Trackable courses can provide information about learner activity and course completion.
Gestures and Geolocation
The course also introduces features involving gestures and geolocation.
These capabilities demonstrate how Captivate can support more specialized interactive experiences.
While these may not be necessary for every eLearning project, understanding that such capabilities exist can help designers consider different approaches to mobile and location-aware learning.
Updating Projects
An eLearning course is rarely finished forever.
Organizations may need to update:
- Policies
- Procedures
- Screenshots
- Product information
- Branding
- Quiz questions
- Training requirements
The course includes a lesson on updating projects later.
This is important because maintainability is a significant consideration in professional eLearning development.
Building a Complete Sample Course
A major advantage of the course is its practical orientation.
Rather than simply presenting isolated features, learners are guided toward creating a complete sample course.
This provides context for the tools being taught.
The approach helps answer an important question:
“How do all these Captivate features fit together in a real project?”
That is particularly valuable for beginners.
Who Should Take This Course?
Instructional Designers
Instructional designers who want to develop technical eLearning-authoring skills can benefit from the course.
eLearning Developers
The course is highly relevant to professionals responsible for building interactive training modules.
Corporate Trainers
Corporate trainers can use Captivate to transform training material into interactive digital learning.
Online Course Creators
Creators who want to build more sophisticated training experiences than standard video courses may find Captivate useful.
Beginners
People with no previous Captivate experience can start with the fundamentals and progressively move into more advanced features.
Who Should Skip This Course?
This course may not be ideal for experienced Captivate professionals who already understand the fundamentals.
Advanced users looking for highly specialized instruction in areas such as complex JavaScript integration, advanced accessibility, sophisticated branching architectures, or enterprise-scale eLearning development may need additional training.
It is best viewed as a fundamentals-to-intermediate course rather than a complete expert-level Captivate curriculum.
Course Requirements
One of the course’s advantages is its low entry barrier.
The course lists no specific prerequisites, making it accessible to beginners.
However, students will need access to an appropriate version of Adobe Captivate if they want to follow along with the practical exercises.
It is also helpful to have:
- Basic computer skills
- An interest in eLearning
- Familiarity with instructional content
- A willingness to practice
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Beginner-friendly
- Approximately seven hours of content
- 105 lectures
- Covers Adobe Captivate fundamentals thoroughly
- Project-based learning
- Covers responsive eLearning
- Explains Fluid Boxes
- Includes multimedia
- Covers animations
- Includes several quiz formats
- Teaches interactive content
- Covers variables and Advanced Actions
- Introduces conditional logic
- Includes loops
- Covers interactive video
- Introduces VR projects
- Explains LMS publishing
- Suitable for instructional designers
- Useful for eLearning developers
- No formal prerequisites
Cons
- Focuses specifically on the Classic 2019 workflow
- Learners using newer versions of Adobe Captivate may encounter interface and feature differences
- Advanced users may find the introductory material too basic
- Some advanced topics are introduced rather than explored at expert depth
- Learning the software effectively still requires hands-on practice
Is Adobe Captivate Classic Fundamentals 2019 Worth It?
Yes, particularly if you need to learn the Classic Captivate workflow or work with existing Captivate 2019 projects.
The course is considerably more comprehensive than a short introductory tutorial.
It progresses from basic interface navigation to more sophisticated functionality such as:
Responsive Design → Animations → Quizzes → Interactions → Variables → Conditions → Loops → Interactive Video → VR → LMS Publishing
That progression makes it a strong learning path for someone starting with Captivate Classic.
Adobe Captivate Classic vs Modern Captivate
One important consideration is the word “Classic” in the course title.
This course specifically teaches the Adobe Captivate 2019/Classic workflow.
Adobe has subsequently introduced a newer generation of Captivate with a substantially different authoring experience. Therefore, someone purchasing this course specifically to learn the latest Captivate interface should verify that the software version they use matches the course.
However, the course remains relevant for learners who:
- Work with legacy Captivate projects
- Support organizations using Captivate Classic
- Need to maintain existing courses
- Want to understand the older Captivate authoring model
- Are specifically using Captivate 2019
This distinction is important before enrolling.
Career Benefits
Adobe Captivate skills can be useful for professionals working in:
- Instructional Design
- eLearning Development
- Corporate Training
- Learning and Development
- Educational Technology
- Employee Training
- Compliance Training
- Product Training
- Software Training
Captivate can be particularly valuable when organizations need interactive, assessable, and LMS-compatible training rather than simple video content.
How to Get the Most From the Course
The best way to learn Captivate is through hands-on development.
Instead of watching all seven hours without practicing, create your own small eLearning project.
For example, build a short training module containing:
- Introduction slide
- Learning objectives
- Text and images
- Audio narration
- Interactive button
- Quiz question
- Drag-and-drop activity
- Conditional interaction
- Completion screen
- LMS-ready output
Then gradually add responsive layouts, variables, animations, and advanced interactions.
This approach will help convert theoretical knowledge into practical Captivate skills.
Summary
Adobe Captivate Classic Fundamentals 2019 by Jeff Batt is a comprehensive course for anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of Adobe Captivate Classic and create professional eLearning content.
The course stands out because it goes beyond basic interface training. It covers responsive layouts, multimedia, animations, quizzes, interactive elements, variables, conditions, loops, video projects, virtual reality, and LMS publishing.
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