I manage the Training Development Dept for a smaller bank. We currently use a vendor for Compliance training and some system simulation training. Aside from the expense, I am tired of dealing with all of the service and quality issues that can come with an eLearning vendor. My goal is to bring this in-house as soon as possible. Currently, we do not have an LMS system but will hopefully have something in place by 3rd or 4th quarter 2008.

I've researched some of the tools available (Captivate and Flash)and need something that my instructional designers can learn relatively quickly. I would like to be able to develop:
1. System simulation training for the technical applications that our banking center personnel use. As you can imagine we use several applications for customer account inquiries, maintenance, etc...
2. Scenario based sales and service "soft skills" type training with some interactive games.
3. Product knowledge training with interactive games to enhance retention.

Here are my questions:
1. I have approval to purchase both Captivate and Flash, but do I really need both?
2. I'm leaning towards Captivate... is there anything that I absolutely need Flash for that Captivate can't do?
3. Do I need an LMS to publish content developed using Captivate?
4. Is Captivate user friendly and a good tool for developing the type of training listed above?

I've talked to a few sales reps and they seem to tell you whatever you want to hear. I was hoping to get some honest answers from this group... I appreciate any feedback you can provide! Thanks so much!!!

I won't try to answer the entire question, but I'll chime in where I feel I can give some advice.

Flash has a pretty steep learning curve. Users need to be both artists and programmers, to a certain degree.

Captivate isn't too horrible to learn to use, but it's not learning to use Word.

Captivate excels at the simulation stuff, but would be weaker on the soft skills presentations, which is where Flash can shine. You can simulate entirely in Flash but it is somewhat time consumming (there is another post about it here on the board). If you have the budget, I would get them both. If not, I'd get Flash as...

Captivate is currently quite buggy, and Adobe hasn't been terribly helpful with support on their end.

I'd suggest hiring outside designers / developers who have skills with these programs rather then training internally, or getting your people a bunch of training upfront. Especially for Flash.

Good luck to you!

No - an LMS is not necessary to create and implement e-learning, regardless of the tools you use to develop it. I'm not clear why a vendor would lead you to think that its necessary. I don't blame you for looking at in-house development options.

I'm assuming you are already well aware, from dealing with vendors, that the tools to develop your courses are only a fraction of the e-learning equation.

I wanted to chime in here on the Captivate/Flash discussion.

I use Captivate for screen captures and software simulation.

Instead of Flash, I use Articulate to create the movement, look, usability I want. Articulate can house my Captivate files also.

I found Articulate really easy to use - but it is so slick looking that people assume it is Flash.

You may want to take a look. I would be happy to discuss or demo it for you and/or your team if you would like to see how they can work together.

Captivate is not too hard to learn and has wide-uses, ranging from technical simulations, soft skills training, interactivity, quizzing, etc. I'd send at least one of your developers to training, though, and acquire Captivate 3 - it's very powerful and quite intuitive.

I use Captivate for my client's technical training help and house the modules on a searchable "help" site, created using Adobe's RoboHelp.

Since you don't have an LMS, you'll need a "home" for these; RoboHelp can do that nicely and has a powerful search engine.

Feel free to contact me for more info.

Good luck!