Captivate 5: Question Slide Template?

What Captivate needs is a function similar to the Master Slide View of Powerpoint.  The layouts of several slides could be defined.  One then could simply choose the layout that fits the question that the developer wishes to insert.

The random choice question function should be completely re-designed.  Although the user interface of both Blackboard and Moodle is absymal, either program does a MUCH better job of presenting questions drawn from a pool of questions, than does Captivate.

The more that I learn about Captivate, the more convinced I become that it is a step backward from the original Micromedia Authorware.

In fact, I am finding that the only real value of Captivate to me, is its ability to make Flash movies of powerpoint presentations which can then be delivered through either Blackboard or Moodle without having to download the file and require that students have either powerpoint or powerpoint viewer.  This utility is probably not great enough for me to make a purchase when the trial period runs out, even at the educational pricing point.

I have given this more thought after seeing from others that the issue of quiz master slides is important to others.

I would love to get some thoughts from the others out there of how to make the designing of quizzes better.

1) Layout quiz fields like in filemaker pro - these various layouts become your quiz masters. I would like the ability to lock certain elements on the page like the submit and clear buttons.

2) Be able to preview and edit quiz questions in different states (correct, incorrect, not answered, review).

     a) Right now it is a total pain in the butt to share one part of the screen with feedback captions for correct and incorrect because one of the elements must be placed behind the other and can not be selected without moving the top element. Personally I would like to be able to use the same part of the screen for feedback on correct and incorrect answers.

     b) There is no sense of what the quiz question will look like with and without elements on the screen, for example when you review the quiz the feedback buttons are gone so the layout would change. If there were toggle switches in the inspector to view and the layout in various states it would be great. (correct answer state, incorrect answer state, review state)

Mike

What I have been doing in order to create a "Master" Quiz template is to use a Question Pool for my "templates". I create my design for each type of question I will use in the course (true/false, multiple choice, etc...) inside of a question pool. I use this version as my master. For the questions that will be in the actual course I duplicate the "master" and then cut and paste the new questions and answers. From there the question can be moved from the pool into the course.

Frankly I think this aspect of Captivate is pretty awful and in need of some real thought and work. It stinks that there are no "master" question layouts that can be altered while you are working... For example, suppose you place all of your elements (where the question goes, answers, review area, submit/clear buttons, feedback captions, etc...) on your master, now you make all of your question and find that one of your questions does not layout nicely. Oh well, now you can't redo the layout on the master so all of the questions will update... it's terrible. This could easily be handled with a system that works like layouts in filemaker pro, where each filed can be placed anywhere on the page and saved as a layout.

Hi Craig,

By using the ‘Project Template’ option you can insert Question slide Templates.

For creating a New Project Template use the following steps

1. From Captivate start Page, Click on the ‘Project Template' link: - It will create a new Project Template with '*.cptl' extension.

2. Then add Question Slide Placeholders to the Project through the 'Insert>Placeholder Slides>Question Slide Placeholder' menu option.

3. from the 'Quiz Properties’ panel do the Quiz formatting.

4. Save the Project template

Creating a project out of a Project Template.

1. From start page click on the 'From Template' link, Locate and open the '*.cptl' file created in step 4.

2. Double click on the Question slide placeholder to convert it as Question Slides,

Linking Master slide to the Converted questions

1.     Open Master Slide Panel through the Window>Master Slide option.

2.     Select a Background color/Image for the Master Slide.

3.     Select all the Question Slide, From ‘Properties’ panel, select Master Slide

Use ‘Style’ option in properties panel for formatting Question Slide Objects.

-nsukumar