Which Adobe Captivate Training Format Is Right for Me?

Adobe Captivate is a robust eLearning authoring tool. Users can create multi-module courses, virtual reality walkthroughs, software simulations, screencasts, dynamic presentations, and quizzes with the program. Adobe Captivate’s features are ideal for Marketers, eLearning Designers, Realtors, HR Managers, and Graphic Designers. You may wonder about the best method for learning Microsoft Access. When comparing types of Adobe Captivate training, there are many factors to consider. Everyone learns differently, and choosing the right kind of training is critical to your experience.

Keep reading to find out more about the different formats of Adobe Captivate training, how they compare to each other, and how to determine which is best for you.

What is Adobe Captivate?

Adobe Captivate is software for creating eLearning content such as videos, slide shows, presentations, and software simulations. As a productivity tool, Adobe Captivate allows users to quickly turn out demonstrations and simulations. The program even allows easy conversion of PowerPoint presentations into eLearning formats.

Managers, Human Resources personnel, Educators, and other professionals involved in training use Adobe Captivate to create learning materials easily. Adobe Captivate presentations include responsive design to fit any device. Including desktop, web, tablet, and mobile. Users can easily create interactive videos, virtual reality walkthroughs, screencasts, multi-module courses, and quizzes.

Read more about what Adobe Captivate is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Adobe Captivate?

Adobe Captivate is a powerful tool for creating eLearning materials in various mediums. Adobe Captivate supports the creation of interactive videos, virtual reality walkthroughs, screencasts, multi-module courses, and quizzes. These tools are ideal for training specialists needing to create onboarding tools for new employees, along with virtual skill or safety demonstrations.

Adobe Captivate is also extremely useful for creating online courses. Virtual walkthroughs can demonstrate practical skills, and screencasting can simulate software use. Multi-model branches allow courses to organize lessons and follow each training session with interactive quizzes. This makes Adobe Captivate ideal for any business wanting to create and sell online courses.

Lastly, anyone can use Adobe Captivate to make creative videos and presentations. Adobe Captivate's responsive design features ensure finished videos and projects are compatible with any device, including desktop, web, and mobile, ensuring viewability from anywhere. Virtual tours, screen captures, and interactive slideshows can make for dynamic visual media for usage in meetings or as marketing products. 

Training Formats for Adobe Captivate

There are three training formats for learning Adobe Captivate. Live classes, either online or in-person, feature a professional instructor and peers from which students can learn and ask questions. Online classes are best for students who prefer not to commute, desire a different learning environment than a physical classroom, or can’t find the in-person class they wish to attend at a location near them. On-demand training is ideal for students with busy schedules who can't commit to full or part-time training or who otherwise prefer to learn at their own pace. This training often includes free online videos, guides, and tutorials. Only you can decide which training format is best for you.

In-Person Adobe Captivate Training

There are a number of perks to in-person training. Physical classrooms can eliminate the distractions a student might find when learning online from home. A physical classroom also offers more direct engagement with the instructor. Thus students may feel more inclined to ask for help, or it may be easier for a teacher to identify when a student is struggling. In-person learning also allows students to engage with and learn from each other in a set environment.

There are a number of in-person Adobe Captivate training options. These classes are short, often lasting only a day, and teach both beginner and advanced techniques. Noble Desktop’s Intro to Adobe Captivate course covers all of the techniques a beginner to the program needs to know to use it confidently. This course can be taken in person in NYC or live online.

Live Online Adobe Captivate Training

The main perk of live online training is its availability. Students can learn from anywhere they find convenient, provided they have a reliable internet connection. This removes the commute time from a student's schedule and allows them to learn in an environment they find comfortable. Online courses also often offer more flexible programs than in-person classrooms, which work well for parents and workers with busy schedules. In terms of engagement, live online classes try to replicate physical classrooms with hands-on projects and live instructors and students interacting together in real time.

There are a number of live online Adobe Captivate training options. Available classes teach both beginner and advanced techniques. Noble Desktop’s Adobe courses can be taken in person in NYC or live online from anywhere. The Intro to Adobe Captivate course covers all the essentials of the program for beginners.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

If you’re interested in Adobe Captivate but aren’t ready to dive into a full course, you can start learning Adobe Captivate for free online. Free online courses are ideal for beginner learners to start their journey as they often feature overviews of a program. You can find such free courses through skill-sharing websites such as Youtube, Coursera, or Udemy. In these courses, you’ll find overviews of Adobe Captivate as well as task-specific videos, such as how to add interactive elements, work with fluid boxes, and integrate PowerPoint slides. 

However, many of these courses teach older versions of Adobe Captivate. While most of Adobe Captivate’s features are consistent through subsequent iterations, newer versions may possess previously unseen features or place features in different locations. It can also be impossible to verify whether these courses' information is quality or correct. While these free online classes can be valuable and cost-effective for beginners, they aren’t ideal for professionals looking to learn comprehensive Adobe Captivate skills to advance their careers. 

Read about more free Adobe Captivate videos and online tutorials.

Noble Desktop offers an Adobe Learn hub, which provides free resources for Individuals wanting to learn Adobe programs. Additional training to consider includes Adobe Photoshop, which integrates with Captivate for additional features. If you’re interested in Photoshop, you can visit Noble Desktop’s Photoshop Learn hub and Noble Desktop’s Photoshop video tutorial playlist.

On-Demand Classes

Another includes on-demand, asynchronous, or self-paced learning. This type of learning is best for students who prefer to learn at their own pace or have work or family obligations that prevent them from attending regularly scheduled classes. Students have more freedom to learn as they wish, but they lack an instructor or guidance, and self-motivation is required to progress through the material. 

Comparison of Adobe Captivate Training Formats

You can learn Adobe Captivate from three training formats: live online, in-person, and on-demand. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and each individual will find that different approaches work best for them depending on their schedule, learning style, and training goals.

Live online and on-demand classes are the most accessible training options. As they are online, students can attend classes from anywhere (with an internet connection) and don't face the time-consuming and sometimes expensive commute required by in-person classes. Students can also choose their preferred learning environment, home, work office, library, coffee shop, or another favorite study area. Online classes often offer more curriculum options than can be found in the nearest in-person courses. On-demand classes win out slightly in accessibility because they aren't tied to set class schedules. Students with busy lives may choose on-demand training to learn at their own pace.

The downside of on-demand classes lies in engagement. On-demand training often lacks instructors or classmates. Students are left to their own motivation to advance through coursework and have no one to turn to with questions or for support. When on-demand training does offer an instructor’s contact information for assistance, students may wait days or longer for a reply. Live online and in-person training rank far higher in engagement. Students can ask instructors for immediate feedback, interact with peers, and often receive guidance in job searching or building portfolios. In-person training wins out slightly over live online courses in that some people feel more comfortable initiating engagement with their peers or instructors in a physical setting.

When it comes to affordability, on-demand training wins out again. As these classes are self-led, they are often free. However, it's important to weigh other pros and cons discussed in this section, especially when it comes to engagement or career advancement. The popular adage "you get what you pay for" often holds true when comparing on-demand courses vs. in-person or live online. While live online training isn't free, many professional institutions offer free seminars or introductory courses. Additionally, live online classes are often cheaper than in-person training.

If you're looking to advance your career, live online and in-person training offer the comprehensive learning you need. While on-demand training will likely be enough to learn the basics of a skill, self-led learning can't replace the knowledge a professional instructor possesses and passes on to their students. On-demand resources are also often dated and don't hold up to industry standards. Professional instruction is typically necessary to advance your career.

Overall, live online training is the best well-rounded option, offering most of the benefits of both in-person and on-demand classes. Students have no commute and usually have the option of more flexible schedules than with in-person training. Live online training replicates the interactivity of in-person classrooms with live instructors and classmate interaction. Some live online training can be found for free and offers the same self-led benefits as on-demand training. Paid live online training is an excellent and affordable option for professionals looking to advance their careers.

Is it Possible to Teach Yourself Adobe Captivate?

It is possible to teach yourself Adobe Captivate through free online courses and tutorials. Popular websites for finding these tutorials include Youtube, Coursera, and Udemy. These courses tend to be under two hours in length and feature both overviews of Adobe Captivate for beginners and guides on how to complete specific tasks. Such tutorials can be great for learners on a tight budget or even for professionals who need a refresher on specific tasks. 

The downside of these free resources is not having an instructor to offer guidance. If you find yourself stuck and unsure of how to progress, you could waste hours in troubleshooting. Free tutorials are also usually outdated and don’t feature the latest version of Adobe Captivate. For professionals wanting to comprehensively learn Captivate to advance their careers, these resources will lack the advanced features they need to do so. 

Free videos and tutorials are also numerous. It can be overwhelming to sift through them all. And even then, not all tutorials are created equal. It can be time-consuming to search for one that is up-to-date, comprehensive, and professionally made. For a beginner, it can be impossible to know if the instruction you are receiving is quality or correct.

How to Decide the Best Way to Learn Adobe Captivate

The best way to learn Adobe Captivate will vary greatly on your individual training needs and why you wish to learn the program. Do you consider yourself a beginner learner? Are you hoping not to spend money on your training? Are you looking for a simple overview of Adobe Captivate? If you answered yes to these questions, free introductory courses would be best for you. However, these courses are often outdated and don't feature the comprehensive learning necessary to advance a career. They also lack an instructor, so you'll troubleshoot independently and rely on self-motivation to progress.

If you want to learn Adobe Captivate to advance your career, professional Adobe Captivate training or a bootcamp contains a comprehensive curriculum. These courses feature an experienced instructor and deep dive into Adobe Captivate features. You'll be guided from beginner to mastery skills and learn expert techniques and tips. Some of these courses also offer job search assistance, one-on-one mentorship, or portfolio workshops. Professional training courses and bootcamps are available online and in person and vary in cost depending on the provider and curriculum.

If you're looking to pivot to a new career or industry, you’re likely looking to demonstrate mastery of Adobe programs. In this case, you'll want to look for a certificate program. Certification in Adobe Creative Suite or any of its individual programs shows employers your dedication to training and advancing your career. These programs are just like regular professional training courses and bootcamps but also include exam preparation for gaining certification. Certification exams have a separate cost from training courses.

Learn Adobe with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

If you’re interested in getting started with Adobe Captivate, Noble Desktop offers an Intro to Adobe Captivate course that covers the fundamentals of the program. This course is ideal for beginners wanting to become comfortable with using and creating training materials from the program.

Like other Adobe programs, Captivate integrates with other Adobe software such as Photoshop and Illustrator. While Adobe Captivate is a powerful program on its own, its capabilities expand when used with other Adobe products. Noble Desktop’s Adobe Creative Cloud Bootcamp teaches many Adobe programs, including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Adobe XD. Noble Desktop also offers bootcamps in individual Adobe programs. These courses are ideal if you want to master only one Adobe product rather than learn the whole suite. 

A Graphic Design Certificate is also available that teaches Adobe programs along with graphic design principles. Even if your chosen profession isn’t in the graphic design field, knowing basic graphic design principles can elevate the projects you create with Adobe Captivate and other Adobe programs to another level.