5 New Articulate Rise Features to Improve Your eLearning Courses

Articulate continues to add new capabilities to Rise 360, and several new Articulate Rise features have caught our attention.  Some can improve the learner experience, others can strengthen instructional design, and a few make course development faster and easier.

We often use Articulate Rise to develop custom eLearning courses, so we’re always interested in updates that can help us create more effective learning experiences.  However, as with any new technology, having a feature doesn’t necessarily mean you should use it.

So, here are five new Articulate Rise features we think are worth exploring — along with our practical take on when they can genuinely improve an eLearning course.

1.  AI Tutor: Give Learners Help When They Need It

AI Tutor is probably the new Rise feature we’re most excited to explore.

Among the latest Articulate Rise features, AI Tutor stands out because it can make a self-paced course feel more responsive to individual learners.

It adds a course-aware chatbot directly to the learning experience.  As a result, learners can ask questions, request a simpler explanation, ask for an example or get a summary without leaving the course.

For example, imagine that a learner has just completed a fairly complex lesson but doesn’t quite understand one of the concepts.  Traditionally, they might reread the lesson, search elsewhere for an explanation, or carry on without fully understanding it.

Instead, AI Tutor gives them another option.  They can ask the tutor to explain the idea differently or provide an example.

That could make an Articulate Rise course much more responsive to individual needs.

Why we think AI Tutor is one of the Articulate Rise features with lots of potential

Learners rarely arrive at a course with identical levels of knowledge, experience and confidence.  However, traditional self-paced eLearning usually gives everyone essentially the same experience.

AI Tutor starts to change that.

For instance, a learner who understands the content can keep moving.  Meanwhile, someone who needs more explanation can ask for additional support.  As a result, designers can provide more individualized support without creating multiple versions of the same course.

This feature could work particularly well for complex training, certification programs, customer education and courses that introduce unfamiliar terminology or concepts.

However, there are some limitations to keep in mind.  AI Tutor primarily grounds its responses in the published course material.  It can also work with available transcripts and text contained in code blocks, but it currently can’t directly access Storyline blocks or source files.

Even so, we think AI Tutor could become one of the most significant additions to Articulate Rise 360.

2.  Skip-Ahead Quizzes: Stop Teaching Learners What They Already Know

Few things frustrate experienced learners more than having to complete training on something they already understand.

Fortunately, Skip-Ahead Quizzes provide a solution.

Of all the recent Articulate Rise features, this may be one of the simplest ways to make training feel more relevant and respectful of the learner’s time.

You can now use a Rise quiz as a pre-test.  If learners demonstrate that they already know the material, you can allow them to jump ahead to a lesson you select.  Rise then marks the skipped content as complete.

This seemingly simple feature can dramatically improve the learner experience.

For example, imagine an employee or member who has worked in an industry for 15 years but must complete an annual refresher course.  If they can demonstrate that they understand the introductory material, why force them to spend another 20 minutes reviewing it?

Instead, let them prove what they know and move on to material that provides value.

Why this represents good instructional design

Effective eLearning should respect the learner’s time.

Furthermore, course length doesn’t tell us much about course quality.  A 20-minute course that changes behaviour can deliver far more value than a 60-minute course that presents information.

Skip-Ahead Quizzes allow instructional designers to focus the learner’s attention where it matters most.  As a result, training becomes more relevant, efficient and personalized.

We particularly like this feature for refresher training, compliance programs and courses designed for audiences with widely varying levels of existing knowledge.

3.  Survey Blocks: Ask Learners What They Think Without Leaving Rise

Another welcome addition is the new Survey Block.

Rise now lets course developers collect anonymous learner feedback directly within a course.  Survey options include numeric scales, sentiment ratings, multiple-choice questions, multiple responses and short or long written responses.

Previously, if you wanted to collect this type of feedback, you might have needed to embed a third-party survey, create something in Storyline or send learners somewhere else.

You can still do those things.  In fact, a dedicated survey platform may make more sense when you need sophisticated survey logic or analysis.

However, sometimes you want to ask learners a few questions.

For example, you might want to know whether learners found the course useful, which topics they would like you to cover next or how confident they feel about applying what they learned.

In those situations, keeping the feedback mechanism directly inside Rise makes the experience much simpler.

It can also support good instructional design because learner feedback gives you information you can use to improve future versions of the course.

Currently, Articulate identifies Survey Blocks as a beta feature, so we expect the functionality to continue evolving.

4.  AI Avatars: Create Presenter Videos Without Filming Them

AI Avatars let you turn a written script into a presenter-style video without organizing filming, hiring talent, or editing conventional video.

In Rise, you can select or create a character, choose a voice, add your script and generate a talking-head video.  Articulate recommends the feature particularly for short content such as lesson introductions, transitions and key takeaways.

Clearly, that offers some practical advantages.

For instance, you can update a script and regenerate the presentation when information changes rather than arranging another video shoot.  In addition, course developers can create short presenter segments much more quickly and economically.

Nevertheless, this is one of the Articulate Rise features we recommend using in moderation.

Just because you can use an AI avatar doesn’t mean you should

AI avatars continue to evoke an “uncanny valley” feeling for some viewers.  They look almost human—but not quite.

More importantly, excessive use of obviously AI-generated video can subtly communicate that the course creator took a shortcut.

That matters.

We ask learners to invest their time, attention and mental energy in training.  Therefore, we should demonstrate that we also invested thought and effort in creating a worthwhile learning experience.

For that reason, we wouldn’t use an AI avatar to turn paragraphs of written content into videos.

Instead, we would use them selectively.  A short welcome, introduction, scenario setup, transition or summary could work well.  In contrast, watching an AI presenter deliver large amounts of course content could quickly become tedious.

So, this is a useful tool—but good instructional judgement still matters.

5.  Responsive Custom Blocks: More Creative Freedom Without Sacrificing Mobile Learners

We were very excited when Articulate introduced Custom Blocks.

Traditional Rise blocks make courses fast to develop and naturally responsive.  However, they also impose some design limitations.  Custom Blocks give designers much more flexibility to create layouts and experiences that don’t look like standard Rise content.

Then we discovered a problem.

The first Custom Blocks didn’t respond to different screen sizes as effectively as standard Rise blocks.  As a result, something that looked great on a desktop could create a less satisfying experience on a phone or tablet.

Articulate heard that feedback.

Responsive Custom Blocks are now available through Articulate Labs.  The new editor includes responsive containers, device previews and controls that allow layouts to reflow across desktop, tablet and mobile screens.  Because this remains a Labs feature, Articulate may still modify the functionality as development continues.

For us, responsive behaviour makes Custom Blocks considerably more useful.  In fact, this is one of the Articulate Rise features that could meaningfully change how designers use Rise for more visually ambitious courses.

Mobile responsiveness shouldn’t become an afterthought.  Learners increasingly expect training to work wherever they access it.  Therefore, designers shouldn’t have to choose between an interesting visual treatment and a consistent learner experience.

If you’d like to see some of the different ways Rise can look and function, we’ve also put together seven practical Articulate Rise examples.

We’re very happy to see Articulate continuing to expand what course developers can create in Rise 360.

One More Articulate Rise Feature We’re Happy to See: Automatic Video Captions

Not every useful improvement needs to transform the learning experience.

Sometimes, a feature saves time while helping developers create more accessible training.

Rise can now automatically generate captions for uploaded video, which course developers can then review and edit.

Course developers should still check automatically generated captions for accuracy.  Nevertheless, starting with an automatically generated version can significantly reduce the amount of manual work involved.

Moreover, captions improve access for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, people learning in a second language and learners who prefer to watch video without audio.

So, automatic captions may not be the most exciting feature on this list — but we’re certainly happy to have them.

What Do These New Articulate Rise Features Mean for Course Design?

Taken together, these new Articulate Rise features show how quickly the platform is evolving.

AI Tutor can provide additional learner support.  Skip-Ahead Quizzes can create a more personalized pathway.  Survey Blocks can capture learner feedback.  AI Avatars can speed up video production.  Meanwhile, Responsive Custom Blocks can give designers more creative freedom.

However, none of those features automatically creates effective training.

Technology gives instructional designers tools.  Good instructional design determines when, why and how to use them.

Before choosing interactions or new features, we first need to understand what the course must accomplish.  That’s why we build our projects around a structured eLearning course design process rather than starting with the authoring tool.

Start with the audience

First, understand your learners.

Who are they?  What do they already know?  What do they need to know?  What motivates them?  What could prevent them from completing the course or applying what they learn?

For external audiences in particular, you can’t assume that people have to take your course.  Therefore, relevance, value and ease of use become even more important.

Understanding the audience also helps you determine the right tone, amount of detail, examples, scenarios and level of interaction.

Define what learners need to do differently

Next, establish clear learning objectives.

At Spark + Co., one question we regularly ask is: What should learners be able to do after completing this training?

That question matters because knowing something and applying it are different.

For example, a course objective shouldn’t simply require learners to “understand effective customer service.” Instead, the training should help them recognize situations, make appropriate decisions and apply specific behaviours.

Once you know what people need to do differently, you can design the learning experience around that outcome.

Give learners opportunities to think and practice

Good eLearning shouldn’t simply transfer information from a subject matter expert’s head onto a screen.

Instead, learners need opportunities to process information and use it.

Scenarios, decision points, case studies, questions, reflection activities and realistic practice can all help.  However, the activity should serve the learning objective, not simply add interactivity.

A clickable accordion isn’t automatically instructional design.  Neither is an AI chatbot.

The important question is always: What do we want the learner to think about or do here?

Manage cognitive load

Next, avoid overwhelming learners.

People can only process a limited amount of new information at once.  Therefore, effective eLearning breaks complicated information into manageable sections, removes unnecessary content and focuses attention on what matters.

Clear writing also helps.  So do logical sequencing, meaningful headings, relevant visuals and intuitive navigation.

Strong eLearning content development involves deciding not only what to include, but also what to leave out.

In other words, adding more content rarely solves a learning problem.

Often, removing content improves the course.

Make the learning relevant

Learners engage more readily when they can see why the information matters.

Therefore, connect concepts to realistic situations, problems and decisions that your audience actually encounters.

For example, instead of simply explaining a policy, show learners a situation where they need to apply it.  Then ask them what they would do.

Relevance creates a reason to pay attention.

Align assessments with the learning objectives

Assessments should test what the course claims to teach.

If you want someone to make better decisions, don’t rely entirely on questions that test whether they can remember facts.

Instead, give them situations where they have to apply their knowledge.

Similarly, feedback should do more than tell learners whether they got an answer right or wrong.  Useful feedback explains why an answer works and helps learners correct misunderstandings.

Design for accessibility from the beginning

Accessibility shouldn’t become a final quality-control exercise.

Instead, designers should consider accessible navigation, contrast, captions, alternative text, keyboard use, plain language and other accessibility needs throughout development.

Fortunately, tools such as Articulate Rise 360 continue to improve their accessibility capabilities.  However, course developers still need to use those capabilities thoughtfully.

Think beyond course completion

Finally, completing a course isn’t the same as learning — and learning isn’t necessarily the same as behaviour change.

So, ask what happens after the learner closes the browser.

Do they need a downloadable job aid?  A quick-reference guide?  Follow-up practice?  Manager support?  Additional resources?  Reminders?

Effective instructional design considers how learners will transfer what they learned into the real world.

The Bottom Line About The New Articulate Rise Features

We’re encouraged by the direction Articulate is taking with Rise.

In particular, AI Tutor and Skip-Ahead Quizzes could help create more adaptive learning experiences.  Responsive Custom Blocks should give designers more creative flexibility, while Survey Blocks and automatic captions solve practical problems that course developers regularly face.

AI Avatars also offer interesting possibilities—though we’ll continue to use them selectively.

Ultimately, though, new Articulate Rise features are only tools.

The best eLearning starts with a clear understanding of the audience, strong learning objectives and thoughtful instructional design.  Then we can choose the technology and features that best support those goals.

And sometimes, the best design decision is not to use the shiny new feature at all.

Need Help Creating an Articulate Rise Course?

Are you planning a new Articulate Rise course, exploring the latest Articulate Rise features, or wondering how you could improve an existing course?

Spark + Co. combines instructional design expertise with extensive Articulate eLearning development experience to create custom eLearning that engages learners and supports real-world results.

Book a complimentary consultation with one of our instructional designers to discuss your project.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Articulate Rise Features

What are the newest Articulate Rise features?

Some of the most notable new Articulate Rise features include AI Tutor, Skip-Ahead Quizzes, Survey Blocks, AI Avatars, Responsive Custom Blocks and automatic video captions.  Together, these updates give course designers more options for personalization, learner support, feedback, accessibility and visual design.

What is AI Tutor in Articulate Rise?

AI Tutor adds a course-aware chatbot to a Rise 360 course.  Learners can ask questions, request explanations and get help understanding course content without leaving the learning experience.  This can make an Articulate Rise course more responsive to individual learner needs.

How do Skip-Ahead Quizzes work in Rise 360?

Skip-Ahead Quizzes let learners demonstrate what they already know before completing certain course content.  If they pass the quiz, Rise can move them ahead to a lesson you select.  This feature can make training more efficient and can improve the learner experience in refresher, compliance and certification courses.

Can I collect learner feedback directly in Articulate Rise?

Yes.  Survey Blocks allow you to collect anonymous learner feedback directly within a Rise course.  You can use different question types, including rating scales, multiple-choice questions and written responses.  For simple course evaluations or feedback questions, this can reduce the need for a separate survey tool.

Are AI Avatars a good option for eLearning courses?

AI Avatars can work well for short introductions, transitions, explanations or summaries.  However, we recommend using them selectively.  Overusing AI-generated presenters can make a course feel less personal or overly automated.  Good instructional design should determine whether an avatar genuinely improves the learner experience.

What are Responsive Custom Blocks in Articulate Rise?

Responsive Custom Blocks give course designers more freedom to create customized layouts while improving how those layouts adapt across desktop, tablet and mobile devices.  This can make Rise 360 more flexible for organizations that want more visual variety without sacrificing responsive design.

Is Articulate Rise good for custom eLearning development?

Yes.  Articulate Rise works particularly well for responsive, modern eLearning courses that learners need to access across different devices.  It also supports fast development and straightforward updates.  However, the right authoring tool depends on the learning objectives, audience and level of interaction you need.

Do new Articulate Rise features replace the need for instructional design?

No.  New technology can expand what course developers can create, but it cannot replace good instructional design.  Effective eLearning still requires a clear understanding of the audience, well-defined learning objectives, relevant content, opportunities to practise, appropriate assessments, accessibility and a strong focus on real-world application.

Should I use every new Articulate Rise feature in my course?

No.  The best eLearning course does not necessarily use the most features.  Instead, choose the Articulate Rise features that support your learning objectives and improve the learner experience.  Sometimes the best design decision is to keep the course simple.