Overview of Articulate Rise Content Blocks

When you work with Articulate Rise, you use content blocks to create and flesh out lessons for your learners. Blocks are modular components that you can stack to build lessons. Different types of content blocks can be used to add variety to your lessons, helping to engage learners with a richer experience.

In this article, I want to provide you with an overview of the various blocks you can use. Whether you’re designing a simple course or a highly interactive learning journey, these are the building blocks (pun intended!) of effective eLearning design.

What Are Content Blocks?

Content blocks are a bit like Lego bricks. Each block is a self-contained unit of content that can be customised and assembled to create a lesson tailored to your needs. You’ve got text, images, videos, interactive elements, and more at your disposal. The great thing about blocks is that you have the flexibility to mix and match them to build a course that’s as simple or complex as you need.

Now for a closer look at some of the block types you can use to create engaging lessons. I’ll combine some of them for the sake of brevity:

Text and Statement Blocks

Sometimes, you just need to keep it simple, and text blocks are perfect for that. Rise has several text block options, from simple headings to detailed paragraphs with subheadings. You can also set up columns and tables using text blocks. Use text blocks when you want to introduce a concept, explain key points, or provide instructions for an activity.

Statement blocks are great for making key points stand out, and they come in a variety of options. I like to use the Note type whenever I need to add some extra details. For example, if my content is explaining the steps for a specific program like Excel, I might add a note with some information about a dialog box that the user encounters.

Quote and List Blocks

Sometimes, it’s the little things that count. Quote blocks are great for highlighting a key message or piece of wisdom, such as a quote from a famous person. List blocks are great for organising your information. Use these blocks to emphasise important takeaways or provide step-by-step instructions.

Image and Gallery Blocks

You can use these blocks to add a variety of images, then select options for how you want them to be displayed. For example, because I facilitate software training courses, I often add lots of screenshots of the software I’m covering. The options are pretty handy, giving you choices about the size and placement of images, as well as the option to show text on top or beside your images.

Along with these are Gallery blocks. These are designed to display multiple images in carousels, or you can choose from a range of grids.

Multimedia Blocks

If you really want to grab your learners’ attention, multimedia blocks let you create media rich content like videos, audio files, attachments, and code snippets into your lessons. For example, you could add a video demonstration alongside a set of instructions or use an image to help illustrate a complex process. Media blocks help make your content more engaging and accessible by appealing to different learning styles.

Interactive Blocks

Here’s where things get interesting! Interactive blocks allow you to add elements like accordion menus, tabs, processes, flashcards, or timelines to your course. These features are fantastic for breaking down complex information into manageable chunks. For example, an accordion block can present FAQs in an easy-to-navigate format, while a timeline block is perfect for showcasing events in a sequence.

If you want even more interactivity, you could use scenarios, sorting activities, labelled graphics and more. There are lots of choices in this category, so it’s a good idea to experiment with the available options.

Knowledge Check Blocks

If you’re going down the path of eLearning, then assessment is an important part of your courses. This is where knowledge check blocks come in handy by making it easy to test your learners’ understanding.

You can include multiple choice questions, fill in the blank activities, or matching exercises right into your lessons. These blocks provide instant feedback, so they’re great at helping learners identify areas where they might need to review.

Chart Blocks

If you want to add data visualisations to your courses, chart blocks are great. You can choose from bar charts, line charts, or pie charts, to add some spice to your content.

By the way, to help you keep your course content nice and tidy, you can choose from a variety of divider blocks, with or without numbering.

Conclusion

Articulate Rise content blocks give you everything you need to create dynamic, engaging lessons that cater to diverse learning needs. By combining different block types, you can design a course that’s not only visually appealing but also highly effective in delivering your message.

If you’re new to Rise, start by experimenting with a few basic blocks to see how they work together. Once you get the hang of it, the possibilities are endless. So, jump in and start building lessons that will captivate your learners from start to finish!