--- title: Rise360 Storyline Tool Training Strategy type: article created: '2025-11-14' updated: '2025-11-14' source_docs: - raw/2025-11-14-agility-recovery-rise360-course-review-101851197.md tags: - elearning - rise360 - articulate-storyline - salesforce - zoominfo - salesloft - tool-training - instructional-design layer: 2 client_source: null industry_context: null transferable: true --- # Rise360 Storyline Tool Training Strategy ## Overview When a client needs tool-specific training but lacks sandbox environments for their core software platforms, interactive Articulate Storyline courses offer the best alternative. This approach provides a safe, click-through learning experience that simulates real tool interaction without requiring learners to access live systems. This strategy was developed for [[wiki/clients/agility-recovery/index|Agility Recovery]] during the Rise360 onboarding course project, where the absence of sandbox environments for Salesforce, ZoomInfo, and SalesLoft made traditional hands-on practice impossible. --- ## The Core Problem Live tool training typically relies on sandbox or demo environments where learners can make mistakes without consequence. When those environments don't exist, training designers face a gap: learners need to understand how to use the tool, but can't be given access to production systems during onboarding. **Symptoms of this constraint:** - No safe environment to practice clicks, data entry, or navigation - Risk of corrupting live data if learners access production systems - Inability to standardize the training experience across cohorts --- ## Recommended Solution: Interactive Storyline Click-Through Courses Articulate Storyline (part of the Articulate 360 suite) allows designers to build pixel-accurate simulations of software interfaces. Learners click through realistic replicas of the tool, receiving feedback on correct and incorrect actions — all without touching the live system. ### Why This Works - **Evergreen content:** Focus on fundamental, stable tasks (e.g., setting up a profile, importing a lead, pulling a report) that don't change with minor software updates - **Safe practice:** Learners can make mistakes and retry without consequences - **Scalable:** Once built, the course can be reused across all new hire cohorts - **No sandbox required:** The simulation *is* the practice environment ### Scope Guidance Prioritize tasks that are: 1. Fundamental to daily use 2. Unlikely to change with routine software updates 3. Common across all roles using the tool Avoid building simulations around features that are frequently updated, role-specific edge cases, or advanced configurations — these create high maintenance burden. --- ## Implementation Approach ### Phase 1: Content Scoping Work with the client's internal tech stack manager (or equivalent) to produce a list of evergreen, fundamental tasks for each tool. For each tool, target approximately 8–12 core tasks. **Example tasks for ZoomInfo:** - Set up a user profile - Configure email signature - Import a lead to CRM **Example tasks for Salesforce:** - Navigate the dashboard - Pull a standard report - Log an activity **Example tasks for SalesLoft:** - Set up a cadence - Send a tracked email - Review engagement data ### Phase 2: Technical Discovery Before building, schedule a working session with the client's tech stack manager to: - Walk through exactly how each tool is configured in their environment - Understand integration points (e.g., how ZoomInfo pushes leads into Salesforce) - Capture screenshots or screen recordings of the actual interface for use as simulation assets - Clarify whether temporary access to the live environment is needed for the designer to capture assets > **Note:** The way a tool like ZoomInfo connects to a CRM varies by configuration. A generic simulation won't reflect the client's actual workflow — always capture the client-specific flow. ### Phase 3: Build The Storyline designer builds click-through simulations using captured assets. Each simulation should: - Show the learner what to do (demonstration mode) - Then require the learner to do it (practice mode) - Provide feedback on correct and incorrect clicks Storyline is a desktop application (not web-based) and must be downloaded via the Articulate 360 launcher, even if the client already has an Articulate 360 license. ### Phase 4: Integration into Rise360 Completed Storyline modules are published and embedded within the broader Rise360 course as interactive blocks. This allows tool training to sit alongside other onboarding content in a unified learner experience. --- ## Relationship to Video-Based Instruction Storyline click-through simulations work well in combination with short instructional videos. A recommended sequence: 1. **Video:** Introduce the tool, explain why it matters, show an expert using it 2. **Storyline simulation:** Learner practices the key tasks in a safe environment 3. **Live/instructor-led session (optional):** Reinforce with a real scenario using the live tool, once the learner has baseline familiarity This mirrors the approach used in the Agility Recovery project, where virtual screen-recorded videos (via Loom or Scripted) were planned to precede the Storyline practice modules. --- ## Key Considerations | Factor | Guidance | |---|---| | **Maintenance burden** | Limit simulations to evergreen tasks; avoid UI elements that change frequently | | **Asset capture** | Requires access to someone who knows the client's specific tool configuration | | **Articulate license** | Storyline requires Articulate 360; confirm license includes Storyline and download the desktop app | | **Build complexity** | More complex than Rise360 slides; factor additional design time into project estimates | | **Learner population** | Even experienced users benefit from fundamentals training calibrated to the client's specific setup | --- ## Client Example **[[wiki/clients/agility-recovery/index|Agility Recovery]] — Rise360 Onboarding Course (2025)** Agility Recovery needed tool training for Salesforce, ZoomInfo, and SalesLoft as part of a new sales onboarding program. Because none of these tools had sandbox environments, the team identified interactive Storyline courses as the primary delivery mechanism. - Gus Donelson (client) provided a list of ~10 evergreen tasks per tool, sourced from their internal tech stack manager (Abby) - Mark Hope (Asymmetric) was tasked with investigating Storyline build requirements and presenting options at the next call - Abby was identified as the subject matter expert for a technical discovery session to capture the client's specific tool configurations - The Articulate 360 license was confirmed to include Storyline; desktop download was required Planned course structure: up to 4 short courses — ZoomInfo (1), Salesforce foundations (1), Salesforce advanced (1), SalesLoft (1). --- ## Related - [[wiki/clients/agility-recovery/index|Agility Recovery Client Index]] - [[wiki/knowledge/elearning/virtual-video-production|Virtual Video Production for eLearning]] - [[wiki/knowledge/elearning/rise360-course-development|Rise360 Course Development]]