More Uses for Variables in your elearning

Previously we discussed using variables as a way to track learner points for gamification, but there are lots of other ways to customize your learner’s elearning experience with variables.

For instance, variables can take the form of text data. Recently I programmed an interaction where a learner could submit three choices out of 10 available options, which would then appear on the next slide in the order they chose. The best way I found to do that was to add one “counter” variable, and three empty text box variables.

Here is the programming screen:

And here is the result when I chose Option 9, 2, and 5.

Each of the option buttons would increase the counter variable by 1 when clicked, so I created these triggers on each of the buttons, with OPTION 1 changed for each button:

Add 1.00 to Count

When the user clicks

Set box1 equal to OPTION 1

When the user clicks

If Count is equal to 1.00

Set box2 equal to OPTION 1

When the user clicks

If Count is equal to 2.00

Set box3 equal to OPTION 1

When the user clicks

If Count is equal to 3.00

This populates the correct box with the correct option text depending on whether the user clicked on it first, second or third.

Finally, you can have the user click a Submit button to show the next slide, but I chose to add one more trigger to the slide:

Jump to next slide

When Count changes

If Count is Greater than 2.00

When the user clicked on their third choice, it automatically took them to the next slide.

For more on how to add learner customization or gamified interactivity to your elearning, check out our other blogs or contact us at https://www.pathwaystrainingandelearning.ca/