Articulate: Best method for Closed Captioning

Update from original post!  Below are screenshots of better instructions.

Articulate Closed Captioning (Best Option)

 

Original Post:

First I want to say I'm a fan of Articulate and eLearning Heroes, however I'm also a fan of Captivate, and one thing that functions much better in Captivate than Articulate is Closed Captioning.  With Captivate you can type in notes and click a box to make notes CC, then add a cc button to the skin/player.  That simple in Articulate, not so simple.

My method gives user on/off control, uses variables to remember on/off setting from slide to slide, and does NOT involve duplicating slides/layers, which can be a maintenance nightmare and makes projects file size larger than necessary).  Which is why I prefer my method over some of the other great methods that I found on Articulate eLearning Heroes (such as placing cc text boxes on timeline, placing cc text in player resources, and/or having cc button trigger to a duplicate layer with cc text.

My method involves using text boxes to display cc text when cc on and off buttons are clicked.  The cc text boxes can be placed in a scrolling panel if there is a lot of text.  The biggest issue I had was getting the CC to be default to off on the initial slide.  After some "playing" I was able to overcome this.

The trick is to have on the first slide only the trigger “Change state of cctextbox to Disable when the state of ccOn is not hidden” .  However before doing so it is necessary to select the textbox and add a Disabled state, edit the disabled state to display no text/just a textbox.  When using be sure to duplicate slide two for use for rest of project.  The first slide is different, has the above mentioned additional trigger to default CC to off.

Again I like this option best because user can turn on, turn off, it is defaulted off, doesn’t involve making two versions of slides or layers, and if you have a lot of text you can still put the cc text into a scrolling panel.

On first slide highlight and create a new state of Disabled for the textbox.  Edit the Disabled state of textbox to display no text.

Slide 1:

Slide 2 to end of project:

Articulate: Horizontal Scroll Panel (Create Timeline)

Articulate Storyline has a insert Scrolling Panel feature, unfortunately it doesn't permit you to rotate the location of the scroll bar.  After some thought and "playing" I discovered that if you insert a shape with no fill then group the scrolling panel and the shape it will then be possible to rotate the scrolling window.  This is great for showing timelines and/or landscape documents for acknowledgement, etc.   Tip:  Create a T/F question to create an acknowledgement page.

1.  Insert Scrolling Panel

2.  Draw Scroll Panel











3. Insert item (image, document, etc.)  Note:  It will be side ways, but we will fix that in a moment.

4. Insert Shape with no fill.  Note: use No Outline if you don't want visible.

5. Select Scrolling Panel and Shape, right-click, Group

6. Rotate the Grouped Scrolling Panel and Shape by grabbing and turning the rotation handle.

7. Preview.  Now the Scrolling Panel can scroll horizontally.

My Two Loves…Articulate Storyline and Captivate (SCORM Document Acknowledgement Box)

I hope my title didn’t alarm my wife and family.  Obviously they are my true loves, but with that said I do have two loves when it comes to eLearning software.  Articulate is a bit more intuitive and user friendly, however I still have loyalty to my original love Captivate.  There are some limitations of Articulate, but not many…it is a great product.

Recently I was presented with a problem.  How to make a PDF SCORM compliant, so that a user could review the document and acknowledge that they reviewed it?  My solution first came to me while playing in my Articulate sand box.  I simply created a True/False question slide, modified the words True to say “I acknowledge” and the word false to say “I do NOT acknowledge” (however this can be placed off the slide to make it hidden).  Then I inserted a Web Object, which displayed a PDF that was located on a “hidden” webpage.  Once published as a SCORM enabled project the LMS system will report Acknowledgements (True) as a PASS and the latter (False) as a FAIL.

After words I was left wonder if the same was possible in Captivate.  And sure enough it was.  It wasn’t as easy or intuitive, but it can be done.  With Captivate it is necessary to create the quiz True/False slide, modify the wording (but have to use Adobe’s side quiz properties panel for some parts), insert widget (Web Object widget, if you don’t have it is a free download, just Google it), then adjust the timeline a bit, and then publish with SCORM enabled.

I then felt the need to share my discovery to anyone who may be interested.  Largely due to the fact I wasn’t able to find this discovery already published on the worldwide web.

I can see this setup being a HUGE benefit for many departments (especially HR) where there are a lot of PDFs (or any type of document) that require reviewing and then acknowledging.  Much better this way because it is all packaged neatly and will generate easily into LMS reporting.

Below are some images from my Articulate and Captivate Test files (the most famous troubleshooting filename of all time, lol):

 

 

 

Toy R Us is more like Rip U Off!

After 3 weeks for constant fighting with Toy R Us to fix what should have been a simple order I'm resorting to posting my story to my blog in hopes that it may be resolved.  If nothing else my rant will hopefully make me feel better.  Below is a timeline of my saga with Toy R Us:

12/16/12 @ 11am:  Tried ordering the below 7 items, 1 to be delivered to my house, 1 for pick up at Mechanicsburg, PA,  and 5 items to be picked up at Harrisburg, PA:

1.       $39.99 Hello Kitty CD (note: CD) Player (pick up @ Mechanicsburg, PA)

2.       $34.99 Fun Years Keyboard (pick up @ Harrisburg, PA) (Note: Ordered 2 of these, see #3)

3.       $34.99 Fun Years Keyboard (pick up @ Harrisburg, PA) (Note: Ordered 2 of these, see #2)

4.       $29.99 First Act Microphone w/Stand (pick up @ Harrisburg, PA

5.       $19.99 Dora Explorer Electric Guitar (shipped to my house)

6.       $9.99 Duracell 16 pk. AA Batteries (pick up @ Harrisburg, PA

7.       FREE item, First Act Microphone without Stand….Promotion:  Purchase $100 or more of musical instruments, get FREE Microphone without Stand

12/16 at approx. 11:30am:  After about 30 minutes of frustration I was unable to get Toy R Us online website to give me item #7 First Act Microphone without Stand for free so I called 1-800-Toy-R-Us for assistance.

Note to self:  This is where I should have decided to just purchase my items somewhere else, because everything goes bad from here.

12/16 at approx. 1pm…YES, 1pm!!!  (2 hours later) a Toy R Us rep assures me that the only way to fix the issue is to have all items shipped and offered to expedite for free.   However this means I can’t use my 15% in store coupon (worth about $27 on my order).

12/17: Rec’d lots of emails stating items cancelled and reordered, however one catches my attention.  It was me being charged for my FREE item $19.99 Microphone.  Called and spoke to another rep (very rude rep), who then put me through to another rep, who then forwarded me to a third rep.  I was told problem was resolved.

12/18: Rec’d another misleading email, called and was told everything was fine.

12/19: Rec’d Guitar, keyboards, and batteries at my house.

12/20: Rec’d microphone w/stand at my house.

12/21: Rec’d Hello Kitty clock radio, however it was not the Clock Radio CD player I order (note: CD player)

Called and spoke to a rep who forwarded me to a rep. named Angel, who said she will mail me the correct item and a return label.  (Note: she actually mailed me the same wrong item and a return label, but I don’t know this yet!)  She apologizes and says no way to get this by Christmas

1/3/2013:  Still no CD Player, I call and talk to a rep who forwards me to rep “Alena” (sp.) who then forwards me to rep “AJ”, who then forwards me to “Cindy”.  Cindy @ 6:07pm promises to have a supervisor call me back within an hour.  At 7:10pm I call and raise HELL.  Rep informs me that Angel sent me wrong item again and a return label for original wrong item, and that I should be delivered the 2^nd wrong item tomorrow.  As I’m on the phone I decided to check my account and discover I was over charged $186.82.  Being that I keep most of my money in savings and not checking, Toy R Us over charge of $186.82 results in a $30 NSF fee with my bank.  Now the veins in my neck are ready to explode!!!  Rep forwards me to rep “Tiffany”.  Tiffany and I are on the phone for at least an hour, she calls my bank with me on the line, my bank confirms the overcharges (not sure why Tiffany can’t confirm herself), but she was the most helpful rep so far.  Tiffany gives me incident # and assures me that $159.35 will be credited to my bank account within 2 days, but says there is nothing she can do about a $26.97 charge for my FREE? item and the $30 NSF fee.  She said she will ask to have a corporate rep call me back.

So 3 weeks after my initial Toy R Us contact/order I am still out $56.97.  And that’s only IF the $159.35 is refunded as rep “Tiffany” promised.  Not to mention the 15% in store coupon discount I had to pass up (worth approx. $27 on my order).

Raised Garden, Cellar Access, and Countertop Swivel K-cup Holder...and more!

For those that read my blog, sorry that I haven't blog about any projects lately.  But I have been busy.  Recently painted trim on our house, replaced a roof, fixed a water line/outdoor spigot, constructed a new cellar access, made a raised garden, created some bookmarks, and made a countertop swivel K-cup holder.  Below are some photos of my recent projects.



Verizon, U Suck!.....Update! but not as much as U did.

Final Update!...I hope...Verizon Issue Resolved!

My below issue has been resolved by a Mr. Johnson who works in Verizon's executive office.  I have Consumerist.com to thank for drawing Mr. Johnson's attention to my issue.  Mr. Johnson's demeanor and attention to my issue was great.  He was nothing like the many other representatives that I had to deal with for the last 6 months.  He was understanding, calm, and most importantly he listened.  He even reimbursed me for my voice/phone call overage for the month after I explained that the main reason I was over was because of lengthy calls to Verizon and FedEX trying to resolve this issue.  He seemed sincere when I explained that Verizon should rethink their policy for returning defective cell phones.  I explained that I feel 30 days is a better return policy, but that if it had to be 14 days...Verizon should at least make it 14 days after activation, not 14 days after purchase.  I explained that when a cell phone is given as a gift and is wrapped in a box...one may not know there's a problem with the phone til the phone is activated.  He agreed and said he would definitely look into it.  He also apologized and said that Verizon should have called me directly and communicated better in regards to the billing mishap, instead of sending monthly bills that weren't very clear.  Even though this issue has been resolved, and Mr. Johnson was terrific, I still remain a bit unsatisfied with Verizon and will likely end my service with them once my contract expires.  Though it was nice to finally truly be heard.  Thank you Consumerist.com and Mr. Johnson!

“Is YOUR $449.95 mistake worth not having me as a customer?, which yields your company about $210 a month on average”

November of 2011 I got a new job that increased my pay considerably.  As a result I treated myself to a smartphone (Droid X2).  Previously I had a regular cellphone (Alias).  The following month (December 2011) I purchased a smartphone for my wife (Commando).  Her birthday was on 12/10 so for the majority of the 14 days Verizon says you have to return a faulty phone for a new replacement the phone was neatly tucked in a box that I wrapped in birthday paper.  Seems to me the Verizon policy should be 14 days from day of activation…I’m sure I’m not the only one who buys cellphones as gifts, especially in the month of December.  From December 10^th to about December 14^th my wife and I noticed that her new Commando smartphone would not ring after it went into keypad lock mode, even if the volume was up and the vibrate feature off.  Several calls to Verizon end with us returning the NEW Commando smartphone only to receive a CERTIFIED PREOWNED Droid X3 as a replacement.  The fact I bought a brand new smartphone that was faulty and Verizon replaces it with a used smartphone really ticks me off, but left with no other options I agreed to take the used smartphone.  So when my wife and I received the USED Droid X3 replacement via FedEX we place her faulty Commando smartphone in the package as Verizon told us to do and sent it back.  At some point in January 2012 before my 1/17 billing cycle my wife received a confirmation text message stating the faulty Commando smartphone was received by Verizon.  This is where the story should end, right?  Unfortunately it does not.  Instead I receive a January bill stating I owe a $449.95 equipment charge.  Thinking things just crossed paths in the mail, etc.   I called Verizon and to my surprise they told me that they never received the smartphone we sent back.  I kindly explained that we received a text from Verizon that it was received.  To which the Verizon rep responded, “Yes, I see that we did send you text confirming receipt”.   So I’m like “OK, then what seems to be the issue?”  The call ended with me agree to pay just my bill and not the equipment charge and the Verizon rep agree to look into the equipment charge and get back to me.  February 2012 comes and I receive another bill and again the $449.95 equipment charge is on the bill.  I call Verizon again and again agreed to pay the bill and not the equipment charge and the Verizon rep promised to call me back about the equipment charge.  This time the Verizon rep called back and left a voicemail telling me that the $449.95 equipment charge has been removed.  In March I receive a bill showing I have a credit of $108.53.  Then in April I receive a bill reinstating the $449.95 equipment charge.  Frustrated I waited till May to call Verizon yet again.  Only to have a Verizon rep inform me that they have record of me receiving two replacement smartphones and only one being return.  The Verizon rep claimed that we were sent a Droid X3 and a Droid X2 as a replacement for the faulty Commando smartphone.  Now I’m pissed beyond belief, and told them that there is no way in hell Verizon would send TWO replacement phones to replace ONE faulty one and that if Verizon doesn’t take the $449.95 equipment charge off my bill for good, I will terminate my contract.  The Verizon rep informed me, “that is fine; it will cost you $300 to terminate the contract.”  I said, “Like hell”.  So my question to Verizon is, “Is YOUR $449.95 mistake worth not having me as a customer which yields your company about $210+ a month on average?”

Update!

My above story of events about my bad Verizon experience gets posted to Consumerist.com, link below:

http://consumerist.com/2012/05/verizon-wants-me-to-pay-300-etf-because-of-its-450-error.html

Consumerist.com also gave me a contact name and email for someone at Verizon that claims he want to resolve the matter.  I sent the Verizon contact a email yesterday and as of today, no word back, not to mention the fact that I had two reps that promised to call me back this week and have yet to do so.  The one rep (Colleen in Loyalty Department) promised to call me back at 9am yesterday and never did, I called and spoke to a different rep who took a message to give to Colleen in the loyalty department stating that I never received her call back as promised and that I would like her to call me back asap as she promised.  The rep that took the message suggested she may have meant 9am in her time zone and not mine.....REALLY! grrr!  Then to top it off my wife called and said that FedEX MAY be willing to cover it since they didn't get us to sign for the Mysterious phone as FedEx policy states needs to happen for such deliveries.  As my wife was on the phone with FedEx the FedEx rep shared her story about how she had many unpleasant experiences with Verizon as well.  Hopefully I will hear something soon about this issue of mine being resolved, but so far I'm not holding my breath.  At this point in the game, I feel Verizon ought to go above and beyond and do something special for me as an apology, otherwise I feel I have no choice other than to cancel my contract and take Verizon to Small Claims.

Update!
My wife filed a compliant with the Better Business Bureau and I filed a compliant with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Update!
Received a phone call from yet another Verizon rep yesterday (5/17) and she gave me an entire different story.  She claims that Verizon refunded the $449.95 twice in error and then added one of the $449.95 charges back on.  It amazes me how many different stories I have been told about my 6 month billing nightmare!  So far I have been told:

1. We never returned the defective phone, even though my wife received text confirming receipt.
2. Was told we were sent two phones to replace one defective one.  Which I have a real hard time believing, however FedEx seems to confirm this.  Why in the hell would Verizon do something so stupid to begin with?  We requested to be sent a Droid 3 to replace the defective Commando Smartphone.  I have a hard time understanding why Verizon would be like, "Hey, lets send them an extra smartphone just for the hell of it!"
3. FedEX is responsible for the "Mystery Lost Droid X2 Smartphone" because they didn't get required signature at delivery.  Which ironically FedEX is willing to cover the $449.95 and even faxed us a letter to give to Verizon.  However Verizon seems to think I should get a refund check from FedEX and then send it to them (Verizon).  I think I wasted enough of my time on this ordeal and FedEx and Verizon should work out the details.  I posted FedEX's letter below.

4.  And now I'm being told that Verizon refunded the $449.95 twice in error and then added one $449.95 back on.  Really!  WTF!  Why can't Verizon get their shit together?  Besides, how is it my fault IF (and this is a big IF) they refunded the $449.95 twice?  Call me crazy, but I just pay what my bill tells me is due each month (except wrongful charges).  So if they had to add the $449.95 back on, why wouldn't they call me to inform me? Why wouldn't they send a new bill?...rather than waiting til May and tacking it on to my May bill.

*Also, Mr. Pica at Verizon has yet respond to my two emails to him.  Consumerist.com provided me with Mr. Pica's email stating that he "was very interested in resolving this matter".  Apparently he's not too interested, because he has yet to respond.  It has been at least 5 days Mr. Pica...What's the deal?

**The Verizon rep I spoke to on 5/17 was suppose to do two things for me.  First she was to resolve the $449.95 issue and second she was to remove all the calls to Verizon's "Loyalty/Retention Department and FedEX from my bill.  I requested these calls be removed because my plan is only for 700 voice minutes and I'm currently at 801 voice minutes because of being on hold, etc.  Turns out that calling Verizon's "Loyalty/Retention Department" eats away your minutes, however calling 611 does not.  But I was told I can't call 611 for the "Loyalty/Retention Department".

Verizon you make me SICK!

Why can’t PA Legislators be more like Larry the Cable Guy?

Update!
House passes it for the 2nd time, why can't it just be a law already!  It's been at least 3 years and it is a common sense law:  http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/11/bill_takes_shine_off_pa_lotter.html

Original Post:
For the last couple of years I have listened to PA legislators complain about PA being broke.  Their solutions are to increase taxes, blame others, and pass bills that don’t really do much of anything.  I would love for PA legislators to take some advice from Larry the Cable Guy’s famous quote and to “Git R Done!”

There is one legislator I approach back in December 2010 that is trying to do just that.  I approached State Representative C. Adam Harris (34^th District – Mifflin/Juniata/Snyder Counties) about the need for a change in the law to make it possible for PA Department of Revenue to intercept PA lottery winnings from those who are delinquent in back taxes and have non-filed returns.  I explained to Rep. Harris that it seems silly to me that PA Department of Revenue checks for back child support, but yet fails to check their own records for monies and returns due prior to cutting a check to a PA lottery winner.  PA Lottery is part of the PA Department of Revenue so verifying winners don’t have delinquencies seems like a “no brainer” to me.  State Rep. Harris agreed and drafted a bill, HB520, which passed the House in April 2011 and seems to be currently dying in the Senate.

First and foremost I have to give credit State Representative C. Adam Harris, for being approachable, good listener, and for researching and drafting HB520.  But unfortunately he alone cannot make this commonsense bill into law.  So why can’t those in government work together and “Git R Done!”?  This bill has nothing to do with Democrats vs. Republicans.  This bill is straight forward and just makes plain simple sense.  It’s not like PA couldn’t use the money.  Just in the year 2010 there were 90 lottery winners with prizes greater than $2,500 identified that owed back taxes.  So why wouldn’t both Democrats and Republicans want to pass HB520?  Git R’ Done!

Some other things to “Git Done!” would be to change the law so that PA Department of Revenue collection agents can take credit card payments.  I can pay other bills this way, why not PA Revenue bills?  One of the rules of business is to make it easy for your customers to pay you.  Again this is commonsense, Git R Done!

Also, why does PA Department of Revenue continue to give a 1% discount to businesses that pay their sales/use tax on time?  Shouldn’t they be doing this any ways?  Isn’t avoiding penalty and interest charges enough of an incentive not to pay late.  Besides I don’t get a discount for paying my personal income tax on time.  Git R Done!

There are a lot of little things like I mentioned above that can be done and should be done before coming to the taxpayer with an open hand and once again asking for more money.  So my question to those in legislature is why you people can’t seem to “Git R Done!”

*My above letter was also published by Lewistown Sentinel:
http://lewistownsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/533740/Why-can-t-legislators-be-like-Larry-the-Cable-Guy-.html?nav=5059

                                                                                                                -Timothy Kuhn

                                                                                                                  McAlisterville, PA

                                                                                                                  www.tkuhn.com

                                                                                                                  www.tkuhnblog.blogspot.com