The all-new Adobe Captivate represents a major shift in how instructional designers create interactive eLearning. Rather than relying on complex timelines and advanced actions, the latest version focuses on block-based, responsive interactions that are faster to build and easier to maintain.

This post takes a practical approach, showing how to use these interactions effectively to create engaging learning experiences.

What’s Different About Interactions in the New Adobe Captivate

In earlier versions of Captivate, interactions often required advanced actions, triggers, and precise timeline control. The new Adobe Captivate simplifies this process by offering pre-built interactive blocks that can be added directly to a slide.

These interactions are:

• Responsive by default

• Touch-friendly across devices

• Easy to customize without technical complexity

This allows designers to focus more on learning design and less on development effort.

Common Interaction Types and When to Use Them

Click-to-Reveal Interactions

Click-to-reveal interactions allow learners to control how and when information is displayed.

Best used for:

• Definitions and explanations

• Key tips or examples

• Breaking down dense content

Keep each reveal concise and focused on one idea to avoid overwhelming learners.

Accordion Interactions

Accordion interactions present layered information that learners can expand as needed.

Ideal for:

• Policies and procedures

• FAQs

• Supporting details

Use clear, descriptive headings so learners understand what each section contains before opening it.

Tabs Interaction

Tabs help organize related content into clearly defined categories.

Common use cases:

• Comparing features or options

• Explaining roles or responsibilities

• Presenting stages or models

Tabs reduce scrolling and make content easier to navigate, especially on smaller screens.

Process Interactions

Process interactions guide learners through a sequence of steps in a structured way.

Effective for:

• Workflows

• Onboarding journeys

• Step-by-step instructions

Adding a brief introduction helps learners understand why the process is important before they explore each step.

Knowledge Checks

The new Adobe Captivate makes it easy to add knowledge checks throughout a course—not just at the end.

Benefits include:

• Reinforcing learning immediately

• Encouraging self-assessment

• Keeping learners actively engaged

These can be used with or without scoring, depending on your learning objectives.

Best Practices for Designing Effective Interactions

• Align interactions with learning objectives
  Every interaction should serve a clear instructional purpose.

• Keep interactions simple and intuitive
  Avoid unnecessary complexity that can distract learners.

• Use consistent interaction patterns
  Familiar layouts help learners focus on content rather than navigation.

• Balance text and visuals
  Short, focused text combined with meaningful visuals improves comprehension.

Why the All-New Adobe Captivate Works Well for Interactive Design

By removing the technical barriers traditionally associated with interaction design, the all-new Adobe Captivate enables faster development and more consistent learner experiences. Designers can now build interactive, responsive courses while staying focused on instructional quality.

Conclusion

Interactions play a critical role in modern eLearning, and the all-new Adobe Captivate makes them easier to design and deploy than ever before. By using built-in interaction blocks thoughtfully, instructional designers can create engaging, learner-centered courses that work seamlessly across devices.

This practical approach helps ensure interactions enhance learning—not just visual appeal.