Content capsules are a fundamental building block of training courses and micro-learnings on Beam. They allow you to present instructional material in a variety of formats, including text, images, videos, and file attachments. In this guide, we'll focus on the creation of content capsules and explore their key features.
Types of Content Elements:
Five types of content elements can be used to compose a capsule:
Title: Provide a clear and concise heading for the capsule's content.
Text: Present detailed explanations, instructions, or narratives within the capsule.
Image: Enhance the capsule with visuals and break up text-heavy sections.
Video: Embed videos from YouTube to provide engaging and informative content.
File Attachment: Share additional resources, such as documents, spreadsheets, or presentations, for learners to download.
Common Features:
Each content element and the overall capsule itself have associated action bars that provide various functionalities:
Element Action Bar:
- Copy: Duplicate the selected content element.
- Move: Reposition the element within the capsule's structure.
- Delete: Remove the element from the capsule.
- Close: Minimize the expanded element's view.
Capsule Action Bar:
- Preview: Render the capsule's content as it will appear to learners on their devices (desktop and mobile app).
- Undo: Reverse the last action performed.
- Redo: Re-apply the last undone action.
Creating a Content Capsule:
Choose an Initial Element: Start by selecting the type of content element that will form the foundation of your capsule. Typically, an image or title is a good starting point, followed by other elements to provide context and elaboration.
Add Content Elements: Continue adding content elements to your capsule, utilizing the appropriate type for each piece of information you want to convey.
Organize Content: Arrange the content elements in a logical flow that guides learners through the capsule's subject matter.
Utilize Video Content: For videos, only those hosted on YouTube are currently supported due to format compatibility considerations. You can make a video private on YouTube and share the URL with Beam to embed it in the capsule.
Consider Future Enhancements: Beam is planning to expand video integration capabilities to include other formats and platforms. If you have a specific need for a commonly used format within your organization, contact Beam support to explore the possibility of its addition.
Additional Notes:
Content Capsule Duration: Each capsule has a field where you can estimate the time it will take a learner to complete it. This information is used to calculate the overall course duration and remaining time for learners.
Total Course Duration: The total estimated duration of the training course is the sum of the estimated durations of each capsule and is displayed to the right of the capsule list.
By effectively using content capsules, you can create engaging and informative training materials that empower your learners to acquire new knowledge and skills.