If you’re stuck with dull, one-size-fits-all online training, you’re not alone. Most default settings in eLearning tools are built for minimum fuss, not maximum engagement. But if you’re using Brainshark and you actually care whether people pay attention, you can do a lot better. This guide is for trainers, instructional designers, and anyone who wants to make their Brainshark presentations less like a snooze-fest and more like something people might remember.
Let’s go step by step through the player settings that matter, what they really do, and how to avoid wasting your time on tweaks that don’t move the needle.
1. Know What You Can (and Can’t) Customize
First up: Brainshark is flexible, but it has limits. You can’t rebuild the player from scratch, but you can control a bunch of important stuff:
- Navigation (can users skip ahead?)
- Slide controls (show/hide, auto-advance)
- Appearance (color, branding, language)
- Interactive elements (quizzes, attachments)
- Accessibility features (captions, transcripts)
- Tracking and reporting
What you can’t do: change core layouts, mess with mobile responsiveness, or deeply customize every button. This isn’t an open-source video player. If you need wild branding or custom code, look elsewhere.
2. Decide What Engagement Actually Means for Your Audience
Before you start clicking around, get clear on what “engagement” really means for your learners. Is it:
- Actually finishing the training?
- Remembering key points?
- Passing a quiz?
- Taking action afterward?
Don’t just throw features at the problem. For example, making users click every slide doesn’t guarantee they’re learning—it just means they’re clicking. Know your audience and goals before you start toggling settings.
3. Customize Navigation Settings: Control the Flow
By default, Brainshark lets users click around. Sometimes that’s good (experienced learners), sometimes it’s not (compliance training). Here’s what to tweak:
Lock or Unlock Navigation
- Locked Navigation: Learners must watch each slide in order. Good for compliance or when every bit matters.
- Unlocked Navigation: Learners can skip around. Ideal for refresher training or when you trust your audience.
How to set it: 1. In your Brainshark presentation, go to Settings > Player & Navigation. 2. Toggle “Allow viewers to navigate freely” on or off.
Pro tip: If you lock navigation, let people know why up front—otherwise, it feels like punishment.
Enable or Disable Slide Advance Controls
- Auto-Advance: Slides move on their own after narration or video ends.
- Manual Advance: Users click “Next” to move forward.
Auto-advance works for narrated content; manual is better for text-heavy slides. Don’t force people to sit through silence.
4. Fine-Tune Player Appearance: Make It Look Like You Care
Out-of-the-box, Brainshark isn’t ugly, but it’s generic. Small changes can make it feel like your training.
Change Colors and Branding
- Add your company logo.
- Match player colors to your brand (but keep it readable).
- Set the player language if your audience needs it.
How to set it: 1. Go to Settings > Appearance. 2. Upload your logo, pick colors, and select a language.
What matters: Subtle branding helps, but don’t spend hours on it. If your logo ends up fuzzy or your colors look weird, nobody will blame the player.
Show or Hide Slide Titles and Controls
Too many controls can distract. Hide what you don’t need—especially for simple, linear presentations.
5. Don’t Skip Accessibility: It’s Not Just a Checkbox
Making your content accessible isn’t just about compliance—it actually helps everyone. Brainshark supports:
- Closed captions (for narration and video)
- Slide transcripts
- Keyboard navigation
How to enable: - Upload captions or transcripts in the media upload area. - Test with keyboard only—if you can’t navigate, neither can your learners.
Pro tip: If you’re adding video, captions are non-negotiable. Don’t trust auto-generated text—edit it for accuracy.
6. Add Interactivity (But Use It Wisely)
Interactive features sound great, but more isn’t always better.
Quizzes and Knowledge Checks
- Use them to break up content and reinforce learning.
- Keep questions short—nobody wants a 20-question quiz at the end.
- Give immediate feedback, not just a score at the end.
How to add: 1. In your slide list, click “Add Question.” 2. Choose your format (multiple choice, true/false, etc.). 3. Set feedback and branching if you want.
Attachments and Links
- Add supporting documents or links for “dig deeper” types.
- Don’t overload every slide—one or two key resources is plenty.
What to avoid: Don’t make interactivity a distraction. If you’re adding click-to-reveal on every slide, you’re probably overdoing it.
7. Tweak Tracking and Reporting: Know What’s Working
If you want to improve engagement, you need to know what’s happening. Brainshark lets you:
- Track who viewed what
- See quiz results
- Monitor completion rates
How to set: - Go to Presentation Settings > Tracking & Completion. - Choose what counts as “complete” (e.g., watched all slides, passed quiz).
Pro tip: Set realistic completion criteria. If you require 100% slide viewing and a perfect quiz score, expect a lot of drop-offs.
8. Test Your Player Settings—Don’t Assume
Always preview your presentation as a learner before rolling it out. Look for:
- Broken navigation
- Missing captions or transcripts
- Branding that looks off
- Interactivity that doesn’t work on mobile
Ask a real learner (not just your team) to run through it and give honest feedback. If something feels annoying or confusing, fix it.
9. Features That Sound Cool (But Rarely Matter)
Some settings get a lot of hype in vendor demos but rarely change real engagement:
- Background music: Distracting more than helpful.
- Animated slide transitions: Fun once, then ignored.
- Custom intro screens: Nice if you have time, but not a dealbreaker.
Focus on clarity, not razzle-dazzle.
10. Keep It Simple, Then Iterate
You don’t have to get everything perfect on the first try. Start with the basics:
- Clear navigation
- Clean appearance
- Useful interactivity
- Solid accessibility
Watch how learners actually use your content, then tweak. If something’s not working, change it. If nobody’s using a feature, drop it.
The best Brainshark player isn’t the fanciest—it’s the one your learners don’t complain about. Get it out there, listen, and keep improving.