Boise State University Drives 134% Higher Course Completion With Articulate 360

The Challenge

Boise State University needed an interactive, scalable training solution to engage learners across campus and beyond

Boise State University educates a broad audience. “We’re not pigeonholed into one department or topic,” says Dr. Jackie Throngard, BroncoLearn Manager. “Our courses support nearly every corner of the university and extend into the community.”

On campus, BroncoLearn trains students, faculty, and staff on topics ranging from new student orientation, career readiness, and cybersecurity to leadership, financial wellness, and student-athlete and Resident Assistant (RA) onboarding. Beyond the university, BroncoLearn also prepares high school students for career readiness, collaborates with state and federal agencies on compliance and professional development, and partners with companies like Micron Technology and initiatives like Semiconductor for All.

Initially, BroncoLearn relied on basic presentation tools and third-party vendors for content creation. This often resulted in one-dimensional learning experiences and compliance training setbacks. “Our compliance training lacked accountability,” says Dr. Throngard. “Learners could play videos in the background and sign off on documents without engaging with the material.” Additionally, while third-party training was convenient, it wasn’t tailored to the university’s needs, leaving critical training gaps.

Boise State needed an interactive, customizable e-learning solution that could captivate learners, drive participation, and scale across campus and beyond.

The Answer

With Articulate 360, Boise State University delivers interactive, scalable training to 100K+ university and community learners

Dr. Throngard discovered Articulate while reviewing a SUNY Sexual Violence Prevention training and quickly adopted the platform. Since then, BroncoLearn has built an impressive collection of engaging, one-of-a-kind courses—educating more than 102,680 learners in the past three years alone.

“Articulate allows us to structure courses into smaller, digestible sections so learners can progress at their own pace,” says Dr. Throngard. “And we can brand and customize our training with real-life examples and case studies that keep the content relevant to our audience.” Plus, this training is built to last. “We use Articulate to create sustainable courses that are easy to update as things evolve,” Dr. Throngard adds.

BroncoLearn also elevates its training with dynamic, interactive courses. “With Storyline, we use avatars, images, videos, special effects, and animations to create immersive experiences that bring our content to life,” says Dr. Throngard. Learners might join a simulated search committee with mock candidates, search for hidden BroncoLearn logos to unlock information, or tackle gamified quizzes—guiding a character across a map with correct answers or keeping a yodeler from tumbling down a mountain.

Even when gamification isn’t the right fit, interactivity remains. “Some topics, like reportable crimes, require a more serious approach,” Dr. Throngard explains. “For these, we use interactive elements like puzzles and click-and-reveal activities to keep learners engaged.” This also solves past compliance training challenges. “Articulate helped us make compliance training more engaging, so learners aren’t leaving during videos or passively clicking through slides anymore,” Dr. Throngard says.

Accessibility is another BroncoLearn cornerstone. “Articulate makes everything we do more inclusive. No one is forced to watch a video if they prefer text or left out if they use a screen reader. And we can design e-learning with large buttons and high-contrast colors so that learners with low vision aren’t held back,” Dr. Throngard divulges. Plus, built-in accessibility tools make reviewing content easy. “With Storyline’s library view, we can quickly ensure captions, alt text, and other key features are in place,” Dr. Throngard adds.

Unlocking Human Potential

Boise State University drives engagement while nurturing the next generation of e-learning creators with Articulate 360

Since implementing Articulate 360, BroncoLearn has experienced impressive growth and engagement. “After we started rolling out Articulate-created training, enrollments in our optional courses increased by 61%,” Dr. Throngard shares. “People absolutely love the training and are actively choosing to take these courses.” The numbers back this up—courses built with Articulate have a 134% higher completion rate than non-Articulate courses in their catalog. Due to growing demand, BroncoLearn has expanded its course offerings by 142%, delivering 511 individual courses in just three years with 54 additional courses planned for this spring alone.

Beyond the numbers, BroncoLearn has elevated its course-creation approach. “With Articulate, we have the tools to bring any idea to life,” says Dr. Throngard. “When something sparks inspiration, we’re not just recreating it—we’re asking, ‘How can we make this even better?’ We’re not boxed in.” The team also pushes creative boundaries with tools like AI Assistant. “We’re using AI Assistant for tasks like custom image generation to quickly create visuals that fit our courses perfectly,” Dr. Throngard adds. This commitment to innovative tools helps the team serve their audience effectively. “We work with such a diverse range of learners, which pushes us to think outside the box. With Articulate, we can tailor solutions to different groups by understanding their specific needs.”

The team is also shaping the next generation of e-learning professionals. “We’re collaborating with departments across campus to integrate graduate and undergraduate assistantships—training the next generation to build content with Articulate,” Dr. Throngard says. The impact is significant: “Every single one of my students has been recruited straight out of my program. Working with a great tool like Articulate elevates their skills and makes them highly employable.”

With Articulate 360, BroncoLearn lives up to its high value standards—creating human-centered learning experiences. “My philosophy on e-learning centers on accessibility, adaptability, and empowerment,” says  Dr. Throngard. “With Articulate, we’re removing barriers to education and making learning available to everyone, everywhere—creating self-paced, personalized experiences that meet diverse learning needs and foster lifelong growth.”

Boise State University democratizes education with Articulate 360—delivering accessible, engaging training that transforms learning outcomes for more than 100,000 learners while preparing the next generation of e-learning professionals.