Developing an eLearning course is not rocket science. Of course it takes time to learn how to make one, but it is not a difficult task to do. In this article we will bust the myths that have been here for a really long time which say that creating content and developing training programs for eLearning is really stressful and takes up a lot of time.
Let us have a look at how anyone can develop an e-learning course and help others in educating masses all across the globe.
1. DECIDING UPON THE SUBJECT:
The first thing that you need to do is to decide upon what is going to be your “subject” or “topic” for the course. Like any other project, in developing an eLearning course too you have to first choose a topic on which you will have to work and then accordingly look for Subject Matter Experts who are going to help you out in building the content of the same training and learning module.
There is definitely no lack of topics to choose from, because there is always a demand for eLearning version of any subject’s or topic’s course. Because of this, there is never going to be shortage of topics for eLearning designers to look out for.
2. LOOKING FOR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS:
After deciding upon the “subject” or “topic”, the designer then has to look for some experienced individuals who have expertise in the subject concerned, who are commonly known as Subject Matter Experts. There can be a single Subject Matter Expert or a group of them for any eLearning course; it all depends on the one who is designing it.
The job of Subject Matter Expert is to provide textual content in detail, with images, graphics, animations and videos which are authentic and reliable. All the inputs coming from SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) serve to fill the whole storyboard or design of the course.
3. MAKING INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNING STRATEGIES:
This is one of the most crucial steps of all. It involves taking decisions for the whole program at each and every step, as to how should it be framed, etc. Designing an eLearning program’s storyboard is not that easy, and then working on it is another task in itself.
For this purpose, there comes the need to jot down Instructional Designing Strategies and swear by it throughout the process of the eLearning course design and development. These strategies simply make the whole procedure way more systematic and organized, which makes it easier to work on. With the help of all the instructional designing strategies, a rough blueprint, or a virtual plan is created, which is also called a Storyboard. According to this storyboard, an eLearning program is designed and worked upon further.
4. DECIDING UPON AN E-Learning AUTHORING TOOL:
An eLearning authoring tool can make or break an eLearning program. After the rough blueprint or storyboard is made for an eLearning and training course, all the graphic designing is done with the help of an eLearning authoring tool. It is generally seen that to use it, there is a bit of practice required, which can be done beforehand also. So all the graphic designing is done with the help of an eLearning authoring tool.
5. RESEARCH ABOUT YOUR AUDIENCE AND LEARNERS:
This is again one of the most important and crucial steps involved. Designing a training program according to the learning lot pays off more than a training program which is designed according to the trainer. And in order to frame it for audience, one needs to first know the audience.
Therefore, it should always be kept in mind that knowing your audience and their liking’s can certainly lead you towards making an engaging eLearning course. Researching about your learners’ preferences, background and experiences and analyzing can help you designing the course accordingly.
Once you know what they like, incorporating it in your eLearning training course and content can surely make them more excited, intrigued and emotionally connected. This automatically increases audience engagement and in turn your eLearning program can prove out to be successful in true sense.