The ins and outs of creating elearning

     The world of eLearning has quickly become a part of our day-to-day lives. Just today, I signed up for a online professional development training for this summer on how to organize my classroom better. As a teacher living in rural West Texas, I find eLearning wonderful! It's nice to be able to save some fuel money, and get the training, or learning, I need right from my classroom. 

    However, if a person were to design an eLearning course, it's easy to feel inundated with the number of educational applications out there. The sheer amount can be overwhelming, and a person can struggle with not only selecting the right tool, or software, but also how to utilize the tool, or software, for their purpose. 

    An e-learning authoring tool is a software that enables you to create learning content and share it with your learners. Just as you might use Microsoft Word to write up documents or Microsoft PowerPoint for presentation slides, you’ll need to use an e-learning authoring tool if you want to create an online course (Agass). 

    Basically, it is a software tool that allows users to arrange text and media into a standardized lesson or course structure. These can then be exported to Learning Management Systems (LMSs) or saved in various formats (Sedgman, 2023). 

    Picking the right tool, as I mentioned, can be overwhelming. Here are some things to look for when choosing eLearning Authoring Software:

1. Content Assembly

Evaluate the tool's ability to support various content types, such as text, images, videos, audio, and interactive elements like quizzes, simulations, and games. Determine whether it will support the needs and goals of the learners of your program.

2. Import Capabilities

Look at what type of content can be imported into the tool. Most tools support importing presentations, but some featured tools can also import Word documents, HTML pages and video (i.e., MP4) files.

3. Interactive Elements

Evaluate what interactions and assessments are available. Think games, quizzes, drag-and-drop activities, and clickable hotspots that break up the monotony of repetitive text and lessons.

4. Templates And Branding

Ask about templates and configurable branding that will allow all eLearning courses to offer a consistent (and on-brand) experience. Look for uncluttered templates that are aesthetically pleasing and enhance the learning experience. The template should allow you to easily customize colors, fonts and layouts, and offer libraries of images, graphics and icons.

5. Advanced Features

Inquire about modern technologies and their benefits. For example, some tools use AI to suggest what interactions to include. If your tools claim to be enabled by AI for content creation, ask about their learning models and how they prevent plagiarism and hallucinations (fabricated outputs from large language models).

6. Scalability

Evaluate how existing courses can be updated as the number of courses grows and the content evolves.

7. New Features

Inquire about the product roadmap and how it aligns with future needs.

8. LMS Compatibility

Almost all eLearning authoring tools support learning standards like SCORM and xAPI, but it is worth checking whether your preferred course authoring solution will integrate with your specific LMS.

9. Feedback

Many eLearning authoring tools offer collaboration tools to gather input from Subject Matter Experts, but it is worth digging into the specific functionality. Ask if there is a limit on the number of contributors, whether they all need licenses, and how feedback is incorporated into the course.

10. Support And Training

Check what customer support is available, including technical assistance and training. Some will provide online training only, while others will offer the option for personalized training. Also, look at whether phone or email support is available.

11. Pricing

Compare the pricing models (per-user, subscription, multi-year commitments, one-time purchase) and ensure they fit your budget. Take advantage of demos and free trials to get hands-on experience with your content before committing.

(Sedgman, 2023)

Myths about eLearning Authoring Tools

1. eLearning tools are too expensive - eLearning authoring tools are cost-effective, life savers that help organizations save millions of dollars, providing them with a wide reach.

2. Copy pasting content in PowerPoint in Instructional Design - there is much more skills involved that just dumping content and making it look attractive. There is the series of steps (see above) that need to be followed.

3. Time consuming - Today there are tools, such as ITyStudio that have made game development easy and quick.

4. eLearning Authoring Tools are not as effective as classroom-based learning - WRONG! “From the plethora of media comparison research conducted over the past sixty years, we have learned that it’s not the delivery medium, but rather the instructional methods that cause learning. When the instructional methods remain essentially the same, so does the learning, no matter which medium is used to deliver instruction," Ruth Clark and Richard Mayer, E-learning and the Science of Instruction. In a nutshell, if appropriate methods for completing the desired educational goals are used, the medium, being eLearning authoring tools or classroom-based training, does not matter that much.

5. Great eLearning authoring tools are all you need to design great online training - it is not the technology that makes the work easy and the course great. Once again, if all you needed in order to build a great online course was to have the right eLearning authoring tools, then organizations would not need instructional designers anymore.

6. Learning has to be fun - Making your learning simulations enjoyable is fine, but keep in mind that making it challenging, interesting, rewarding, authentic, worthwhile and relevant is way more important. Be careful about adding too much fun in your online training: stay tuned to the initial learning goals of your eLearning module.

7. Not finishing the course means it's bad/passing means it's good - Sometimes, learners just take your course with a particular goal. Thus, they will only attend a lesson or two, the one related to the skills they are after. And that is perfectly fine. One advantage of eLearning authoring tools is that you can customize training modules, so that people only take what they need. You can consider your eLearning modules successful when learners actually apply the information you delivered into a real life situation. In a nutshell, to have a good indicator about the effectiveness of your online training you must have a practical approach to what you are actually testing.

(Teyssier, 2016)

YouTube: Top 5 Best Authoring Tools for eLearning

Best eLearning Authoring Tools

    There are so many software and tools out there for eLearning. Here are a few articles to click that will take you to several reviews:

eLearning Authoring Tools - eLearning Industry

The Best eLearning Authoring Tools - PC Mag

The best elearning authoring tools, platforms & software - Elucidat

Final Thoughts

    No matter which software or tool you choose, the most important thing to remember is to determine exactly how the training or lesson will help your audience succeed. 

References

Agass, D. (n.d.). 7 types of e-learning authoring tools – Explore their pros & cons. Easy Generator. Retrieved February 22, 2024, from https://www.easygenerator.com/en/blog/e-learning/types-elearning-authoring-tools/

Sedgman, S. (2023, December 8). 11 Key Considerations When Selecting An eLearning Authoring Tool With Modern Tech. ELearning Industry. Retrieved February 22, 2024, from https://elearningindustry.com/key-considerations-when-selecting-an-elearning-authoring-tool-modern-tech

Teyssier, Y. (2016, April 8). 9 Myths About eLearning Authoring Tools And How To Use Them Properly. ELearning Industry. Retrieved February 22, 2024, from https://elearningindustry.com/9-myths-about-elearning-authoring-tools-use-properly