If I’ve learned anything during my time working in the field of e-learning, it’s that there’s always more to learn. Being a talented and marketable e-learning designer doesn’t stop at being proficient with a particular authoring tool. That’s why my “e-learning toolbox” is full of a variety of gadgets that I use together to author content—all of which have helped me to elevate my career.

If you’re new to e-learning or simply looking to enhance your value to internal or external customers, here are some suggestions about what to include in your “e-learning toolbox.”

Graphic design programs

Because e-learning is a form of visual communication, graphics play a large role in its effectiveness. Although most of today’s popular e-learning authoring tools offer a wide variety of graphic design functions, it can benefit you to expand your reach with other tools.

Often, clients will use vector graphics or photos that have been created by their marketing department. These may include logos, branding materials, and other proprietary graphics created in a professional graphic design programs. Your ability to receive and edit these graphics will save your customers time and allow you to tailor these graphics for your specific project.

Tools to consider include:

• Adobe Illustrator

• Adobe Photoshop.

Audio recording and editing programs

The most effective e-learning courses use a variety of multimedia elements to communicate the learning content. Besides graphics, audio narration is perhaps the next most common type of media used. Whether you’re receiving the audio from a professional narrator or recording it yourself, it can save you (and your customers) a lot of extra time if you’re able to record, edit, and enhance your own audio files.

Most e-learning authoring tools let you perform simple tasks like recording and cropping your audio. However, these features often aren’t enough when you want to enhance your audio and make it sound better (for example, noise reduction).

Tools to consider include:

• Audacity

• Sound Forge

• GarageBand.

E-learning authoring programs

This one may come as a bit of surprise, as you may already be proficient with one or more e-learning authoring tools. However, I suggest learning more than one tool because you never know when you’ll be asked to use an authoring tool outside of your current skillset.

If you are an external practitioner, knowing more tools can mean getting more clients. For internal practitioners, it can mean staying relevant in case your organization (or your job search) shifts focus. For both groups, it means you can always use the right tool for the job, rather than just use the tool you know. This is not to say you have to be an expert in every tool, but it’s good to have a minimum proficiency in a variety of the more popular e-learning authoring tools available on the market.  

When determining what additional tools you should consider, take a look at what’s in demand. What other tools are your customers (or competition) using? What tools would be the quickest for you to learn? For example, if you’re a heavy Articulate Studio user, perhaps it makes sense for you to explore Articulate Storyline.

On the other hand, you can also consider exploring specialized e-learning authoring tools. For example with Camtasia, you can create e-learning content based on screen-recordings, and with Raptivity you can create e-learning games.

At the end of the day, learning any new tool can be a major financial and time investment. However, if you’re smart about what tools you choose to add to your e-learning toolbox, this investment can quickly pay for itself. Whether you’re working with internal or external clients, you’ll provide more value—and have more job security—if you can become a one-stop shop.