If you are embarking on a new quest to create e-learning content, you may encounter a mindblowing amount of information on the web describing the latest industry trends, strategies, tools, and buzzwords. Industry terminology can vary slightly depending on where you look for it or who you ask about it. Sorting it all out may be overwhelming.

Imagine you have a 2,000-piece puzzle scattered before you. All the pieces are there to assemble the whole picture—you know it is doable. You allow yourself the time to find the corner and edge pieces, group other pieces, reference the big picture, and start building. The same is true when trying to figure out what pieces are needed for eLearning content. Take some time to plan and identify what the learning objectives are, who the audience is, and what course features are needed. Let’s examine some overarching eLearning pieces to help shape a way forward.

A Discipline

Learning and development (L&D) is an integral part of an organization that focuses on improving knowledge and skills for better performance. L&D is important because it helps to retain talent, increase productivity, and empower individuals, which can lead to a more successful business.

A Style

One way to enhance an L&D program is to use eLearning. With this approach, you can create and deliver a learning program through digital assets as opposed to traditional instructor-led training. This style of learning is highly relevant in today’s world where the decentralized work environment is ever-evolving. People crave opportunities to learn but need to be able to do it at any time and from anywhere.

A Tool

You should choose an eLearning authoring tool to create content and make your course storyboard come to life. It is a software program designed to create effective and engaging courses using text, images, media, interactive components, and more. The tool needs to support e-learning technical standards. These standards provide a way for eLearning courses to be uploaded to an external learning management system or learning record store. Finally, a learning content management system is software for creating and managing content but also may allow for hosting and delivery of content.

A Platform

After the content is created, a platform is needed where a learner can access the course. The LMS is an administrator-driven platform that manages and maintains learning materials, distributes courses, and tracks progress. The content is either self-hosted on premises or is cloud-based, and the course is reached through a portal.

You may come across a learning experience platform, which is learner-driven and focuses on personalized learning experiences and collaboration. It also finds new on-demand opportunities for continuous learning.

In Summary

At the end of the day, the choices you make in shaping your eLearning content should fit in with your goals, technical capabilities, budget, and timeline. The puzzle pieces are unique for you, but they work together to create the best learning experiences for the learner.

Perhaps the most pivotal piece for a successful L&D program is selecting the right eLearning authoring tool for content. In part 2 of this blog post, we’ll take a look at how MadCap Flare can solve your puzzle.